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Latest Google Maps update for Android moves the mapping off of your phone

Published May 20th, 2015 7:45AM EDT

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Google is about to update the Android version of one of its most popular mobile apps, hiding in Google Maps 9.9 for Android a not-so-secret feature that smartwatch users will love: support for Android Wear.

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According to Android Police, as long as your mobile device has Google Maps 9.9 installed and your smartwatch is running Android Wear 5.1 or later, you should be able to finally have Google Maps running on the smartwatch.

The Google Maps icon can be seen inside the launcher of Android Wear devices, and the app already works, although it doesn’t appear to be that stable.

The major features of the smartwatch version of the app include support for zooming in and out of maps (via buttons or pinch-to-zoom gestures), a compass/locator button and nearby places. All in all, Google Maps for Android Wear offers users a “pretty basic” functionality for the smartwatch, the publication reports, which might be more than enough for such tiny gadgets.

Google is yet to fully release Google Maps for Android Wear though, but you can already give it a try, assuming you’ve got all the devices you need running their respective software components.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.