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Google Maps for Android has an awesome new feature – download the update right now

Published Aug 22nd, 2015 11:01AM EDT

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Google is at it again: The company has thought of a different way it can improve one of its best mobile applications, and you can get it now. Google Maps for Android version 9.13.0 is already available for download and it offers users a small but significant new feature: Fast access to Street View.

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If you use Google Maps on a regular basis, chances are you’re also a fan of the Street View feature that lets you check out the place you’re traveling to, especially if you’re not familiar with the surroundings. Street View offers you a digital walk experience, letting you view the address you’re heading to from street level, so you can get acquainted with a neighborhood in a foreign city before you even get there.

Android users who update Google Maps to version 9.13.0 will be able to access Street View on their devices by pressing a thumbnail image that appears in the lower left corner of the navigation window, as seen in the top picture. The thumbnail appears as you search for an address inside the application, or if you tap and hold on the map.

The update is available for download directly from Google Play (check out this link).

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.