All the Best Features of the Improved Google Apps

This week, Google rolled out a slew of improvements for a few of its reliable mobile apps — Maps, Calendar, and Drive, its cloud-storage system — updating each with the “Material design” introduced in the new Android operating system, Lollipop.

But with these aesthetic updates come a few functional improvements, too. Below is a brief roundup of the new, cool things your Google apps can do:

Google MapsIn addition to looking prettier all around, the new Google Maps app makes it possible to book reservations directly after looking up a restaurant.

So, after searching for a restaurant nearby, you’ll arrive at its regular page, as per usual.

But now, if you scroll down, there’ll be a series of buttons at the bottom of the page that display available reservation times.

Click one, and you’ll immediately be brought to a confirmation page, with your full name and email filled in.

You just have to add your phone number and tap the Confirm button at the bottom of your screen.

Finally, you’ll get an email confirming that the reservation went through, as well as information about the restaurant’s location, the time of your reservation, and — this being Google Maps — how to get there.

There’s also a minor improvement to the Uber-integrated feature in the app. Earlier this year Google added a feature to its directions service: When you look up how to get somewhere, Maps now tells you how long it will take when using the Uber car service, in addition to giving you estimated times by driving yourself, public transit, walking, or bicycling.