Maps

Google Maps and Earth gain high-resolution imagery from Landsat 8 satellite

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 28, 2016

Google is upgrading the quality of aerial imagery for the satellite view that's available in Google Maps and Google Earth services. According to a blog post yesterday, both mapping services now offer crisp high-definition satellite imagery of Earth without clouds captured by Landsat 8, an Earth observation satellite launched on February 11, 2013 in a collaboration between NASA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Maps app gets smarter in iOS 10 with improved search, Quick Controls and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Eddy Cue is on stage right now, at Apple's WWDC keynote, talking about the new Maps app in iOS 10. The stock mapping application gets a lot smarter in the upcoming update, with improved search, en route traffic information and a new feature called Quick Controls.

"We're making Maps do more for you in advance," says Eddy Cue. The new Maps app can proactively deliver directions to where you most likely want to go next, based on your routine or appointments on your calendar. Once a route is planned, Maps can search along the route for gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops and more and provides an estimate of how the stop impacts the length of your trip.

Former Embark CEO leaves Apple nearly three years after acquisition

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

David Hodge, former Founder and CEO of a company that Apple acquired in 2013 called Embark, announced today on Twitter that he has departed the company. At the time of the acquisition, Embark had transit data on large cities such as Chicago, New York, and San Francisco and had apps considered to be some of the best in their class. This data and the technology used in Embark apps have since helped improve the transit feature of Apple's Maps app.

Google Maps gains new voice controls in navigation, Street View tweaks and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 24, 2016

Google's native mapping application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad was bumped to version 4.19 this morning, bringing out a few enhancements meant to improve your navigation and Street View experience.

For starters, a few new voice controls are now available in navigation to mute, unmute or turn on alerts only. You can also move around Street View by swiping, and more.

Apple announces Maps development office in India, creating up to 4,000 jobs

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 19, 2016

As part of Tim Cook's packed schedule during his visit to India, Apple today confirmed it's opening a new facility in Hyderabad, that will focus on Maps development and employ up to 4,000 people. The new facility, located on the Waverock campus, will provide “a world-class, LEED-certified home for the expanding Maps team,” said the Cupertino firm.

Apple’s boss to unveil Maps development center and iOS accelerator program in India

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 17, 2016

After visiting China yesterday to meet the country's officials and promote a $1 billion acquisition of the local ride-sharing service Didi Chuxing, Apple's boss Tim Cook is touring India today and is planning to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He is also expected to unveil a development center for Apple Maps in the country along with an accelerator program for iOS developers, Bloomberg reported today.

Be a virtual tourist: take scripted 3D tours of world’s major metropolises on Apple Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 11, 2019

You knew about three-dimensional buildings and landmarks on Apple Maps—a feature they're calling Flyover mode. But did you know that Apple's mapping service includes virtual tours of more than a hundred major metropolises worldwide? If not, that's because Apple hasn't exactly gone to great lengths to advertise it front and center in the Maps interface.

These virtual tours are basically auto-playing animations in Flyover mode, complete with three-dimensional buildings, terrain and landmarks. They're quite useful if you're visiting a city for the first time, though virtual tourists who want a quick overview of a major city will also find them fun and entertaining.

Here's how you can explore and enjoy 3D Flyover Tours on Apple Maps for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Mac.

All the ways to zoom in and out on Apple Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 17, 2025

Discover all the handy ways to use your fingers, trackpad, or mouse to zoom in and out of Apple Maps on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

How to use one-handed zoom on Google Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 10, 2016

Yesterday, iDownloadBlog detailed a cool new one-handed zoom gesture during video capture which Snapchat's latest update has implemented.

This incredibly convenient shortcut permits you to zoom in and out as you're shooting video with Snapchat's camera, in real time. As one of our commenters pointed out, Google Maps has long had a similar shortcut on its native iOS app.

With it, iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users can zoom in and pan around in one-handed mode, without needing to use a two-fingered pinch-zoom gesture. Here's how one-handed zoom mode works on Google Maps for iOS.

Sacramento, California gains transit directions on Apple Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 9, 2016

Having recently rolled out support for transit directions for Sydney Trains in Australia's New South Wales and for buses, subways, commuter rails and other transportation options in Seattle, Portland, Oregon and Montreal, the second-largest city in Canada, the Transit feature is now available to Apple Maps customers who live in Sacramento, California. To use transit directions on Apple Maps, simply enter navigation mode and then tap the Transit button, if available.

Apple Maps adds TrainLink and bus routes for Australia’s New South Wales

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 28, 2016

After previously introducing limited transit support for Sydney Trains in Australia, Apple's now expanded transit directions in the country with the addition of TrainLink and bus routes for both Sydney and New South Wales, Mac Prices Australia discovered.

With a silent backend update, Apple Maps customers in New South Wales can now start taking advantage of public transport information for trams, series and interstate services, including buses and trains, while detailing stations with entry points.

Google Maps for iOS gains Travel Times widget, Night mode and other new features in latest update

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 28, 2016

Google yesterday pushed an update for its native Maps application on the App Store, bringing out a few newsworthy features and enhancements.

Google Maps 4.18 for iOS introduces a new Travel Times widget which lets commuters check a live travel time estimation to their home or work right within the Notification Center's Today view.

In addition, the app's gained a new built-in option for sharing directions with contacts. Plus, there's a brand new Night mode and distance units settings in navigation.