Useful new features are reportedly coming to Apple Maps in iOS 18. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple Maps could receive a pair of big updates this year: “Custom routes” and topographic maps. A developer from Argentina spotted the two new features recently in Apple code, saying they could arrive in iOS 18 and macOS 15.
If true, the changes will make Apple’s navigation application more useful for both drivers and hikers.
Apple Maps' use of 3D imagery led the way, but in other ways it trailed Google Maps. Photo: Apple
After its launch in 2012, Apple Maps performed so badly that Apple CEO Tim Cook actually apologized for the service and fired the company’s head of software (for the disastrous launch and other reasons). But now, many people actually choose Apple Maps over Google Maps and other services, according to a new report.
These are smaller features, but they’re no less awesome. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
iOS 17 has a lot of great headlining features — and many more features Apple didn’t have time to mention during the WWDC23 keynote. Today, I’m going one level deeper: Here are 10 more tweaks and smaller changes that could have a big impact on daily life with your iPhone after you update to iOS 17.
Apple Maps can route users to their destinations even without a cell signal. Photo: Apple
Apple is fixing one of the biggest annoyances of Apple Maps on iOS 17. You can finally download maps for offline use, complete with turn-by-turn directions.
Google Maps has long offered the ability to download maps for offline use. This allows you to use the app for navigation even when not in network range.
Love live music? Apple Maps and Apple Music now offer new ways to find concerts. Photo: Apple
Good news for live-music lovers rang out Tuesday. Apple said new concert-discovery features it just added to Apple Maps and Apple Music will help music fans and artists connect in major cultural hubs worldwide.
Do you like this alleged iOS 17 Apple Maps Lock Screen Live Activity? Renders: @analyst941
Apple will reportedly bring a new Apple Maps Live Activity to all iPhones with iOS 17. The new Lock Screen layout will show the date and time at the top and the navigation directions on the display’s bottom half.
Your unread notification count, flashlight, and camera app shortcuts will appear below it. A swipe-up on the Lock Screen will expand the Notification Center and show all notifications.
Apple Maps now has the SpotHero parking-space finder built in. Here's how to use the new combination. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPhone users can now find a parking space with Apple Maps. Starting Monday, the navigation application has SpotHero built in, giving parking options for more than 8,000 locations across North America.
The feature is free, though the spaces are not. Here’s how to use it.
Apple will reportedly start showing ads inside Apple Maps on iPhone starting next year. The company is looking to generate more revenue from its ad business in the coming years.
Apple currently displays ads inside the App Store and certain apps like Apple News and Stocks.
With the addition of Hawaii, now you can get turn-by-turn biking directions in all 50 states. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
If you ride a bike, now you can now get turn-by-turn navigation from Apple Maps in all 50 states. That’s because cycling directions recently arrived in Hawaii.
If you get rolling now, there’s just time to bike through the whole country in … never. Not gonna happen.
But it’s nice to know directions are available all over if you ever need them.
Apple has revealed the future of Maps at WWDC22. Photo: Apple
Speaking on the virtual stage at WWDC22, Apple’s Craig Federighi and Meg Frost unveiled a handful of changes which are heading to the built-in Maps app, including support for multi-stop routes and changes to MapKit.
Enjoy a more detailed city experience, with 3D buildings and landmarks. Images: Apple
Apple Maps users in Canada can now enjoy a more detailed mapping experience, as well as enhanced navigation, in several big cities.
Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver are the latest to get Apple’s most recent Maps upgrades — which first debuted in London, Los Angeles, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area in iOS 15 last September.
Apple is no longer concerned about angering Russia by saying Crimea is part of Ukraine. Screenshot: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple Maps now indicates that Crimea is part of Ukraine. That shouldn’t be a surprise … it is. But the app reportedly showed the peninsula as part of no country in the wake of the 2014 Russian invasion and subsequent occupation.
It appears Russia’s recent invasion of the rest of Ukraine pushed Apple to change the way it labels the region.
What's popping out of Apple's magic pipeline this year? Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Will Apple blow our minds (and our wallets) with a devastating blitz of new hardware in 2022? Signs point to yes. This week we’re discussing the latest rumors about new Apple gear coming this year — and trying not to get too excited.
Also on The CultCast:
Tim Cook’s alleged stalker sounds just plain sad in Apple’s restraining order application.
And the Apple CEO’s house has disappeared behind a massive, Minecraft-looking wall in Apple Maps.
You can make make your house go to blurs-ville, too!
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
But this kind of digital scrubbing isn’t reserved for top CEOs and celebrities. In fact, anyone can quite easily get their own home hidden from online maps. All you need to do is ask Apple and Google to conceal the locations. We’ll show you how.
Cook's Palo Alto home is hidden from virtual visitors. Image: Apple Maps
Apple fans who take a virtual stroll through Palo Alto inside Apple Maps and Google Maps no longer get to see Tim Cook’s house. The modern, four-bedroom condo has had a giant digital wall erected right in front of it.
The Detailed City Experience lands in Philly. Image: Cult of Mac
Apple Maps’ “detailed city experience” has landed in Philadelphia, where you can now see beautiful 3D buildings, landmarks and more.
First spotted by users on Twitter, the upgrade has since been confirmed by Apple’s website. Philadelphia joins London, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., in the 3D experience.
The iOS 15 updates to Apple Maps include 3D imagery and much more. Photo: Apple
With iOS 15’s biggest-ever update to Apple Maps, the Cupertino tech giant said users in several major cities can experience a 3D view with rich detail, enhanced navigation, immersive walking directions and more.
September 12, 2012: Apple introduces the iPhone 5, with a super-slim form factor that makes it the thinnest smartphone in the world.
The new iPhone also brings impressive upgrades such as a greatly improved display and the Lightning port. Despite some controversy, it proves a massive hit.
Apple donations through August 29 plus content collections help celebrate 105 years of America's national parks. Photo: Austin Mann Photography/Apple
With the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) turning 105 years old, Apple said today it will donate $10 for purchases of its products from official sales points to the National Park Foundation (NPF) through August 29. The Cupertino tech giant will also share new ways for customers to learn about and celebrate America’s parks.
You can help out others by rating businesses in Apple Maps. And post pictures to. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple Maps now lets users in the United States give a thumbs up to businesses. They can also submit a photo. The Ratings and Photo feature has been around for a while, but is just now expanding to the U.S.
There are so many big changes in Apple’s upcoming iPhone, Mac and iPad operating system updates that it might be easy to miss some smaller ones. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple made an enormous number of changes in its 2021 operating system updates. Many of these drew plenty of attention — like the FaceTime upgrade — but some useful improvements might have been overlooked in all the hoopla.
Here are nine new features in iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey you might have overlooked.
Apple CEO Tim Cook wraps the WWDC21 keynote on June 7, 2021. Photo: Apple
Some new features really stood out when Apple revealed the next versions of all its operating systems during Monday’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. Users of iPhone, Mac and iPad, and Apple Watch, too, can look forward to welcome improvements this fall.
We picked out the best of these to make sure they don’t get overlooked.
Certain launch cities will get highly detailed views in the iOS 15's updated Apple Maps Photo: Apple
In iOS 15, Apple Maps will gain new features that make life easier for anybody using the app to navigate the world. An interactive globe will give users a new way to dive into Apple Maps. Enhanced details will make driving safer and less confusing. And new features will make exploring certain cities simpler than ever.
“Our goal has always been to build the world’s best map,” said Meg Frost, product design director of Apple Maps, during Monday’s WWDC keynote. “So we looked at everything we’ve done so far and asked ourselves, ‘How can we push things even further?'”