iPhone users can use Live View in Google Maps for better location sharing

Augmented reality in Google Maps brings digital arrows, pins, and markers right in front of you as you walk while looking through your phone's camera. Google Maps calls it Live View, it's been around since August 2019, and it's incredibly helpful when you're trying to get oriented or find an address or pinned location.

Google Maps announced Thursday that iPhone users will "soon" get to experience an updated Live View when location sharing, along with all Android users. Pixel — that's Google's own smartphone — users last month started seeing this upgraded Live View, which features even more helpful arrows and direction guidance to find a pinned location.

Now, if you open Live View in the Maps app when a friend shares a pin while chilling in the park, you'll see arrows and directions telling you exactly where to walk. This works best once you're in the vicinity and have your phone held out in front of your walking path. Just click on Live View and instead of guessing which meadow your friend is picnicking in, you'll be directed right to them.

Here's what that looks like in Brooklyn's vast Prospect Park:

Use AR for location sharing. Credit: google maps

Google Maps has also updated its Live View to label landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building and put pinned location markers in a more accurate alignment. (Here's the list of cities where landmarks will show up: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Dubai, Florence, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Kyoto, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Osaka, Paris, Prague, Rome, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, and Vienna.)

You can also find Live View in the "Transit" tab for when you're walking to or from a train station on the maps app. Live View only works on newer phones that are compatible with AR.