7. Google Now and Navigation Using Google Maps
In this chapter, you find out how to use Google Maps for step-by-step navigation and Google Now. Topics include the following:
Using Google Maps for navigation
Taking map data offline
You can use your Samsung Galaxy S7 as a GPS navigation device while you walk or drive around. Your phone also includes an app called Google Now that provides all the information you need when you need it.
Google Now
You can access Google Now from any screen that enables you to search the Internet (except the Lock screen). Google Now provides you with information such as how long it takes to drive to work and the scores from your favorite teams.
Access Google Now
You can access Google Now from any app or the Home screen pane by pressing and holding the Home button.
1. Cards automatically appear based on your settings. Examples of these cards are scores for the stocks you track, sports teams you follow, upcoming meetings, weather in the location where you work, and traffic on the way to work.
2. Say “OK Google” to speak a search or to command Google Now to do something. You can also type your search terms.
3. Information relevant to your search appears.
In addition to searching the Internet using Google Now, you can command Google Now to do things for you. For example, you can tell Google Now to set an alarm for you, compose a text message, or even send an email. This is just a small list of the types of things you can have Google Now do for you. To see a comprehensive list of commands, visit http://trendblog.net/list-of-google-now-voice-commands-infographic/.
Set Up Google Now
For Google Now to work for you, you need to set it up correctly. This also means sharing your location information with Google.
1. Swipe in from the left bezel to reveal the menu.
2. Tap to add and manage reminders.
3. Tap Customize to customize what kinds of Google Now cards are displayed. This includes choosing sports teams, stocks, places, and TV and video.
4. Tap Settings.
5. Tap to manage what Google Now can search for. This can include apps you have installed, bookmarks and web history in the Chrome web browser, your contacts, Google Play Books, Movies & TV, and Music.
6. Tap Voice to manage how and when Google Now responds to your voice.
7. Tap to choose the languages that Google Now responds to.
8. Tap to choose whether Google Now should be listening for you to say “OK Google.”
9. Tap to choose whether Google Now works with a connected headset. You can choose to let Google Now use a paired Bluetooth device, a headset connected by a cable, or both.
10. Tap to choose when Google Now speaks back to you. Your choices are On (which means always), Off (which means never), or only when you are using a hands-free device (such as a Bluetooth headset or your car’s built-in Bluetooth connection).
11. Tap to manage whether Google Now speech recognition can work even when there is no Internet connection. This is achieved by downloading one or more languages to your phone.
12. Tap to block offensive words being spoken when search results are returned by voice.
13. Tap to allow Google Now to record your voice using your Bluetooth headset or built-in car Bluetooth.
14. Tap to save your changes and return to the main Google Now settings screen.
16. Tap to choose which of your Google accounts (if you have more than one) you want to use for Google Now.
17. Tap to manage any nicknames that you have previously set up (if any).
18. Tap to manage what information Google stores from your S7 to improve its capabilities. You can also see what has been stored, and delete it.
19. Tap to enable or disable the SafeSearch Filter that blocks offensive content.
20. Tap to enable or disable high-contrast text if you have a vision disability.
21. Tap to save your changes and return to the main Google Now settings screen.
22. Tap to manage how Google Now alerts you when new cards are ready and choose the ringtone that plays when they are ready to view.
23. Tap to enable or disable Now on Tap. See the “What Is Now on Tap?” note for more information.
24. Tap to save your changes and return to Google Now.
Now on Tap is a new feature of Google Now that provides contextually relevant information based on what you are looking at on the screen of your Galaxy S7. When Now on Tap is enabled and you press and hold the Home button, Now on Tap activates, but you can still switch to the regular Google Now screen by tapping the Google logo. For example, say I’m playing some Depeche Mode and I activate Now on Tap. It will suggest places on Google Now, Facebook, and YouTube where I can find more Depeche Mode content. It will also provide links to places where I can learn more about Depeche Mode and see and hear more Depeche Mode content on places like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and so on.
Tell Google Maps Where You Live and Work
Google Now can be even more effective if you configure your work and home addresses in Google Maps. Google Now uses that information to tell you things such as how long your commute to work will be, whether there is heavy traffic on the route, and so on. See step 3 in the “Configure Google Maps Settings” task later in this chapter for information about how to do that.
Google Maps
Google Maps enables you to see where you are on a map, find points of interest close to you, get driving or walking directions, and review extra layers of information, such as a satellite view.
1. Tap to launch Google Maps.
2. Tap to type a search term, the name of a business, or an address.
3. Tap to speak a search term, the name of a business, or an address.
4. Tap to get walking or driving directions from one location to another. You can also choose to use public transit or biking paths to get to your destination.
5. Tap to switch between the top-down view that always points North and the 3D view that follows the direction your phone is pointing.
6. Tap to explore points of interest near your current location.
7. Swipe in from the left of the screen to reveal the menu.
8. Tap to switch to a different Google account for use with Google Maps.
9. Tap to see your work and home address, plus addresses you have recently searched for.
10. Tap to view and manage your timeline. Your timeline is a map with plot points for all the places you have traveled while carrying your S7.
11. Tap to view and manage your contributions to Google Maps. This includes places you have rated or written reviews about and photos you have taken at places you have visited.
