A hidden change to Google Maps will let your friends always see where you are.
Google is trying out a change to its Maps app that could change how people share their location in real time.
Although the location sharing feature has been around for a while, many users are unaware of it, as it is not prominently displayed in the application interface.
Currently, to share your location from Google Maps, you need to click on the blue dot that marks your location on the map. This will bring up a menu with the "Share location" option, which creates a link and opens a sharing panel where you can choose the app you want to use to share.
Google has noticed that this feature is not easy to find, and is working on a more straightforward solution.
In the latest beta version, a floating button was discovered that allows users to share their location with a single click, eliminating the need to click the blue dot. This button includes an icon that combines the share icon with a location tag.
The button only appears when the user is focused on their current location and disappears automatically when browsing the map.
This isn't the only change in development: Google is also testing tweaks to the user interface while browsing. The drop-down menu, which currently displays several options in a list format, may be transformed into a grid with larger, more visually appealing icons. Some features, such as satellite maps or traffic information, will be moved to the settings menu, as they are not updated frequently.
As is usually the case with this type of testing, there is no guarantee that all of these new features will eventually make it into the stable version.