Published May 9, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT Google Maps has been my default maps app since I switched from Windows Phone to Android. After using the app for years, I have mixed opinions about Google’s maps app. While I appreciate its ambition to become more than a navigation app, Google Maps nowadays feels more complicated than it should for someone who wants to use it as a navigation app. I no longer use Google Maps for navigation , but I haven’t given up using it for its advanced features. I especially admire its Timeline feature, which goes back in time and remembers where you have been and the routes you took. The Timeline feature deserves a special mention because it can do wonders when used the right way. To make the most of it, I used Google Maps and Gemini together. I didn’t expect it to work this well. I let Gemini and Google Maps talk to each other, and my vacation photos finally make sense. Here is why.…