Apple Maps

Apple Maps real-time transit information has now gone live in Tokyo, providing access to live timings for more than 20 railway, bus and tram lines.

Apple notes that iOS 18 will also bring topographic maps to Japan, allowing hikers, cyclists, and others to see the elevations of their planned routes …

Apple Maps has come a long, long way since its initial release with iOS 6 in 2012, and I prefer it in almost every way to Google Maps and Waze. However, there’s one reason I still find myself using Google Maps for planning: reviews, ratings, and pictures.

Apple is bringing Apple Maps to the web for the first time. In a press release today, the company announced that you can now access Apple Maps on the web using Safari and Chrome on Mac and iPad, as well as Chrome and Edge on Windows PCs.

The major upgrade for Apple Maps with iOS 18 is topographic hiking trails (same with iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, and macOS Sequoia). New features include detailed planning and guidance for custom hikes, the ability to save the maps offline, elevation details, and more. Here’s how to use Apple Maps topographic hiking trails.

Hidden in iOS 18 is much-needed, long-requested update to Apple Maps. There’s finally a “Search here” button that makes it far easier to find what you’re looking for in places that aren’t your current location.

Starting today, Apple Maps users in the Netherlands can access cycling route data on iPhone and Apple Watch. Dutch culture is known for being especially bike-friendly, so bringing this navigation feature to users is notable.

Apple’s iOS 17.4 software update for iPhone is now available. It features major App Store changes in the EU, new emoji for everyone, and a slight update to CarPlay.

Here’s how Apple describes the CarPlay update in iOS 17.4:

Apple is about to begin a big update to Apple Maps in the UK. The company revealed its plans to iMore on Tuesday, saying that it is kickstarting an eight-month project in the UK to collect new data and imagery to improve the Apple Maps experience in the country.

You can see more information about Apple’s data collection plans for Apple Maps on its website.

Ahead of Super Bowl LVIII kicking off in a few hours, you can head to the Apple Maps app and get a very cool inside look at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Apple has overhauled the Apple Maps imagery ahead of today’s Chiefs vs 49ers game, which will also include the Apple Music Halftime Show.

Sources indicate Apple plans to acquire Brighter AI, a German AI startup specializing in anonymizing face and license plate data. Apple aims to use this acquisition to enhance privacy features on Apple Vision Pro, 9to5Mac is told. Apple may be considering Brighter AI’s technology to minimize the risk of Apple Vision Pro capturing identifiable information in videos or photos taken in public.

Apple Maps errors have reportedly been costing small businesses thousands of dollars, by incorrectly showing them as permanently closed.

Business owners also say that it can be hard to correct the error, despite going through the process Apple recommends …

Apple Maps in Israel and Gaza has switched off the display of live traffic data, at the request of the Israel Defense Forces.

Google has done the same for both Google Maps and Waze, as tens of thousands of Israeli troops are expected to move into Gaza in a hunt for Hamas terrorists …

The new Apple Maps experience – which include more detail, better navigation, and Look Around – has today launched in two new countries, Denmark and Greece. This brings the total number of countries covered to 35.

Apple Maps expert Justin O’Beirne notes that this is the 20th expansion of the new mapping data, which the company built from scratch …

Apple has been slowly expanding its enhanced Apple Maps experience to more countries since 2018 when the company started collecting its own map data from scratch. Earlier this year, the new Apple Maps experience was launched in more European countries, including Austria, Croatia, and Poland. Apple has now confirmed that this experience will soon be available in Brazil.

Apple Maps EV routing, a feature that first debuted at WWDC in 2020, will soon expand to its third car. Ford is reportedly informing dealers that its F-150 Lightning electric truck will support EV routing in Apple Maps starting sometime later this year…

One of the big new features coming in iOS 17 is the addition of offline maps to Apple Maps, which lets you download a map region ahead of time and navigate without Wi-Fi or cell service.

Although several years behind Google Maps, the Apple Maps implementation of offline maps is very well done. In fact, it is even intelligent enough to remind you to download an offline map in advance, if you are getting directions to an area with poor reception.

With iOS 17 this year, Apple is further expanding on its set of features in Apple Maps for electric car owners. Starting this year, Apple Maps will show real-time charging availability information and let drivers choose a preferred charging network.

Apple Maps started rolling out an awesome interactive feature called “detailed city experience” as part of iOS 15 in 2021. After launching in just four cities, the feature has reached more than 20 locations around the globe.

After forming a collaborative mapping effort last year called Overture Maps Foundation, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and TomTom have officially launched their first open map dataset. The new free resource could be a compelling choice for developers who don’t want to rely on Apple or Google Maps.

The battle of Apple Maps versus Google Maps was once a very one-sided one, thanks to the disastrous launch of the Cupertino company’s own map app. But analysts say that is now changing – even though most US iPhone owners have Google Maps installed.

Ironically, one weakness of Apple Maps is considered a strength by some users …