We’ve seen quite a few lightweight versions of popular apps this year and now, it’s time for Google Maps to join the party, in the form of Google Maps Go.
Spotted on r/android, Google Maps Go is meant to be a more data-efficient, resource-friendly take on the standard Google Maps experience.
No ad to show here.
“Designed to run smoothly on devices with limited memory and on unreliable networks without compromising speed to provide your location, real-time traffic updates, directions, and train, bus, and city transit information,” reads an excerpt from the Play Store listing.
As for actual features, expect the usual real-time traffic information, point of interest listings, transit schedules (don’t expect reliable Metrorail times, I guess?), phone number listings and more.
Curiously, we don’t see any offline features listed on the Play Store. Where’s the map downloading functionality? You’d think this would be the biggest selling point (although the main app has offline caching too). We also have word from Android Police that the app seems to be a progressive web app (PWA), akin to Twitter Lite.
In any event, Google Maps Go joins Twitter’s lightweight app, Messenger Lite, Skype Lite, Google Search Lite, LinkedIn Lite and several other trimmed apps released in recent times.
