Latest news with #AppleMaps'
Android Authority
20-05-2025
- Android Authority
5 reasons I prefer Apple Maps to Google Maps on Android (and many reasons I don't)
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority It might sound odd to many of you but my go-to maps app on my Android phone has been Apple Maps for the last month or so. No, there's no native app. Yes, I've had to rely on a web-based bookmarklet. But guess what, I don't really mind it. Sounds weird? Turns out, Apple's mapping experience is better than you might think. In fact, in some ways, I actually prefer it over Google Maps. Now, before you inevitably call me a fanboy in the comments section, I'll say it up front: Google Maps is still the most comprehensive maps app out there. It's also the best option for most people, including me, when I just need to get somewhere fast, which is most of the time. That said, Apple Maps has been steadily improving, and this isn't my first stint with it. As someone who dual-wields Android phones and an iPhone, I've come to appreciate what Apple is trying to achieve. So, I wanted to see if the browser-based solution could hold its own on Android. Here's why I've been reaching for Apple Maps more often on Android, as well as all the things that still hold it back. Where Apple Maps shines Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority I'm a sucker for good design, and Apple usually sets the standard. Apple Maps is no exception. The clean interface just looks better. There's less clutter, less information overload, better readability, and a general sense of calm to the experience. That's something I've come to appreciate a lot while losing my mind in New Delhi's roadrage-inducing traffic. Even the web version on Android retains that typical Apple sheen. Compared to Google Maps, which constantly throws Local Guides, reviews, and ads in my face, Apple Maps feels like it actually wants me to focus on the road. Apple Maps' interface is a calm antidote to chaotic commutes. That sense of calm extends to actual navigation, too. Clear prompts like 'second lane from the right' are significantly more helpful than vague arrows when navigating chaotic flyovers or sharp turns. Despite Google Maps pulling seniority in the realm of mapping solutions, it still doesn't always get this right. Over the last month, I actually made a point to observe how the two apps performed, and as it turns out, I missed more exits because of Google Maps than Apple Maps. That's not something I expected. Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority It's not just the navigation that's kept me coming back to Apple Maps. Lately, I've been planning a couple of trips, and I've really enjoyed another feature that makes Apple Maps stellar for a very specific kind of user. If you, like me, like to peek around neighborhoods while planning out a trip, you will love Apple's curated travel guides. While browsing maps of cities like New York or Tokyo, I've come across beautifully designed collections of must-visit spots — from local food joints to cultural landmarks. These aren't crowdsourced reviews or rankings, but carefully picked recommendations from trusted sources like The Infatuation, Atlas Obscura, and Michelin. For someone trying to build an itinerary or just looking for inspiration, these guides offer a focused, clutter-free starting point. Unlike Google Maps, Apple Maps has kicked it up a notch and tied up with niche travel-adjacent apps like AllTrails for runners and hikers, and Calm for those seeking the best meditation spots in a new city. These guides don't cover every destination – Paris and London are the only two European cities featured right now – and they're nowhere near as exhaustive as what you'd find digging deep into Google Maps. But when available, they're genuinely helpful. Especially if you're the type who gets overwhelmed by thousands of star ratings and endless user photos. I really hope Apple keeps expanding this. When I want a curated, clutter-free starting point, Apple's guides hit the mark. By and large, switching back and forth between Apple Maps and Google Maps, the key takeaway is that the experience you get depends heavily on how you prefer your recommendations. Apple leans on curation, while Google is powered by the crowd. With Apple Maps, you're not choosing from 500 restaurants in one neighborhood. Instead, you're being pointed toward a dozen solid picks with context that actually matters. It won't replace deep research, but when I simply want a dependable shortlist to get started with, Apple's guides hit the mark. Of course, there's one more reason why I've been dabbling in Apple Maps. I've always felt uneasy about how much of my life is tied to my Google account. With Apple Maps, there's no login required on the web. No ads. Just maps. Apple's use of rotating identifiers and limited data retention is one more line of defence against location-based tracking. It's not completely private – that's probably not even feasible with an inherently personal app like a mapping app — but it's way better than what I get from Google. Where