Google Maps will predict your next destination
Google is rolling out an update to Google Maps for Android that includes a new Driving Mode feature.
Using your location history and recent web searches, Google will try to predict your next destination and send out notifications about traffic conditions, road closings, and other relevant information. With Driving Mode the app will offer addresses for home, work, or recently searched locations when you start the app.
Google already introduced a similar feature to Google Now – the virtual assistant built into Android. It also predicts certain things, such as destinations but this is the first time this kind of functionality made it into the Maps app.
The feature appears in Google Maps version 9.19.0 for Android and for now it’s quite difficult to activate. Lifehacker reports that in order to activate it you need to sign out of Google Maps in the app, turn-off and re-open the app. Now you should see a “Start driving” button on the list of options under the left-side menu and after signing in back to Google Maps, the Drive Mode should start working.
Some users may have privacy concerns but Google makes it quite clear that it tracks your location. One of the hidden features called Google Location History has made it last year to Google Maps app menu. It shows you were you’ve been and how much time have you spend on different activities.
Driving Mode proves that the Google Now-like predictive services are the direction we will see in more and more Google’s products and services.
source: Android Police