Use maps on the iPhone

Never get lost again with the iPhone's Google-driven Maps app

 Search

At its most basic, this app provides all the roads you'll need to find your way around. Tap the Search button and type in an address, post code, shop or landmark.

 Find your location 

You can quickly find your location anywhere in the world, thanks to the iPhone's GPS. Simply tap the arrow in the bottom-left corner. Press it again and the map will rotate to show you the direction you're facing.

 Directions and transport options

Tap the Directions button at the bottom of the screen. Here, you can enter a start and end point. Tap Route in the lower-right corner to get your directions. The app offers you instructions for car, train and on foot.

 Show traffic 

From the main Maps screen, tap the page curl button to bring up options, including the ability to show traffic on the roads using Google's services.

 Drop pin

You can drop a pin to set a location that you want to remember or navigate to or from. Do this by either tapping and holding the point on the map where you want to drop a pin, or pressing the page curl icon at the bottom-right and selecting Drop Pin. If it doesn't fall quite where you want it, you can pick it up and drag it to the correct location on the map.

 Street View  

  Relatively new to Google Maps (at least in the UK) is Street View. Street View gives you a panoramic photo view of your location (or any other place you choose). To access Street View, tap on the glowing blue circle (your location) and then touch the orange circle icon with a person inside it. To see Street View in any other location, either use the Search button, or drop a pin and then repeat the above.

Different ways to view your maps 

Tap the page curl icon at the bottom-right of the Maps screen. You'll see a list of available views. The Map is a basic view of roads, railway lines, stations, bus stops and most waterways, and will load quickly even on a slow GPRS or EDGE connection. Satellite view is an overhead image of the area, ideally viewed over a 3G or Wi-Fi link. Hybrid view combines the simplicity of the Map view with the detail of the Satellite images, overlaying roads, bus stops and railway stations onto the overhead photos. 

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