Google Maps still wins Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority But for all its pros, Apple Maps is far from perfect. Let's start with the obvious: It's not a real app. Using a browser-based maps app on a phone isn't ideal, and it's not something you can easily ignore. Sure, you can pin to your home screen and pretend it's an app, but it doesn't behave like one. No turn-by-turn notifications. No offline mode. No lock screen prompts. No street view. It works fine in a pinch, but if I'm driving or navigating somewhere remote, I switch to Google Maps because it just works better in those situations. Step outside a major city and Apple Maps starts to fall apart. The other major issue for me is data availability and detail. I understand this will improve over time, and it might not affect most users in the US. However, for me here in India, the lack of detailed data is a deal-breaker the moment I step out of a major city. In a place like India, where addresses are vague and landmarks matter more than street names, Google Maps has an insane advantage. It's had years of data collection and crowd-sourced improvements. Apple Maps is getting better, but it still misses random shops, newer apartment complexes, or smaller businesses that Google nailed years ago. Google's integration of Waze data into the navigation experience is another reason to stick with it. Road closures, speed traps, police presence, and accidents are all updated in near real time. I've never seen that level of info on Apple Maps, especially not through the web version, and definitely not in India. Apple Maps isn't perfect, but it's getting there Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority Look, I'm not trying to convince you to ditch Google Maps for Apple Maps on Android. That would be silly. Google Maps is still the most complete mapping tool out there, especially for day-to-day use in any country, but particularly in my home country of India. As an avid traveler, I can confirm that Google Maps should be your mapping option of choice in most countries outside of major global cities. If Apple ever makes a proper Android app, I could genuinely see myself switching full time. But I've been pleasantly surprised by how usable Apple Maps is, even as just a web app. It's cleaner, more focused, and in some ways, more enjoyable to use. If Apple ever makes a real Android app and keeps improving its data layer, I could absolutely see myself switching over full-time. Aesthetics may not matter to everyone, but to me, they do. Apple Maps renders terrain, parks, and landmarks beautifully. The colors are soothing, the transitions are smooth, and everything just feels more cohesive. Google Maps is functional, but with its ever-growing feature set, it feels like the user experience has taken a back seat. I'd go as far as saying it looks like it was designed by engineers for engineers. Apple Maps feels like it was made for humans. For now, I'm keeping both tools on hand. Google Maps is my daily go-to, but I know I'll be keeping a close eye on Apple Maps.
The Star
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Why Google Maps is still broken in South Korea: It might not be about national security anymore
SEOUL: It's 2025, and if you try to get walking directions in Seoul using Google Maps, you will still run into the same dead end: the "Can't find a way there" screen. For many tourists, it's both frustrating and baffling. Google Maps offers turn-by-turn walking directions in cities as far-flung as Pyongyang, the capital of the hermit kingdom of North Korea — yet, in Seoul, one of the most digitally advanced cities in the world, it can't guide you from your hotel to the nearest subway station? For almost two decades, the issue has been blamed on national security. South Korea has strict laws that block the export of high-precision map data, supposedly to prevent misuse by hostile actors. But in 2025, that argument is wearing thin, and a more fundamental tension is coming into focus: Should Google be allowed to freely commercialise taxpayer-funded public data without meeting the standards that domestic companies must follow? Google says it needs Korea's best map. But that's only half the story. The map at the centre of this issue is a government-built, high-resolution 1:5000 digital base map maintained by the National Geographic Information Institute. It's publicly funded, annually updated, and rich with layers like sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and road boundaries. Any Korean citizen or entity can access and use it for free. Google claims that without exporting this data to its global servers, it cannot fully enable core features like walking, biking or driving navigation. The global map giant, which relies on processing map data through its global infrastructure, has repeatedly asked the Korean government for permission to export the NGII base map. Its latest request, filed in February this year, is the third since the issue first surfaced in 2007 and again in 2016. A final decision from the government is expected this August. But experts say Google's "we can't do it without the map' argument is overstated. 