New Google Maps features are coming this year

Google Maps fans got a look at some big updates during the first day of Google's I/O conference on Tuesday.

First up is an expansion of Live View, the AR feature that allows Maps users to see more information about the area around them with the help of their phone camera.

Google announced the feature will work in prominent indoor spaces like transit stations and malls. It will also be easier to see details about a business or landmark straight from Live View.

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Google Maps is also getting a couple of new features for the normal overhead map view. That includes what Google called "detailed maps," which essentially display things like crosswalks and stoplights on top of the information that's already present. Detailed maps are coming to Google Maps in more than 50 cities by the end of 2021.

Another new feature is "Area Busyness," which will alert you if your destination is experiencing more crowd congestion than normal. Google demonstrated this with the Spanish Steps in Rome, highlighting the overly busy area in yellow.

Area busyness in action. Credit: google

Last but not least, Maps will start tailoring what shows up when you open the app based on the time of day. For instance, if you open Maps at 8 a.m., you'll be more likely to see location badges for coffee shops than for bars. However, open the app at 8 p.m. and it might show you the opposite.

Google didn't specify exact release timelines for any of these features, but they're all coming this year.