12. Tap to have places of interest appear on the map, allowing you to tap them and quickly get driving directions to those locations.
13. Tap to manage what areas of the map you have downloaded to your S7. When an area is downloaded, you can navigate that area while you’re disconnected from the Internet.
14. Tap to explore places of interest in your area.
15. Tap to overlay traffic conditions on the map.
16. Tap to overlay public transportation locations on the map.
17. Touch to overlay cycling paths on the map.
Changing Google Maps Settings
See the “Configure Google Maps Settings” task later in this chapter for more information about customizing Google Maps.
Get Directions
You can use Google Maps to get directions to where you want to go.
1. Tap the search field.
2. Type a search term, place name, or address
3. Tap the destination.
4. Swipe up to see information about the destination.
5. Swipe up to see additional information about the destination.
6. Tap to return to the map view.
7. Choose your mode of transport. You can choose to drive, take public transportation, walk, or cycle the route.
Public Transportation
If you choose to use public transportation to get to your destination, you have two extra options to use. You can choose the type of public transportation to use, including bus, subway, train, or tram/light rail. You can also choose the best route (fewer transfers and less walking).
8. Tap the Menu icon to change the way the map looks and to set route options. If you don’t want to make any changes, skip to step 19.
9. Tap to reverse the start and destination points.
10. Tap to share the directions with friends using social media and other methods like email.
11. Tap to overlay traffic conditions on the map.
12. Tap to switch between a satellite image and a regular map.
13. Tap to show terrain on a map view. If you select terrain, the traffic and satellite choices are unchecked.
14. Tap to set route options. If you don’t want to make any changes to the route options, skip to step 19.
15. Check the box to calculate the route to the destination while avoiding highways.
16. Check the box to calculate the route to the destination while avoiding tolls.
17. Check the box to calculate the route to the destination while avoiding ferries.
18. Tap Done.
19. Tap to start your turn-by-turn directions. Follow the voice prompts to navigate to your destination.
20. Tap the search icon to include gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, and coffee shops along the route. This is useful if you want to stop in at one of these locations during your trip.
21. Tap to adjust the volume of the voice prompts. You can choose to mute the voice prompts, play them at an increased volume, or play them at the normal volume.
22. Tap to orient the map to always face north, or to follow the direction that you are traveling.
23. Tap the Menu icon to change the turn-by-turn voice prompt settings including choose whether you want voice prompts while on a phone call, whether you want voice prompts to play over Bluetooth, and whether you want to be given an estimated time of arrival (ETA) when you connect to your car’s Bluetooth.
Configure Google Maps Settings
1. Swipe in from the left side of the screen.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap to edit your work and home addresses. Telling Maps your home and work addresses is important for Google Now to work efficiently, but it also helps you quickly plan new routes to work and home.
4. Tap to view and manage areas of the map that you have saved offline to your S7.
5. Tap to enable or disable the capability for your phone to report its location. You can also choose the accuracy of your location by changing the mode.
6. Tap to improve your location accuracy if you think that your phone is not reporting it correctly.
7. Tap to see addresses you have looked up and received directions to. You can also delete items in this list.
8. Tap to manage what notifications you receive from Google Maps. These include notifications about traffic events on the planned route.
9. Tap to set the distance unit of measure. You can either set it to automatic so that Google Maps adjusts it based on where you are on the planet, or you can manually set it.
10. Tap to choose whether you want to see a scale on the map always or only when you are zooming in and out.
11. Swipe up for more settings.
12. Turn the switch to on to enable a feature where you can simply shake your S7 to send feedback to Google about Google Maps.
13. Tap to change the navigation settings.
14. Tap to set the unit of measure, or leave it on automatic.
15. Tap to change the voice level of the spoken turn-by-turn directions.
16. Tap to enable or disable playing turn-by-turn voice prompts while you are on a phone call.
17. Tap to enable or disable playing turn-by-turn voice prompts using a Bluetooth headset or your car’s Bluetooth connection.
18. Tap to play a test of how loud the voice prompts are.
19. Tap to enable or disable a feature that tilts the map during turn-by-turn directions so that you can see a view from your perspective. Turning this off shows the map from directly above you.
20. Tap to enable or disable a feature that speaks your ETA when your S7 connects to your car’s Bluetooth connection.
21. Tap to add a shortcut to “Driving” on your Home screen. Tapping the shortcut in the future will take you straight to the navigation mode, but it will also provide ETAs on trips you have made in the past, such as driving to work or driving home.
22. Tap to save your changes and go back to the previous screen.
Use Offline Google Maps
Google Maps enables you to download small parts of the global map to your phone. This is useful if you are traveling and need an electronic map but cannot connect to a network to download it in real time.
1. Swipe in from the left of the screen.
2. Tap Offline Areas.
3. Tap the plus symbol to save a new area of the map offline.
4. Pan around to find the area of the map you want to save offline.
5. Pinch to zoom out or unpinch to zoom in to the area of the map you want to save offline. You cannot zoom out past a certain range.
6. Tap Download when you have the area of the map you want to save in the blue viewing area.
7. Type a name for the offline map and tap Save.
How Much Map Can I Take Offline?
When selecting the area of the map to take offline, you are limited to how far you can zoom out. That equates to around 1.5GB of map data. A saved map is automatically deleted after 30 days.