AN INFURIATING Google Maps change is driving users around the bend after a key feature vanishes from their phones.
Google Maps is now missing media playback controls for YouTube Music and Spotify on Android.
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With the removal of Driving Mode, users had to use the “Show media playback controls” feature that works with apps like YouTube Music and Spotify.
When navigating, this extends the bottom sheet with a bar that has album art, song name, and artist at the left.
In addition to playback controls at the right, tapping “Browse” shows nine suggestions to quickly switch.
There’s also a shortcut to “Open YouTube Music.”
Enabling this blocks the bottom half of the “Report” button, but it’s still tappable reports 9to5google.com.
As of Google Maps 25.28 (stable) and 25.29 (beta), these media controls have disappeared over the past week or so.
Settings > Navigation loses the “Show media playback controls” toggle and “Default media app” option.
The feature remains available on iOS but without Assistant Driving Mode, Google Maps really should provide easy access to media controls for Android users.
In an update posted on 9to5google – Google has said that it is “actively working to fix an issue that is affecting media playback controls on Google Maps.”
The disappearance was therefore just a bug which should be rectified soon.
More Google Maps News
Homeowners are being urged to take an extra step to protect their property, and it starts with Google Maps.
Experts warn that criminals are using the app’s Street View tool to scope out homes before breaking in.
One way to block burglars is to blur your home on Google Maps.
Street View images offer a clear shot of your property, including possible entry points, layout, and even your security setup.
That’s exactly the kind of information criminals are looking for, an expert said.
Professor Christopher Hermann, of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said thieves often check online before striking.
Protect your bank from raiding scams
Google Maps has also made an important change that can protect your bank from raiding scams.
The web mapping platform allows businesses to set up profiles which show up in local searches.
Most people assume they are accurate business listings, however, it appears thousands of them are fake and part of a scam.
Google recently unearthed over 10,000 phony listings in Google Maps, CBS News reported on Wednesday.
The listings varied from outright fake businesses to legitimate accounts that had been hacked or hijacked by cybercriminals.
Google swiftly removed the listings and filed a lawsuit against the alleged scammers.
