5 ways to get more from Google Maps for Android

We can't even begin to think how many Android devices have been sold off the back of Google Maps, but we'd imagine it's an awful lot.

Google's polished location and navigation app has become an essential part of any Android smartphone or tablet, and Apple's recent failure to emulate it simply highlights how good it is.

We don't cover many of the basics here because most people already know how to use them. Instead, we're concentrating on Google Maps' latest and greatest features.

For example, maps can now be stored on your device for when you're abroad and without a mobile signal. It's worth remembering that your device's GPS will still function in these situations, too, so you'll never get lost again.

1. Get local

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