Google Maps update brings new features and is now iPad-compatible

Google Maps version 2.0 rolled out Wednesday morning, almost a week after the updated Android debut. The update finally brings G. Maps to the big(ger) screen, plus a plethora of welcome features. Here are some you should keep an eye out for.

(Credit: Screenshot by Tuong Nguyen/CNET)

1. Explore
It seems like the big G is butting heads with rivals, Yelp and Foursquare with its Explore function. Instead of inputting a destination, you can pull down the touch keyboard to see the Explore panel. Explore gives you five different options of Eat, Drink, Shop, Play, and Sleep. Each Explore option will pull up related or nearby places.

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(Credit: Screenshot by Tuong Nguyen/CNET)

2. Live Traffic and Event Reports After the Waze buyout, we were hoping to see some of the social mapping app's features in the next Google Maps release. That wasn't the case; however we can see that Google is taking small steps down that path with Event Reports. Now you can be alerted to en route obstacles with live traffic information.

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(Credit: Screenshot by Tuong Nguyen/CNET)

3. Indoor Maps Just like its Android and Web counterparts, Google Maps for iPad is now useable indoors. You can view the inside of buildings (provided Maps has the submitted floor plans) and plan your trip accordingly. Although a cool feature, at first glance, it can undoubtedly be useful at major, hard-to-navigate locations, like at the airport, convention halls, or the adult maze that is IKEA.