Google just released an update to their Maps app for Android, bringing it to version 4.4. So far Google has bee releasing a fairly substantial update to this app every month for the past several months.

Rather than just talk about the new changes, in the following video I’ve broken down Google Maps based on its four distinct functions (including the new “Places” feature), and demo’d adding a Directions & Navigation shortcut to one of your home screens.

0:00 – Intro

0:49 – What’s new in Google Maps

1:43 – Overview of Labs

3:42 – Lattitude

5:10 – Navigation

6:10 – Directions & Navigation Shortcuts

7:44 – Changing to an alternate route

8:21 – Introduction to the new Places component

9:54 – Feature request

10:56 – How to add your own Directions & Navigation Shortcut