Maps

How Apple’s casual search engine Siri is containing Google search on iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

Steve Jobs used to defend his "thermonuclear" option against Android by stressing how Apple did not enter the search space while Google had decided to challenge the iPhone with its Android.

Jobs' words no longer hold true. With Siri, an AI-driven personal digital assistant, Apple has begun slowly but surely eating into Google's significant search traffic coming from iOS devices.

As such, Siri is emerging as a key tool for casual search on iOS devices. And with iOS 6, Apple is expanding her reach with new alliances, making it easier for users to bypass Google, especially for local search...

Why you shouldn’t count Apple’s Maps out just yet

Cody Lee ∙ June 18, 2012

The iOS 6 portion of Apple's WWDC keynote last week was headlined by its all new mapping software. As predicted, the company unveiled a completely rebuilt Maps application with 3D city views and other features.

The app is available in the recently-released iOS 6 beta, and so far, it has yet to impress. On top of missing popular features like Street View and transit directions, it also appears to be missing a ton of street data.

But don't count Apple's Maps out just yet...

New iOS 6 3D Maps ported to iPhone 4

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 15, 2012

With its in-house mapping solution in iOS 6, Apple basically pulled a Siri in that folks in Cupertino have limited this headline feature to the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later (full iOS 6 device compatibility list is here). Now, I realize graphics-intensive 3D Flyovers require A5-enabled devices. But turn-by-turn? Seriously, Apple?

Worry not, those crazy Russian hackers have cracked the code to run the new iOS 6 Maps on the iPhone 4, complete with 3D Flyovers and turn-by-turn navigation - without even using Cydia...

How traffic routing apps can lend their services system-wide in iOS 6

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

In addition to sourcing maps data in iOS 6 from fifteen different companies, Apple also allows traffic routing apps from third-parties to lend their services to the entire system by way of new APIs.

And since Apple's Maps app knows about routing apps in the App Store, it'll give users a choice to download them when needed. This is making good on Apple's promise that it will partner with third-party developers on Maps transit directions "where it makes sense"...

Apple to Google: f**k you

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 12, 2012

Apple really stick it to Google by supplanting Google Maps in iOS 6 with in-house mapping service, didn't it? But more than anything, yesterday's WWDC keynote has proven that Apple is just as merciless without Steve Jobs.

As both tech giants fight tooth and nail for mindshare, Cupertino is now adamant to go thermonuclear on everything Google, not just Maps.

The iPhone maker demonstrated its incredible agility and willingness to fight Google on multiple dimensions yesterday. To that extent, iOS 6 could be viewed as the biggest step yet in the de-Googlification of iOS.

Here's why...

Apple also using Bing Maps images in iOS 6 Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Whoa, it looks like Apple's brand new in-house Maps solution in iOS 6 sources some content from Microsoft's Bing Maps.

The iPhone maker taps more than a dozen of providers for various mapping data used in iOS 6 Maps.

However, the Redmond giant is not officially included on Apple's list of Maps acknowledgments, even if some of the images used reportedly have Microsoft attribution...

Turn-by-turn navigation and Flyover in iOS 6 Maps is limited to iPhone 4S, iPad 2 or later

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 12, 2012

Apple really stick it to Google with jaw-dropping 3D Maps and full turn-by-turn navigation in iOS 6. However, those headline features won't be supported on hardware released prior to 2011. In other words, you'll need at least A5-enabled iOS devices to enjoy Flyovers and turn-by-turn navigation.

This means either the latest iPhone 4S model or the second- or third-generation iPad. So, did Apple just pull a Siri, all over again?

iOS 6: Maps video demonstration

Jeff Benjamin ∙ June 11, 2012

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgLDkHJduRg[/tube]

The new Maps app is the premier new feature in iOS 6. Although I was a bit skeptical at first after seeing some early screenshots, I'm a definite believer after giving it some hands-on time. It is rightfully so that the new Maps app is Apple's most compelling upgrade to iOS.

Maps is leaps and bounds above anything offered in the previous Google powered Maps app. With 3D views, turn by turn navigation, and full integration with Siri, Maps is a truly amazing package. What do you think about it?

Apple taps TomTom as new iOS 6 Maps provider

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 9, 2018

While we knew that Apple was looking to knock off Google as the Maps provider for iOS, we weren't exactly sure how it was going to do it. Was it building an in-house database? Using OpenStreetMaps?

Well as it turns out, neither of those answers were correct. According to the Acknowledgement page from inside the new iOS 6 Maps application, Apple is using mapping services from TomTom...

Apple Maps: turn-by-turn GPS, 3D Flyovers, Siri integration, traffic layers

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 11, 2012

Apple just unveiled the new Maps at WWDC in San Francisco, nuking Google Maps out of the orbit. It's got everything a mapping app should have, including turn-by-turn GPS, voice commands and spoken directions, detailed traffic layers and of course that rumored three-dimensional view bound to knock your socks off...

Roundup: what’s on tap for WWDC 2012 tomorrow

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 15, 2024

With iOS 6 being the main theme of tomorrow's keynote, Apple's chief executive Tim Cook, iOS boss Scott Forstall and marketing head honcho Phil Schiller (aka Mini-Me and Dr. No) will likely share stage time to announce the latest in Apple's mobile operating system powering the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Feeling excited yet?

We're also keeping our eyes peeled for the latest iPhone and Apple TV developments and are expecting shiny new commercials (hopefully they do better than latest celebrity adverts), plus the usual dose of Apple's trademark one-liners, superlatives and hyperbolas.

Here's what we're looking forward to, some of the stuff we've been keeping our fingers crossed for and what the rumor-mill predicted would go down tomorrow...

Why the iPhone doesn’t have audible turn-by-turn directions

Cody Lee ∙ June 8, 2012

Thanks to my years in wireless sales, I can honestly say I've tried out more than my fair share of smartphones. The carrier I worked for made us try a new handset every 90 days to ensure that we were all well-versed in our craft.

But out of all of the devices I played with and carried, none were able to woo me away from the iPhone. In fact, the only non-iOS feature that I have ever really lusted after was Android's ability to give audible turn-by-turn directions...