This Ancient Google Maps Zoom Trick Is Still Virtually Unknown
Google Maps is remarkably easy to use, yet the app is packed full of special features that aren't always obvious but can make the experience even better, such as a very handy and precise zoom trick. Being able to start at planet level and zoom in to an exact street address, then switch to Street View to travel virtually along the road is an amazing feat that was once impossible to achieve.
Before online maps and smartphones existed, computer-based versions were available via CD-ROM and DVD libraries, allowing a similar but much more restricted way to navigate. Most people still used large paper maps, since portability is important when traveling. Sometimes maps were made into books or placed on ring binders to provide greater detail over a large metropolitan area. It worked, but was not the rich experience that can be found when using Google Maps today.
When using Google Maps on an iPhone or Android device, pinching is an easy way to zoom. Dragging two fingers apart zooms in as if stretching the map while pinching inwardly shows a wider area. As nice as that very familiar mobile gesture is, there's an even better way that has been available for several years. By double-tapping and then dragging vertically without lifting the finger, a zoom slider effect becomes available. This provides a greater range than is possible with pinching in most cases and offers greater precision as well. The zoom effect will occur from the center of the screen not where your finger has tapped. The technique was demonstrated in a 2013 YouTube video posted by Herman Yung, highlighting just how long it has been around without many Google Maps users being aware.
Google Maps is full of features. The layers button that's in the upper-right hides a huge number of options including the well-known Satellite and Street View that give a real-world look at an area from the air and from the ground. Terrain maps reveal the elevation which is helpful when biking or walking. Map details are also placed behind this button, allowing the user to see public transit, traffic congestion, and biking routes. This is an important button to become familiar with and to explore.
Another valuable trick for Google Maps is to download portions for offline use. This can be very important if traveling through an area with poor mobile internet coverage or any places where there are breaks in connectivity due to the geography of the location. Big mountains and tunnels are challenging for cellular data. To see the offline options, tap the profile image in the upper-right and then on the Offline maps tab. Google Maps is an incredibly powerful and versatile tool that can be used with a single digit, even the pinky finger.
Source: Google, Herman Yung/YouTube