John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 06.16.2022 09:Jun AM EDT

Google Maps’ New Widget Can Show Live Traffic Around You… but for Android Phones Only

Google Maps users will soon be able to see live traffic around them.

Google recently announced it is adding a new widget to Google Maps wherein users will be able to see real-time traffic predictions even through their phone's lock screen.

The search giant recently added a feature to Google Maps that allows users to see toll pass prices for Android and iOS devices.

Google Maps Live Traffic Widget Details

Google mentioned in its announcement that it is adding a new widget that allows users to view traffic conditions and predictions around them in real-time, which can also be accessed on an Android smartphone's lock screen.

The new widget is reportedly an extension of Google Maps' feature to show live traffic conditions and predictions on the app. It will also be an "extra, user-friendly tool" for users to have a better idea of how to get to different places while avoiding as much traffic as possible, per Tech Crunch.

Android Central mentioned that the widget would come as a conventional-looking square tile that uses Google's advanced Machine Learning Techniques to anticipate and display real-time traffic at a user's current location. The app does this prediction by analyzing historical traffic patterns databases in connection with live traffic conditions.

The widget can also be zoomed in or out to see traffic in a specific area without the need to unlock the phone to view a wider version of the map in the app, unlike before.

However, you will need to keep the main Google Maps app launched for the widget to work.

"If you're about to leave home, work, school, or anywhere else, you'll know at a glance exactly when local traffic might be like," Google said.

The love-traffic widget will be available to Android users in the coming weeks, Google said. However, the company didn't mention if the widget would be available to Google Maps' iOS version.

With the live-traffic widget's addition, Google says that its first-party widget count on Android will be at 35, per 9to5Google.

Other New Google Maps Features

Google Maps' new live-traffic widget isn't the only thing that's new with the app.

Google also recently added a new feature on Google Maps that will allow users to see toll pass prices for Android and iOS devices to help make choosing between tool roads and regular roads easier.

Google Maps users in the US, India, and Indonesia will be the first to experience this new feature soon, but the search giant didn't specify exactly when the feature will be live.

Google Maps also received a new layer wherein users can easily find places with fresh air and where active wildfires are spotted. It also includes the necessary details to help people choose where they want to go.