Apple Maps Surveyor on Foot

Most Apple Maps surveyors use vans with cameras on top to gather info of areas. However, a MacRumors reader found a man wearing an Apple Maps backpack with a huge camera setup. The setup appears to have the same technology used on the Apple Maps vans. The pedestrian setup seems to fall in line with rumors saying that Apple is looking to put more focus on walking directions in Apple Maps. Given the difficulty of surveying on foot, this will likely be limited to just major metro areas. I would definitely like to see if this would translate to indoor directions.

Image Credit: MacRumors

Revamping Apple Maps

Apple Maps has long been criticized for incorrect or inaccurate directions. Apple has announced that it will rebuild Apple Maps from the ground up over the next year using street-level data and satellites. Apple will become much less reliant on third parties. All of Northern California will be covered by this fall [Source: TechCrunch]. Hopefully this change is for the better and helps put Apple "back on the map."

Image Credit: TechCrunch

Apple Maps in Japan

Japan's heavy use of public transit can be very confusing to tourists. However, Apple Maps makes navigating Japanese public transit a breeze. Simply input your destination into Apple Maps and select Transit. You'll be given a route with the amount it will cost. In addition, all of the train lines are clearly depicted with their appropriate symbols and departing times. Exits are also labeled. This is definitely one of the best ways to use Apple Maps. In addition, with the rumors of using ARKit for indoor navigation, we could see train station navigation improve soon.

Uber's Apple Maps Integration Has Disappeared

iOS 10 brought third party integration for Apple Maps. For example, getting directions would offer you ride sharing options. Uber and Lyft were the two that were featured typically. In addition, Siri would be able to book a ride for you. However, Uber's latest update removes this [Source: MacRumors]. Is this intentional? Was this Apple's or Uber's decision? Will Lyft follow? There's a lot of confusion right now as to why this happened. Hopefully, we get an official statement eventually.

Image Credit: MacRumors

Indoor Maps Rolling Out in iOS 11 Beta

Indoor maps, announced with iOS 11, have begun rolling out to users running iOS 11 [Source: MacRumors]. Select major airports and malls will now have detailed interior views of floors and shops. You can also view where stairs, elevators, restrooms, and gates are in the map. This is just one of the major Maps features coming out in iOS 11, along with lane guidance in directions.

Image Credit: MacRumors

Apple Park on Apple Maps

Apple Park has been added to Apple Maps, complete with 3D models and its own icon. It's quite a spectacle considering the unorthodox design of the building. The icon is the now iconic ring of the campus. The Steve Jobs Theater is also displayed on the map. Be sure to check it out on Apple Maps.

Apple Maps Adds Transit to Houston for Super Bowl

Since the Super Bowl is this coming Sunday, Apple has added transit information for Houston, Texas, the city where the annual football game will be played this year. While Amtrak was previously supported by Apple Maps, other methods, such as METRORail, have been added. This will certainly be useful to some people who are visiting for the big game, but it should be noted that Apple Maps also books ride sharing services like Uber, which is becoming a popular alternative to public transit.

The Simpsons Reference in Apple Maps

There's a small detail that many will miss in Apple Maps for iOS. If you tap the info button, choose "Add a Place," and select "Other" from the types of places, you'll be taken to a map to position a marker and a text field to enter the name of the place. However, you may notice that there's some hint text with an example. It reads "e.g. Moe's Tavern." This is a reference to Moe's Tavern in The Simpsons animated series. It's nice to see that the developers had some fun with this by adding such a small detail.

Apple Maps Will Use Drone Data

According to Bloomberg, Apple will use some drones that can map landscapes. These drones can identify street signs and monitor roads and construction. This would be a quick and easy way to ensure your maps are accurate and up-to-date. Apple has filed their paperwork to the Federal Aviation Administration, so it seems this project is well underway. 

iOS 10: Parked Car

One of the nice things about Maps in iOS 10 is how it tracks where you park your car. If your car works with your phone via Bluetooth or CarPlay, you should be able to see where you parked your car in the main maps menu. Depending on your Calendar events, your parked car should be second or third on the list. Just tap it and you should get walking directions to your car. Note that you should be somewhat distanced from your car. I'm not sure what determines this distance, but you typically have to park in a parking lot for it to work. I hope this helps!

