Google Maps on Android now does a better job of guiding users

Google has just released a small but cool update to Maps that should help anyone that uses the app on Android better navigate unfamiliar locales.

The company has replaced the tiny arrow previously found in Maps with a blue beam. Google suggests thinking of this blue beam as a kind of guiding flashlight.

If the beam widens, it means your phone is having issues with its compass — according to Google, doing stuff as simple as passing a metal pole can cause a smartphone’s compass to get misaligned. Conversely, the narrower the beam, the more accurate it is.

Thankfully, Google has also introduced an easy way for Maps users to recalibrate their smartphone’s compass. Once you’ve updated Maps, simply moving your smartphone in a figure eight, as shown in the nifty GIF below, will recalibrate your phone and get you back on the right track.

Yeah, you’ll look silly for a bit, but at least you won’t be lost.

The feature is currently only available on Android smartphones.

[source]Google[/source]