Google Maps has a more accurate direction indicator for all users

Users of Google Maps starting to see a new display style for the direction indicator last month. The indicator is the small arrow that shows which way your device is pointing on the primary maps and navigation interface. It's clearly not an arrow anymore, it's a general "beam" indicator that shows the direction your approximately facing as well as how accurate your device's orientation reporting is. This new feature is now going to be available to all users according to the official Google Maps blog.

As well as including the new direction indicator, the Google Maps blog guides users to do the usual figure eight motion with the device to calibrate their phones quickly. It can be performed at any time and it doesn't need to be activated in the settings menu.

Although these are small changes, the beam indicator does give more information and also reminds us to use the calibration tool when needed. The change is on the server-side, so you don't need a specific version of Google Maps to use it. If you don't have it on your smartphone or tablet right now, you'll probably receive it later this week.