google maps

Last month, google maps was one of my most used apps according to my weekly screen time stats. I was spending the month in another country and exploring a bit more than I do when home. During this time, I got better at using maps as I was traveling with someone who nerds out a lot about maps and directions and they put me on to using immersive view. It’s super cool! I also realized there’s skills to using maps. I am mostly dependent (having the maps on all through which drains the battery), so I have been learning to have just glances and interpret the directions.

Besides exploring, I mostly use the app to:

• check out restaurant reviews - I am stuck to a rule of only going to those with a 4.3 and above.

• casually browse while moving around, especially when in an uber, when I spot something and want to check if it's on maps. the world is always changing, and new things keep getting added, so I like seeing what’s new.

• add reviews for places I visit and want to see on maps - I’d love to do this more, but I always forget, plus, there was this one time a friend of mine left a bad review on a business page and got threats from the owner. now, I’m a bit hesitant to post if it’s negative feedback.

• keeping a ‘want to go’ list.

Thinking about it, Google Maps is among my top 5 apps of all time, I like hanging out there. it should have been on this list from 7 years ago.