Maps Ride Helper

How Panda opens Uber or Rapido from Google Maps with your destination already filled in.

Maps Ride Helper is a feature of Panda (package com.blurr.voice), an Android accessibility app from Steepwind Labs. Panda is declared to Google Play as an accessibility tool.

What it does

When you look at a place in Google Maps, Panda shows a small row of buttons under the Maps search bar: Uber and/or Rapido. Only ride apps that are installed on your phone are shown.

Tap one, and that ride app opens with your destination already filled in. You do not have to type the address again.

Who it is for

Typing an address a second time is slow and tiring for many people, including people who:

• have motor impairments, tremor, or limited dexterity
• have low vision
• use a screen reader

Maps Ride Helper turns that into one tap.

How Panda reads the place

Panda reads the place name and address from the text Google Maps shows on screen, using the Android Accessibility Service. This happens on your phone. Panda never reads your GPS or location in the background.

What is sent, and to whom

• Uber: Panda passes the destination address to the Uber app on your phone.
• Rapido: Rapido needs map coordinates. If Google Maps shows them (for example, for a dropped pin), Panda uses them directly. If not, Panda sends the destination address to Panda's server to look up its coordinates (geocoding), then passes them to the Rapido app.

Nothing else is sent. No location history and no screen content.

Nothing is booked for you

Panda only opens the ride app with the destination filled in. It does not book anything. You always check and confirm the ride yourself inside Uber or Rapido.

You stay in control

Maps Ride Helper is on by default for Panda users. After you tap Uber or Rapido, a small notice says "Ride opened by Panda". It has three options:

• Keep: leave the feature on.
• Disable: turn the feature off straight away.
• Know more: open this page.

You can also turn off Panda's accessibility service at any time in Android Settings → Accessibility.

Not affiliated

Panda and Steepwind Labs are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Uber, Rapido, or Google. Their names are used only to say which apps this feature works with.

Questions

Does Panda book rides for me?

No. Panda opens Uber or Rapido with the destination filled in. You confirm the ride in that app.

Does Panda track my location?

No. Panda does not read your GPS or location in the background. It only reads the place Google Maps is showing on screen.

What is sent to Panda's server?

Only the destination address, and only for Rapido when Google Maps does not show coordinates. It is used to look up the coordinates Rapido needs.

How do I turn it off?

Tap Disable on the "Ride opened by Panda" notice. Or turn off Panda's accessibility service in Android Settings → Accessibility.

Contact

Questions or feedback: support@heypanda.org. Full privacy policy: https://www.steepwind.com/privacy-policy.