Photo: Apple Maps
Apple keeps working on expanding the detailed city experience in Apple Maps to more regions, but the company has been rather tight-lipped on this front in the last few months.
However, it doesn't mean Apple isn't expanding at least certain features of Apple Maps to more regions.
It happened in the Netherlands not long ago, as Apple enabled cycling routes in this country, enabling navigation, elevation data information, voice guidance, and POI information for public toilets and bicycle repair shops.
Cycling navigation in the Netherlands is a no-brainer, as the country is the perfect example of how people can leave their cars at home and use more sustainable transportation. Apple might feel late to the party, considering everybody in the Netherlands has at least one bike, but the iPhone maker investing in Apple Maps more aggressively nowadays is no surprise.
Apple canceled its ambitious Apple Car project, so it's now rethinking its automotive strategy. The Apple Car was the product spearheading the expansion in the car space, and without this project, Apple had to embrace a strategy that looked a lot like Google's.
Compared to the iPhone maker, the search giant didn't invest in developing an electric vehicle but planned to stick with services and software to conquer the cabin. Android Auto, Android Automotive, and Google Automotive Services have already landed in the car world, and Google keeps insisting on this front to expand its presence in the industry.
Apple dropping the Apple Car project means the company must also focus on software and services, and CarPlay and Apple Maps spearhead this push.
Cycling directions landed in Apple Maps in 2020 with the release of iOS 14, but Apple has never been very committed to expanding availability. The feature is still limited to a handful of locations, including London, Barcelona, the United States, Japan, and France.
Meanwhile, Apple is also catching up with Google Maps using the detailed city experience. It's the most Apple Maps overhaul, sporting in-house maps with rich details, including trees, buildings, sidewalks, and medians. The new Apple Maps also includes incident reporting and offline maps, so users can navigate to a destination without an Internet connection.
The feature has been available in Google Maps for a long time, but it's a sign that Apple wants to build a better competitor. The upcoming iOS release, due in the fall, will also include new features for Apple Maps users, including support for custom routes. Users will be allowed to configure routes on their computers and send them to mobile devices and CarPlay via the Apple ID. More information will probably be shared at WWDC next month, when Apple will discuss how it plans to improve Apple Maps in the short term.
It happened in the Netherlands not long ago, as Apple enabled cycling routes in this country, enabling navigation, elevation data information, voice guidance, and POI information for public toilets and bicycle repair shops.
Cycling navigation in the Netherlands is a no-brainer, as the country is the perfect example of how people can leave their cars at home and use more sustainable transportation. Apple might feel late to the party, considering everybody in the Netherlands has at least one bike, but the iPhone maker investing in Apple Maps more aggressively nowadays is no surprise.
Apple canceled its ambitious Apple Car project, so it's now rethinking its automotive strategy. The Apple Car was the product spearheading the expansion in the car space, and without this project, Apple had to embrace a strategy that looked a lot like Google's.
Compared to the iPhone maker, the search giant didn't invest in developing an electric vehicle but planned to stick with services and software to conquer the cabin. Android Auto, Android Automotive, and Google Automotive Services have already landed in the car world, and Google keeps insisting on this front to expand its presence in the industry.
Apple dropping the Apple Car project means the company must also focus on software and services, and CarPlay and Apple Maps spearhead this push.
Cycling directions landed in Apple Maps in 2020 with the release of iOS 14, but Apple has never been very committed to expanding availability. The feature is still limited to a handful of locations, including London, Barcelona, the United States, Japan, and France.
Meanwhile, Apple is also catching up with Google Maps using the detailed city experience. It's the most Apple Maps overhaul, sporting in-house maps with rich details, including trees, buildings, sidewalks, and medians. The new Apple Maps also includes incident reporting and offline maps, so users can navigate to a destination without an Internet connection.
The feature has been available in Google Maps for a long time, but it's a sign that Apple wants to build a better competitor. The upcoming iOS release, due in the fall, will also include new features for Apple Maps users, including support for custom routes. Users will be allowed to configure routes on their computers and send them to mobile devices and CarPlay via the Apple ID. More information will probably be shared at WWDC next month, when Apple will discuss how it plans to improve Apple Maps in the short term.
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