Google Maps is undeniably the most used map service today. It faces competitors that also have a lot to offer, such as Waze (which we remember also belongs to Google), Apple Maps, Bing maps, Here… in short, the list is extensive and in many cases also categories, but Despite this, the Google service remains the choice of the majority users who regularly turn to it when they need to know how to get from point A to point B.

Its use extends to a number of scenarios, that is, we can use it to orient ourselves on a walk, to find a station, to find the best combinations of public transport and of course, to circulate in any type of vehicle receiving instructions about the route we are taking. Whether we’re talking about a bicycle or a truck with more axles than a mere mortal can accommodate, with everything that fits in between the two extremes.

Which brings me to a situation that virtually everyone who drives and doesn’t have Android Auto or another screen-based system in their vehicle has seen, which is this: you look up a route on your phone, hit it, and go. AND everything goes well until suddenly the smartphone screen turns off when you’re driving 120 on the freeway, which undoubtedly means it’s not the best time to unlock your cell phone to keep seeing directions. I can say that I have been in this situation more than once and it is not exactly pleasant.

Well, this finally has a solution. As we can read on ZDNet, Google Maps now displays next route indication details on the mobile lock screen. The feature is available on both Android and iOS apps and its deployment has already begun, although it is not yet clear whether its reach is already global or will be rolled out gradually. However, I bet Google’s plans are much closer to the former option than the latter.

This undoubtedly significantly improves the safety of driving with Google Maps, but it also prevents us from missing notifications from other applications and It also saves us some battery. This is, and I usually repeat it whenever possible, one of those simple changes that doesn’t involve a huge technological burden, but is a huge improvement in terms of usability, just like what I said before. Google showed us at MWC 2024.