Google Maps for Android gets Wi-Fi mode and SD card support for offline download

[المشرف العام]

Google is adding a long-awaited feature to Maps app. The latest update to the Android version of the app brings a new Wi-Fi only offline mode and*the ability to download offline areas to an SD card, freeing up the internal storage of your phone.

To enable the new mode, you need go to the settings and*select “Wi-Fi Only”. As soon as you activate the feature, you’ll see a notification to save areas offline, and that a small amount of data may still be used while in Wi-Fi mode.

From the usability stand point the support for SD card is equally important. Google explains it on their blog:

Entry-level smartphones come with internal storage capacities as low as 4GB, while higher-end models range between 8GB and 32GB. For many of us, that’s not enough for all the videos, music, apps, and photos we cram onto our beloved smartphones. To ensure that Google Maps users with any storage capacity can download and use offline areas when they need them most, we’ve added the ability to download your offline areas to an external SD card (if your device supports them) on Google Maps for Android. Now you’ll never have to choose between snapping more food photos or the ability to navigate offline.​

These two features might not seem like a big deal but this is something that will allow people with budget phones or in the emerging markets to make much more use of their devices. If only Google introduced it back in 2008 when I had my HTC Desire…

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