Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways I change Maps settings to improve my privacy on a new phone. I suggest turning off location history, notifications, and ads. Other features are worth enabling right away to improve Maps. Google Maps is my go-to navigation app, whether I'm walking, driving, or using public transit. I download it on every new device, which, after years as a tech journalist, means I've switched between a lot of phones and tablets . Each time, Maps is one of the first apps I install. But before I start using it regularly, I open settings and make a few changes to fine-tune the experience. Also:  I found a free Google Maps alternative that doesn't track me Google Maps is incredibly useful, but it also knows a lot: where I go, what I search for, how I commute, and which places I save.…