Apple By Sal Cangeloso May. 7, 2014 12:02 pm
Yesterday Google Maps received a significant update. One of the cooler features built into the mapping system is a new option that allows you to select Uber as a mode of transportation. It’s more of a time-saving feature than anything else (plus it might help get Uber in front of some more users) but it’s worth knowing about, especially since so many of us are regular Google Maps app users.
So how to you use Uber from Google Maps? The process is quite simple, but due to some unfortunate button placement, it’s not very intuitive. Note: We’ll be using iOS for this guide.
First of all, make sure the Uber and Google Maps apps are installed on your phone. You’ll want the newest versions, which were released in early May 2014.
To order your Uber, you’ll want to go to Google Maps and set up directions. Pick your starting location and your destination and then click the transportation icon. It’s normally a little car, but it could be a biker, walker, or a train. Because Uber is understood to be a form of public transportation, choose the train icon. (That said, it’s at the bottom of the walking option as well.)
If you have public transportation options available you’ll see them now — here in New York City that means subway routes. Don’t pick any, you’re traveling in style today.
Scroll to the bottom of that stack of route cards and you should see the option to Uber to your destination (see image at the right). If you pick that option you won’t immediately order a car, you’ll simply be kicked over to the Uber app, just as if you opened it. You can then pick the car option you’d like (UberT, UberX, Black Car, SUV, Rush), set your pickup location, and be on your way.
Basically the Google Maps+Uber experience ended up being exactly as if you had opened up Uber from the start. The main difference — and it is a pretty notable one — is that you’ll be able to see the expected travel times for each of you different transportation options. In the scenario above I could have taken the subway and gotten to my destination in 25 minutes or taken an Uber and been there in 12. If I clicked the walk tab it would have been more like 40 minutes.
So using Uber from Google Maps is incredibly easy, the key is having both apps installed, making sure they are updated, and then navigating to the right place in your card stack. It’s a nice little time-saver and a great way to explore an increasingly popular transportation option.
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So how to you use Uber from Google Maps? The process is quite simple, but due to some unfortunate button placement, it’s not very intuitive. Note: We’ll be using iOS for this guide.
First of all, make sure the Uber and Google Maps apps are installed on your phone. You’ll want the newest versions, which were released in early May 2014.
To order your Uber, you’ll want to go to Google Maps and set up directions. Pick your starting location and your destination and then click the transportation icon. It’s normally a little car, but it could be a biker, walker, or a train. Because Uber is understood to be a form of public transportation, choose the train icon. (That said, it’s at the bottom of the walking option as well.)
If you have public transportation options available you’ll see them now — here in New York City that means subway routes. Don’t pick any, you’re traveling in style today.
Scroll to the bottom of that stack of route cards and you should see the option to Uber to your destination (see image at the right). If you pick that option you won’t immediately order a car, you’ll simply be kicked over to the Uber app, just as if you opened it. You can then pick the car option you’d like (UberT, UberX, Black Car, SUV, Rush), set your pickup location, and be on your way.
Basically the Google Maps+Uber experience ended up being exactly as if you had opened up Uber from the start. The main difference — and it is a pretty notable one — is that you’ll be able to see the expected travel times for each of you different transportation options. In the scenario above I could have taken the subway and gotten to my destination in 25 minutes or taken an Uber and been there in 12. If I clicked the walk tab it would have been more like 40 minutes.
So using Uber from Google Maps is incredibly easy, the key is having both apps installed, making sure they are updated, and then navigating to the right place in your card stack. It’s a nice little time-saver and a great way to explore an increasingly popular transportation option.
More...