iOS 10: Maps

Booking a table using Apple Maps

Proactive suggesting directions

Apple Maps has had a rough start, but in iOS 10, I found that the Maps app has finally grown into a full-fledged navigation system and then some. The Maps app uses the cohesion of the Apple ecosystem, the functionality of third-party apps, and the intelligence of Apple's Proactive technology to create an amazing experience. Here's a scenario that happened to me recently: after a family gathering, we decided to go out to lunch. I pulled out my phone and reserved a table using OpenTable through the Maps app. My Maps widget updates and adds the restaurant's location to its list. It also kept the location of my car. I could choose to drive, walk, use public transit, or request a ride sharing service, like Uber, for my transportation method. While giving me directions to the restaurant, my Apple Watch tapped me whenever the directions were updated or a turn was coming up. Different haptics tapped my wrist as I got near a turn. It was pretty intuitive. Anyways, I feel like Maps has finally redeemed itself after its initial issues. I would definitely recommend trying out Maps again. I never really get the chance to use navigation since I typically drive from Point A to Point B everyday, and will use my car's built-in GPS system. But now that I have done this, I will probably use the Maps app whenever I get the chance to go somewhere new.

Apple Maps Adds Transit Information To San Diego

Apple has finally added transit data for the San Diego area. Information added includes the San Diego trolley in the Downtown area. This has been a long time coming as Los Angeles got this feature many months ago. Apple Maps rolls out these updates in over-the-air waves. In addition to San Diego, transit information has been added for British Colombia.

Image Credit: MacRumors

Apple Maps Adds Transit for Rio

Apple Maps adds transit information for cities by the city. Normally, the addition of transit isn't really newsworthy, however this one is different. Rio de Janeiro has had transit information added to Apple Maps. This is important because this is the location of the upcoming Summer Olympics. Potentially, this could give us hints as to when and where Apple will update their transit information. For example, they may add transit information to San Diego just before Comic Con. 

Apple Maps Is 3x As Popular As Google Maps On iOS

Although criticized at its launch, Apple Maps has put its awkward past behind it. It was plagued with some bad directions for some people which gave it a bad impression on users, caused Scott Forstall to lose his job, and spawned a joke on the HBO tech-comedy, Silicon Valley. Google Maps even poked fun at Apple by making as big a deal as possible about their Google Maps app for iOS. Now, these issues have been worked out and Apple had a good talk with their data providers in the back room of their headquarters where many people seem to go into, but few come out. Apple Maps is now used three times as much as Google Maps on iOS devices. It should be noted that there is no Apple Maps for Android and there is no Apple Maps user base for Android devices, but there is a Mac app.

"Apple says its mapping service is now used more than three times as often as its next leading competitor on iPhones and iPads, with more than 5 billion map-related requests each week. Research firm comScore says Apple has a modest lead over Google on iPhones in the U.S., though comScore measures how many people use a service in a given month rather than how often."

New Flyover Locations

There are 7 new Flyover locations in Apple Maps. They are Almería, Braga, Jerez de la Frontera, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Kingston upon Hull, and San Juan. Flyover allows you to see photorealistic 3D tours of locations To see these amazing sights in Flyover mode, just go to one of these locations in Apple Maps on your Mac or iOS device and find the Flyover button. 

Self Driving Apple Car?

In Concord, California, a strange Dodge Caravan, supposedly leased to Apple, was spotted roaming around the area. It may be an attempt to improve Apple Maps by adding a "street view" mode. For all we know, it could be Apple's attempt at a self driving car. Check out the video embed below.

Flyover City Tours

In iOS 8, you can now get Flyover Tours. It takes you around different landmarks of certain cities. Just open Maps in iOS and search for a city. If it has a tour, it will have a button for it at the top of the screen. Try out the Statue of Liberty or the Eiffel Tower for starters.

Apple Maps Have Improved

Since its release, Apple Maps have been the pinnacle of criticism for users. There were many incorrect directions and addresses. However, Apple has been improving their service. Many people find that they see improvements every Friday. In addition, Apple has bought some mapping companies which could assist with Maps in iOS 8.