A reported APK breakdown of Google Maps reveals it may discontinue its "Follow Places" feature by early 2025. Follow Places allows users to be updated and receive news regarding a landmark or place.

According to reports, the breakdown shows that "Follow Places" progressively faded in popularity over time. Many people don't seem to be able to see the "+" Follow button under business names, which was earlier clearly accessible.

Another indication of a move away from this capability is the removal of instructions on how to follow a business from Google's support site. However, the ability to add locations to a list is still present.

According to reports, a few reasons Google might be discontinuing "Followed Places," one of which is that the feature's user engagement was poor. Users might not have found the "Followed Places" function helpful, given the abundance of online communication channels (such as social media, email lists, and loyalty programs).

It's also possible that the feature's integration within the Google Maps app wasn't the best. Not everyone would have thought to look for changes in the most apparent place, the "For You" tab, which brought information from locations you followed.

And lastly, Google Maps is always incorporating new features and capabilities. Google likely decided to focus resources on other areas that will be more beneficial to users.  

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Google Maps' Recent Upgrades

Google Maps released several upgrades in April to improve travel planning and discovery. These modifications aim to make it easier to get trip inspiration, get suggestions from locals, and navigate new places.

These upgrades, which are now being rolled out in more than 40 cities in the US and Canada, will soon be accessible everywhere on the Android and iOS platforms.

One of the major additions offered is the ability for users to obtain carefully curated lists of local suggestions derived from reliable sources and the Google Maps community. 

These lists span a wide range of interests and preferences, and users can access them by searching for a chosen city in Maps. These lists offer recommendations based on their interests, ranging from carefully selected restaurant guides to famous sites and undiscovered treasures.

The Trending, Top, and Gems lists are the three curated lists that Google Maps now provides. These lists, in order, highlight undiscovered local gems, places that have lately experienced a boom in popularity, and long-standing favorites in the community.  

This carefully considered strategy seeks to help users find the newest hot areas and undiscovered treasures in their selected location.

Additionally, users may make and modify their lists within Maps, allowing them to arrange restaurants, activities, and attractions for later use. 

Thanks to this tool, users can easily share their carefully selected lists with friends and family, promoting collaboration and sharing. Users can also design customized itineraries and rank their preferred destinations based on the order in which places appear on their lists.

Google Maps' EV-Centered Upgrades

Additionally, Google Maps recently made changes to improve its usability for electric vehicle (EV) owners. Although it currently provides many powertrain options (gas, hybrid, and electric) for route computations, the emphasis is now on providing important charger information.  

Google Maps can now determine the expected range when a car arrives at a destination by querying the vehicle's level of charge using the new API. This function provides precise range forecasts, which improves route planning and removes the need for manual computations.

Google Maps will reportedly deliver accurate directions to public chargers with AI-powered descriptions based on user feedback. This helps EV drivers find and use charging stations more easily, especially in complex surroundings like multilevel parking complexes. It also includes information about charger functionality and availability. 

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