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Google Maps gets full offline support on Android, coming soon to iOS

There are so many things that Google Maps can do...when it's online. Not so much when it's offline though. All this just changed. In a major revamp, Google has given Maps -- its popular navigation and mapping tool -- full offline support. It is now live and running, on Android. Meanwhile, an iOS overhaul -- with the full set of features -- is coming soon, it announced.
Starting Tuesday, users can not only search (for a destination) but get turn-by-turn driving directions for the same as well, online or offline, doesn't matter. Users basically have to download the map -- of an area -- to their device, while it is online. Selecting (and downloading) an area is as simple as specifying a city, state or pin code, and tapping on download. Size of the area they want to save has been left to users' discretion. Once downloaded, you can use the piece of map the same way as you'll use when it's online, with some difference in features.
"Whereas before you could simply view an area of the map offline, now you can get turn-by-turn driving directions, search for specific destinations, and find useful information about places, like hours of operation, contact information or ratings

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