Announced on stage at WWDC today, Apple is ready at last to deliver a major upgrade for users of its Apple Maps service. Coming in iOS 9, Apple’s Maps application will include integrated transit directions for commuters for the first time since Apple shifted from relying on Google Maps as the software’s data provider. Since Apple introduced its own mapping application and backend with iOS 6, users have needed to rely on third party apps for transit options. Here’s what Apple’s take on transit directions in iOS 9 includes and where the feature will be available:
– Transit supports buses, trains, subways, ferries
– Siri taps into transit directions
– Limited cities at launch: Baltimore, Berlin, Chicago, London, Mexico City, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington DC
– Additional locations in China include Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xi’an, Zhenghou, “and more.”
– Apple Maps adds nearby businesses based on type including bars, restaurants, and activities
– Apple Maps will also include Apple Pay badging on businesses that accept Apple’s mobile payment service right in the search results
9to5Mac first reported on Apple’s plans for transit direction in Maps for iOS 9 last month including each city it would initially target for launch.
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This is very long in coming and welcome. I can’t wait to get Google maps off my iPhone.
I like the fact that it’s aware of different entrances and exits to and from subway stations, something that Google Maps has been missing.
This.