Google Maps Rival Announces a Massive Update on CarPlay

Google Maps is most often their final destination, and despite the application not offering the same advanced experience as on Android, it's still a leading choice in the Apple ecosystem.

The number of Apple Maps and Google Maps alternatives keeps growing, and Sygic's navigation solution is one of the best today.

Thanks to the most recent update, this application has an even more compelling feature lineup on CarPlay. Sygic focused specifically on improving the experience behind the wheel for Apple users who connect their iPhones to their infotainment screens.

The first important change in Sygic for CarPlay is the improved signposts. The parent company says the update comes with clearer information about streets, numbers, and roads, so the navigation guidance is more straightforward on the screen.

Navigation apps offer turn-by-turn guidance in two different ways. The first is voice guidance, which relies on audio instructions to provide information on the next turn and help you follow the suggested route. The second uses visual guidance, as you get the next-turn details on the screen. Applications highlight the route and use banners to offer information on the next turn, including the street and the distance to the checkpoint.

Sygic's updated CarPlay information refines the latter with additional data on the next turn, so you can see the street name and the remaining distance.

The navigation specialist has also updated the iOS application with support for live activities. If you own an iPhone 14, you probably know this is an essential feature of the latest Apple operating system. The Dynamic Island allows the iPhone to display live activity information – in Uber, you can see your vehicle approaching the pickup point without unlocking the phone and launching the app.

Live activities in Sygic's app allow users to access the next turn information and the estimated time to the destination from the lock screen. You can lock the iPhone and then get route information by just looking at the display, so you can save power and check the other notifications on your iPhone.

Sygic for CarPlay now allows users to also control the music playback. This isn't a new feature, as Waze previously integrated such capabilities specifically for uninterrupted navigation. Music apps now connect with Sygic's navigation software, so you'll see a music playback overlay as you drive. Switching to the music app is no longer required, as everything is available within the app.

The navigation expert also insists that users of its app must report incidents to contribute to safer roads. Like Waze, Sygic allows users to report traffic incidents, with the application generating warnings for the other motorists on the road. The feature works like a charm in Waze and is the big innovation that sets the Google-owned application apart from the rest of the crowd.

Sygic isn't the only company trying to build a solid Waze alternative. Apple has also tried to provide users with traffic reporting support, but the adoption of this feature in Apple Maps is making painfully slow progress. Apple users aren't very keen on sending traffic reports, mainly because the current implementation feels half-baked in the first place.

Apple Maps only supports three types of reports: accidents, speed traps, and other hazards. The iPhone maker did not reveal if it plans to add more categories, but for now, Apple Maps lags behind Waze significantly regarding traffic reports.

Last, Sygic's CarPlay update includes a makeover of the Points of Interest integration in the navigation app. Users can access additional POIs, such as fuel prices, EV chargers, and other important locations relevant to your route. You can also see POIs like pharmacies and ATMs while navigating.

All these goodies are already available in the latest version of Sygic's GPS Navigation app on CarPlay. If you're a subscriber and have already installed the new build, the features should be live on your device. All you have to do is update Sygic's iPhone application with CarPlay to automatically get the new capabilities.

If you're still looking for other Google Maps alternatives on CarPlay, Apple Maps remains the native choice. OsmAnd also helps users navigate to a destination safer and more conveniently. TomTom and HERE have developed similar navigation solutions, providing route guidance and a series of extras, such as offline maps.

Apple Maps will also receive support for offline navigation with the release of iOS 17 next month. Compared to Google Maps, which only supports offline maps for driving, Apple Maps will also support other transportation modes, including walking and even transit. The new Apple Maps update will be available on all devices supporting iOS 17, including iPhone XS and newer. Older models won't get the update, so offline maps in Apple Maps won't be available, making alternative apps the only option.