Google Maps wants to put you in a rock star's Mustang
Google Maps now allows you to use Benson Boone's Mustang to represent your vehicle.
Google Maps, available for both iOS and Android, is the number one navigation app in the U.S., with as much as a 70% market share in the country. When it comes to navigation, Google Maps is all business unlike its stablemate Waze, which Google purchased for $1.3 billion in June 2013. Waze's cartoonish UI is a sign that using the app delivers more fun per mile for your journey than Google Maps.
Google wants Google Maps to be as much fun to use as Waze
With Waze, you can have your turn-by-turn directions given to you by Christina Aguilera, the Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Hudson, a scary clown, or your own voice. To do that, from the Waze app, tap the hamburger menu icon found at the upper left corner of the screen. Tapping on that will take you to another menu with your name on tap. Press Settings > Voice and sound. At the top of the Voice and sound screen is an icon that looks like a speaker. Tap on it, press the plus button next to "Add a voice," and follow the directions.
Drive a rock star's car...as your icon on Google Maps. | Image credit-PhoneArena
You can see that using Waze might make you laugh while navigating. Waze also allows you to select an icon for your vehicle from a rather lengthy list that includes brand partnerships. To customize your ride, once again tap on that three-line hamburger menu at the upper left corner. Tap on Settings > Map display > Car icon and select the one you want. Hell, you can even have a dirigible (Airship, or blimp) represent your vehicle. There are more than 65 different options to choose from.
But would a more "serious" navigation app like Google Maps offer something similar? Google Maps added custom vehicle icons for the iOS version of the app last November. Google brought the feature to the Android version of the app back in February. Google Maps users are limited to default vehicles with custom color and car type customization (more on this below). Now, Google is bringing to Google Maps, for the first time, a custom vehicle icon partnership.
Starting this past Thursday, Google Maps users can replace the default vehicle icon or the arrow used to represent their current position on Google Maps with the classic Mustang owned by American singer and songwriter Benson Boone. To change the icon to Boone's Mustang, start navigating anywhere, even if you're not going anyplace. Tap the current arrow or vehicle icon and swipe until you see the Mustang option. If you don't know a Mustang from a Jeep, don't worry. A caption underneath the vehicle will tell you when you're at the Mustang.
This partnership is part of an effort by Google to bring more Waze-like features to Google Maps. Besides Benson's Mustang, you can select other vehicles such as a generic sedan, SUV, or pickup truck. As we already noted, you can change the colors of these vehicles. It should be noted that Benson's Mustang isn't available to Canadian Google Maps users.
Boone's Mustang is available on both the iOS and Android version of Google Maps
All of the above Google Maps features, including the use of the Mustang icon, are available on both the Android and iOS versions of the app. Google Maps is the navigation app by default on Android. So if you want to add Waze, tap this link to be directed to the Play Store, where you can download Waze on your Android phone.
On iOS, the default navigation app is the ever-improving Apple Maps. If you want Google Maps on your iPhone, press on this link to install it from the App Store. If you want to add Waze to your iPhone, click on this link to do so.
Speaking of Benson Boone, if you happen to check out directions to any of the venues where Boone will play during his upcoming U.S. tour (like Madison Square, for example), you will find the Google Pegman icon dressed in Benson's attire. This is available only on the desktop version of Google Maps.
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