All articles tagged with #apple maps
iOS 26 introduces several new features for iPhone users, including systemwide AutoFill for credit cards, a new Visited Places feature in Apple Maps that tracks locations with privacy safeguards, and the ability to pin favorite music in Apple Music for quick access, enhancing convenience and usability.
Apple is planning to introduce search advertising in Apple Maps starting in 2026, allowing businesses to pay for prominent placement in search results, similar to App Store ads, with AI to improve relevance. This move could face consumer backlash due to concerns over increased advertising on the iPhone, which already displays ads for Apple services. The feature is expected to launch possibly in spring 2026 with no specific date confirmed.
Apple Maps in iOS 26 introduces a new beta feature called Visited Places, which helps users remember where they've been by logging visited locations with end-to-end encryption, offering detailed controls and privacy protections, though it is currently only available in the US and may have bugs as it is still in beta.
Leaked iOS 26 beta code suggests Apple Maps will soon include a natural language search feature and a thermal management system to prevent overheating during navigation, although the search feature is not yet available in the latest beta.
Apple has announced that due to EU regulatory concerns, certain features of iOS 26, including the 'visited places' service in Apple Maps, will be delayed or unavailable in the European Union at launch, as the company works to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
iOS 18 will introduce several new features including the ability to freely place app icons and widgets on the home screen, customize app icon colors, create custom routes in Apple Maps, a revamped Control Center, text effects in Messages, and a redesigned Settings app. These updates aim to enhance user customization and functionality.
iOS 18 is rumored to bring two upgrades to Apple Maps, including support for custom route creation in the United States, allowing users to plan their own specific routes, and the addition of topographic maps to the iPhone, offering contour lines, hill shading, elevation details, and points of interest. These updates signal Apple's plans for iOS 18 and follow the app's recent improvements, such as new EV features and offline maps support.
Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce topographic maps to the Apple Maps apps in iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2, expanding on the feature initially introduced with watchOS 10. The addition of topographic maps, which include trails, contour lines, elevation, and points of interest, is expected to be useful for outdoor activities such as hiking. This follows the recent report on another potential Apple Maps feature, support for custom routes. The expansion of topographic maps is anticipated to be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10.
Apple may introduce support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps with the upcoming iOS 18, allowing users to input self-selected routes for travel. This feature, initially limited to the United States, would enable users to choose specific roads for scenic purposes or familiarity. The update is expected to be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, alongside other rumored features such as greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement.
Apple Maps and Google Maps have both undergone significant improvements over the years, with Apple Maps addressing initial criticisms and adding features like real-time traffic information, immersive walking directions, and offline map downloads. Google Maps has introduced enhancements such as Immersive View for Routes and Lens in Maps, as well as more detailed representations of buildings and improved lane guidance. Despite these advancements, some users still prefer Apple Maps for its cleaner design. Both apps continue to compete for user preference in navigational guidance.
The latest iOS 17.4 beta introduces a new CarPlay feature that allows users to display upcoming maneuvers in the instrument cluster of supported vehicles. This feature gives users the option to switch the display type between the main and instrument cluster by tapping on the map configuration button. The update also includes preparations for the launch of next-generation CarPlay later this year and is expected to be released to the public in March.
Apple's iOS 17.4 beta 4 introduces a new CarPlay feature that brings a "new instrument cluster experience" to supported vehicles, displaying information about upcoming maneuvers on Apple Maps. Users will be able to switch between the main and instrument cluster screens by tapping the map configuration button. The feature is not tied to next-generation CarPlay but is related to cars that support dual-screen Apple Maps via CarPlay, with slow adoption in select vehicles from automakers like Polestar and Volvo.
Apple Maps has updated its imagery for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, allowing users to get an inside look at the venue. This coincides with the second Apple Music Halftime Show at the Super Bowl, which will feature Usher. Apple executives Tim Cook, Eddy Cue, and Deirdre O’Brien are in Las Vegas for the event, and while Apple isn't streaming the halftime show on Apple Music, viewers can tune in to the Super Bowl broadcast or use services like Fubo TV for streaming.
This week in Apple news, leaks about the iPhone 16 reveal changes to the main camera and potential support for 3D recording, while iOS 17.3.1 is set to address text display bugs on the iPhone 15 ahead of the upcoming iOS 17.4 release. Reports suggest that Apple is facing challenges in developing a foldable iPhone, and a patent for a MacBook-compatible Apple Pencil-like device hints at potential touchscreen integration. Additionally, Apple is quietly acquiring AI startups to bolster its capabilities, and Apple is set to launch its Apple TV, Apple Music, and Apple Devices apps on Windows, signaling the end of iTunes on the platform. Lastly, Apple Maps issues in Edinburgh have led to vehicles driving down a former road that's now a flight of stairs, prompting the council to take action.
A small restaurant in Australia reportedly lost nearly $8,000 due to a significant downturn in customers after Apple Maps incorrectly listed the business as "permanently closed." The owners, Chris and Pum Pyatt, struggled to update the listing as they did not have an Apple product, and customer support was unhelpful. After reaching out to Apple, the listing was eventually updated, but the pin location shown on the app was also incorrect. This incident highlights the impact of navigation app errors on businesses and the challenges faced by non-Apple users in updating Apple Maps listings.