'Yes, the 1:5,000 map would help, especially for pinpointing pedestrian pathways,' said Choi Jin-moo, a geographic information science professor at Kyung Hee University. 'But Google could build the necessary layers on its own, using its vast trove of satellite imagery and AI processing, just like it does in countries that don't share any base map data at all.' The evidence is all around. OpenStreetMap, a crowdsourced platform, offers walking navigation in South Korea. So does Apple Maps, despite not having access to NGII's dataset or exporting any official Korean geospatial data. Google already provides walking directions in places like Pyongyang, where mapping data is sparse, and in countries like Israel and China, which impose strict restrictions on geospatial exports. 'If Google can make it work in North Korea,' Choi said, 'then clearly the map is not the only barrier.' To be fair, this doesn't mean Apple Maps' walking routes in South Korea are actually any good. For example, it doesn't show crosswalks, stairs or underpasses. Naver Map and Kakao Map do, because it has access to the ready-made detailed data. But even then, what professor Choi posits is that, what Google gains by accessing the NGII map might not be feasibility, but convenience. "Rather than spending time and money building its own map layers, it would get a ready-made foundation that is free, publicly funded, and immediately monetizable through ads and API licensing," Choi added. Google Maps offers full walking (left) and driving (right) directions in Pyongyang, North Korea — features that remain unavailable in South Korea. - Screenshots from Google Maps S. Korea's national security argument is crumbling South Korea's longstanding concern is that exporting detailed mapping data could expose key infrastructure to hostile threats, particularly from North Korea. But experts argue that in 2025, this reasoning no longer holds up to scrutiny. 'You can already buy sub-meter commercial satellite imagery of South Korea from private providers,' said Choi Ki-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University. In its latest proposal, Google offered to blur sensitive sites if the government supplies coordinates. But even that sparked legal concerns. Under Korea's military laws, simply compiling a list of protected locations could be a violation. The real issue, Choi believes, is the symbolic discomfort of ceding data sovereignty to a global tech platform. 'There's a psychological reluctance to let any part of our national digital infrastructure sit on foreign servers,' he said. 'But we need to be honest about the threat level." 'This is primarily about control, not national security or technical capability,' said professor Yoo Ki-yoon, a smart city infrastructure expert at Seoul National University. 'Google wants to integrate Korea into its global system on its terms, without storing data locally, without paying Korean taxes at the level domestic firms do, and without meaningful oversight.' Who really stands to gain or lose? The economic stakes are just as complex as the technical ones. South Korea's location-based services market is worth over 11 trillion won ($7.6 billion) according to 2023 Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport data, with over 99 percent of companies in the space being small or mid-sized. These firms rely on the same public mapping data Google wants, but they do so under heavy conditions. They must store the data domestically, pay full local taxes, and invest in additional surveying and development. Giving Google free access, critics warn, could reshape the market in its favor. Developers might rush to build on Google's API, only to find themselves locked into a system where prices spike later, just as they did in 2018 when Google restructured its Maps API pricing globally. 'There's a risk of long-term dependency,' said Ryo Seol-ri, a researcher at the Korea Tourism Organization. 'Right now, Korean platforms like Naver and Kakao have limitations, but at least they're governed by Korean rules. If Google becomes the dominant layer, we lose that control.' Still, Ryo admits the issue is far from urgent for most stakeholders. 'From a tourism perspective, this isn't what drives people to or from Korea. Visitors are definitely inconvenienced, but they expect to be. It's baked into the experience now.' That may be the most important reason the situation hasn't changed, and likely won't any time soon. There's no single player with the incentive to fix it. The Korean government doesn't want to set a precedent by giving up control of its mapping infrastructure. Google doesn't want to build from scratch if it can pressure its way into a shortcut. And while tourists may grumble, broken Google Maps hasn't kept them from coming. Tourism professor Kim Nam-jo of Hanyang University said, 'Improving map usability would make Korea more tourist-friendly, sure, but it won't suddenly boost visitor numbers. That's why no one sees it as urgent enough to fix.' - The Korea Herald/ANN
See - Sada Elbalad
