NET 11/24: Google Camera Control

Google says:

Hello Google Maps Customer,

We are changing the Google Maps JavaScript API controls to reduce the space they occupy on maps by default and to improve the accessibility of panning the map.

We’re reaching out to you because we have observed one or more of the following criteria:

Your end-users use the Zoom buttons significantly more than the average.
One or more of your maps explicitly disables the Zoom control.
One or more of your maps have customized controls.
We have provided additional information below to guide you through this change.

What you need to know
Map controls are visual elements that allow user interaction with the map, including zooming the map, enabling Street View, and changing the Map Type.

Version 3.58 adds a new Camera control in the Google Maps JavaScript API to make panning the map accessible with a single gesture. This feature will be available in the upcoming week. This new Camera control will feature buttons for panning the map and for zooming the map in and out, effectively being a single control to guide the map’s viewport.

The upcoming changes are listed in the table below.

Date Available in Channel Changes Implemented
In the upcoming week In the Beta channel The updated default map controls will replace the Zoom control with the Camera control.
In the upcoming week

In the weekly channel

Version 3.58 and version 3.59 will offer the Camera control without changing the default map controls.

In November 2024

In the quarterly channel

In February 2025

In the weekly channel

Version 3.60 will contain the updated changes to the default map controls.

In May 2025

In the quarterly channel

What you need to do
Before the default controls are updated
Test the new Camera control on your maps before the default changes in version 3.60 reach the weekly channel in February 2025 or the quarterly channel in May 2025.

To test the Camera control:

If you use default controls in your map options, specify the Beta channel to see how the default controls will change.
If you do not use the default controls, or prefer not to change to the Beta channel in your loader, enable the Camera control, and optionally disable the Zoom control, in google.maps.MapOptions.
After the default controls are updated
Consider taking one of the following actions after the default controls are updated to include the Camera control instead of the Zoom control in version 3.60 in February 2025 for the weekly channel and May 2025 for the quarterly channel.

If your code explicitly enables the Zoom control (zoomControl: true), both the Zoom control and the Camera control will be displayed. Consider choosing one to save on map space.
If your code explicitly disables the Zoom control (zoomControl: false), you may also want to disable the Camera control.
If your code explicitly enables the Zoom control (zoomControl: true) while keeping the default controls disabled (disableDefaultUI: true), only the Zoom control will be displayed. For better accessibility, consider enabling the Camera control instead.
If more time is needed
If you need more time before adopting the default controls, you can specify version 3.59 which will be available until February 2026.