Google Maps Adds New Features, Except ‘Pause Navigation’

The latest updates to Google Maps include exciting new features that enhance navigation and user experience, although ‘Pause Navigation’ is still missing

Look, we have all been there. You are on a journey and decide to pause for food or fuel. Then, Google Maps begins to bark at you (rudely) to return to the road. The app cannot relax when a pit stop is necessary, even though the corporation possesses abundant money and AI chips.

So when Google announced on Wednesday that it would be introducing two new features to Maps, a small part of my mind harbored the optimism that this would be the day the conflict would be resolved.

Unfortunately, neither of the features that Google has announced can halt navigation in the middle of a journey. The organization is simplifying the process of reporting incidents such as construction, lane closures, and police presence.

Additionally, the destination, building entrance, and adjacent parking lots will be more prominently displayed, which should assist individuals unfamiliar with the area. Excellent!

Indeed, in a scenario like the one I have just described, it is possible to exit the navigation system and reactivate it after acquiring the necessary sustenance or fuel.

This is the exact solution I obtained from Google’s own “AI Overview” while researching instances of other individuals requesting that the company incorporate a delay function into the Maps app.

One could also include the pit stop as a “waypoint” in the journey to prevent the app from persistently rerouting, as recommended in the top result from Google’s support community. However, this imposes an additional labor and mental burden on an individual already operating a vehicle.

Upon being questioned by TechCrunch, Google clarified that the navigation will automatically pause if the stop has already been added as a “waypoint” to the journey.

But if you decide to stop on a whim, the company also recommends that you terminate the journey and recommence it once you have completed the detour.

People have been requesting this feature from Google for years, and I know I am not the only one. And to be truthful, Apple Maps does not possess this feature either. Neither does the other leading alternative, Waze, which Google also owns.

This is Silicon Valley, the region that burns money to eliminate friction. The tech industry has contributed to integrating convenience into all aspects of contemporary life. Consequently, why is it permissible for this specific instance of its absence to persist?

I added additional information from Google regarding alternative methods for managing mid-trip pauses.