SomeGoogle Mapsusers are suddenly discovering that one of the app’s more important features is now gone. Google Maps remains one of the most popular and frequently used navigation apps in the world, so the removal of any feature is sure to turn a few heads, and this latest deletion is likely going to rub a lot of users the wrong way as more users realize it’s missing.
According to a report from9to5Google, Google Maps hasremoved the “show media playback controls” and “default media app” options for Android devices.The features appear to still be available on iOS, so it’s currently unknown if this specific removal was intentional or a bug (viaAndroid Police). An April update previously removed the Assistant Driving Mode from the app.
Google Maps' Latest Change Could Be Here To Stay
Could This Just Be An Error?
With the initial removal of the Assistant Driving Mode, which aimed to minimize distractions while driving by allowing voice-controlled commands, and now an additional removal of the media playback controls, it seems the changes are focused ondiscouraging drivers from picking up their phones at all. The media controls from other apps still work in conjunction with Google Maps, such as Samsung Music.
The options are seemingly only affecting Android devices at the moment, soit remains to be seen if these changes are just a bugor if this is an intentional removal from Google. Updates to Google apps are far from uncommon, but this one isn’t a fun addition like theGoogle Calendar breakout game, and the lack of easy accessibility to phone controls while driving is likely frustrating for a lot of users and can even be dangerous.
It’s Unclear If The Removal Is A Bug Or Intentional
Software Update Bugs Are All Too Common
With how common updates are to apps, it’s impossible to tell right now if these removals were intentional, but since they are still reportedly available on iOS, this may just be a bug. Given Google’s ownership of Android and this being the Google Maps app,it seems like this could be an oversight. It wouldn’t be the first time Google has done something uncharacteristic, liketeaming up withAttack on Titan’s studiofor an anime.
Hopefully, Google or Android will make a statement soon regarding the removals. With so manyGoogle Mapsusers on Android, and with additions like aGoogle AI mode, it seems Google’s plans are quite ambitious, even if they may result in a possible bug like this one.
