Google Maps brings new feature to iPhone users

Forgetting where you parked your car happens to everyone, but it can become a problem in crowded places like airports, stadiums, or large shopping centers.

For years, navigation apps have allowed users to manually save their parking location, CE Report quotes ATA.

Now, Google Maps has introduced automatic parking location saving. This feature, available for iPhone users, is very similar to what has long been offered by Apple Maps, though with some differences.

The main innovation introduced by Google is automation.

If your smartphone is connected to your car via Bluetooth, USB cable, Android Auto, or CarPlay, the app interprets the end of your trip as a key signal.

When the connection to the vehicle is lost (because the engine is turned off, the cable is disconnected, or the infotainment session ends), Google Maps determines that the car is parked and automatically saves the location.

A PIN appears on the map, which can remain visible for up to 48 hours, unless manually removed before that.

When the system detects a new start, the same PIN is automatically removed, avoiding confusion with previous stops.

This eliminates the need to remember to tap the blue dot and select “Save Parking,” as was required in the past.

The mechanism relies on a combination of digital signals. The first is the connection between the phone and the car: its interruption is interpreted as the end of the trip.

This is complemented by motion data provided by the phone’s sensors, such as GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope, which allow the system to distinguish a real stop from simple traffic congestion.

The same principle is used by Apple Maps on the iPhone: when CarPlay is turned off or the phone loses connection with the car, the system saves the last position as the parking spot.

The difference is that Apple tries to keep that position until it is overwritten by a new similar event, whereas Google has chosen a more “dynamic” approach, deleting the PIN as soon as the car starts again.

GPS signals can weaken, reducing the accuracy of the saved location. That is why Google Maps combines multiple data sources, trying to maintain a reliable location even in complex environments.

Compared to Apple Maps, Google focuses on automation, while Apple favors simplicity.