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Apple Maps Adds MICHELIN, Infatuation Guides
Israa Farhan Apple has introduced a significant update to Apple Maps, launching new features in collaboration with the MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest to elevate how users discover top-rated dining and leisure spots across the United States. With the new update, users can now filter search results to highlight restaurants that have received MICHELIN Guide ratings, showcasing destinations known for outstanding cuisine. For quicker, more casual recommendations, The Infatuation brings trusted local picks ideal for spontaneous outings. Beyond restaurants, Apple Maps will also incorporate MICHELIN's hotel suggestions and booking tools, expanding its utility for both everyday planning and travel. Golf enthusiasts can benefit from the Golf Digest integration, which allows users to search for and locate highly-rated golf courses, following the same intuitive system used for restaurants. Additionally, these content partners will enhance Apple Maps' curated Guides feature, offering expertly selected lists to help users explore notable spots during their travels or in their own cities. read more UAE's Lunar Mission Delayed to Tomorrow Twitter Lifts Trump's Account Ban Scientists Find Evidence Of 10،000 Black Holes Surrounding The Center Of The Milky Way Galaxy Greenhouse In Antarctica Able To Grow Vegetables Without Soil Or Sunlight Moving Over China: U.S. Is Again Home to World's Speediest Supercomputer Technology The 10 most expensive cars in the world Technology Top 10 fastest cars in the world Technology Lasers Could Make Computers 1 Million Times Faster Technology Smart technology taking control of our lives News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
TechCrunch
14-05-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
The latest Apple Maps update will bring out your bougie side
Apple Maps announced a collaboration with the MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest to help users find recommended restaurants and golf courses in their area. Starting in the U.S., users will be able to filter their Maps searches to see restaurants with MICHELIN ratings, which denote exceptional dining experiences. But if you're on the go, you're probably not making a last-minute MICHELIN booking — but options from The Infatuation, a restaurant recommendation website, can help fill in the gaps. Though the MICHELIN Guide is most well-known for its dining expertise, it also offers hotel recommendations and booking services, which will also be available on Apple Maps. The Golf Digest integration on Maps will function similarly, allowing users to filter their searches to find recommended golf courses — but we imagine that more users will be looking for places to eat, rather than to tee off. These partners will also contribute to Apple Maps' curated guides, which can help travelers find their way to top destinations on a visit.
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Indian Express
Apple Maps street view footage collection ongoing in Pune with human-mounted system
The image collection process for Apple Maps' street view feature named Look Around is underway in Pune city. Spotted by The Indian Express at a street leading up to Taljai Hill on Monday, a human-mounted backpack system that uses eight cameras to capture 360-degree footage is being used for the process. Similar to Google Maps' street view, this feature allows users to virtually visit locations. According to Apple's website, this mapping process is being conducted in Maharashtra at locations like Pune and Mumbai from February 24 to July 31. Pedestrian surveys are used to improve and update Apple Maps 'at locations where vehicles simply can't go'. The tech giant says it is committed to ensuring privacy during this process and blurs faces and number plates before using the collected footage. Officials at the Shinde High School at Taljai Hill said they had not allowed the survey to be conducted on the premises of the sports ground. Similarly, a Taljai Hill forest official told The Indian Express. 'They had permission from the Pune Municipal Corporation to survey, but not from the forest department. Therefore we did not allow them inside. If they get the permission then fine.' The surveyor at Taljai Hill did not wish to talk to the media. A map on the website also highlights the other areas in the two cities that the survey intends to cover. In Pune, the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Katraj Lake, Saragbaug, Shaniwar Wada, the area in and around Chhatrapati Sambhaji Garden, Hanuman Tekdi, Chaturshrungi Hill, Deccan College, the area around Pashan lake, and others locations will be covered. In Mumbai, the survey areas include the CST Terminus, the Oval Maidan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Wankhede and Brabourne Stadiums, Chor Bazar, Mahalaxmi Race Course, Marine Drive, the area around Powai lake, Chheda Nagar Reserved Forest, Andheri Railway Station, Kanheri Caves, Worli Fort, Water Kingdom, and many other locations.
