The new version of iOS for the iPhone usually means a ton of changes to the Maps app. And to be sure, iOS 16 will introduce a pair of significant improvements when it arrives this fall. But this is not the overhaul that some iOS updates have introduced to the iPhone’s built-in navigation app.
In a sense, this is a sign of the app’s maturity, as Apple has spent a decade since the disastrous launch of Maps in iOS 6 making changes, making improvements and improving the reliability of the in-house mapping tool. The result is an app that can now stand up to Google Maps, which many people—including iPhone diehards—still consider it the standard for mobile mapping apps.
The lack of many changes in iOS 16 Maps also reflects the fairly significant improvements Apple made a year ago with iOS 15. These changes in iOS 15 Maps included a more detailed city experience, along with augmented reality-enabled walking navigation and more features Public transport.
iOS 16 expands on this work, extending more detailed city maps to more areas and adding some transportation tweaks that are sure to be welcomed by anyone who relies on public transportation to get around. And these changes may not be the most welcome in iOS 16.
What iOS 16 Maps lacks in massive changes, it makes up for in how these additions will make it easier for you to navigate. Here’s what’s new in Maps in iOS 16, based on Apple’s preview of its software update and what we’ve heard about the iOS 16 beta that’s now in developer hands.
Multiple pauses in iOS 16
I think the biggest change that will happen in iOS 16 Maps is the ability to add multiple stops as you plan your route. In fact, you’ll be able to add up to 15 presets, according to Apple’s WWDC 16 preview.
This is a big change from iOS 15, where you can add a stopover along the way but not to the extent that you’ll be able to plan road trips in iOS 16. While the new version of Maps still allows for stops. – Adding stops between point A to point B, multiple stops is well suited for people who want to plan a trip before they get behind the wheel. Considering the addition of rich guides to Maps in recent iterations of iOS, this is very much in line with Apple’s vision of this app as a partial navigation and partial planning tool.
From what we’ve seen in the current build of iOS, there’s a prominent Add Stop option built into the directions menu while searching for routes. You can also drag and drop several stops so that they are arranged in the optimal order for your route as well.
Due to the integration between your Mac and iPhone, you can even use the desktop version of Maps to plan your route, adding plenty of stops along the way, before sending directions to your iPhone when it’s time to set off. (It is assumed that you will need to be running the latest versions of macOS and iOS for this delivery to take place.)
If you’re riding the gun while someone else is driving, you can add stops manually while on the road. For a hands-free option, you can ask Siri to add breakpoints as well.
Routes transportation prices are shown in iOS 16 . Maps
Lately, Apple seems to be keeping public transit commuters like me in mind with its Map updates. iOS 15 added a transit view that highlights bus and subway routes, for example, and you can get directional alerts as you approach your stop.
iOS 16 has a more noteworthy addition for Transit riders – fares will appear when you search for a route using public transit in Maps. It shows the dollar amount you’ll pay for each suggested route. You can even switch between the cash fare and what you’d pay if you had a transit card, in some circumstances.
Speaking of transit cards, if you use the Wallet app on your iPhone to store your card, there’s another useful feature coming to Maps in iOS 16. You’ll get a warning if your transit card balance goes down and you’ll be able to top up that balance From within the Maps app.
More Detailed City Views Coming to iOS 16 Maps
We mentioned detailed city maps that Apple added a year ago, with San Francisco, New York and London available when iOS 15 launches. Apple continues to add cities with more detailed views and by the end of this year, after adding six more, the list will include:
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Las vigas
- London
- Los Angeles
- Melbourne
- Miami
- New York
- Philadelphia
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Sydney
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Washington DC
The redesigned map, now available in 10 countries around the world (including the US, UK, and Canada), will reach 11 more regions and countries by the end of 2022.
MapKit Extended for Developers
Normally, the tools Apple provides for app makers wouldn’t be of much interest to civilians like you and me. But Apple’s new MapKit for Numbers has an impact on the third-party apps you use.
Apple’s city experience in Maps with all those detailed landmarks and roads will be available to app makers, along with high-resolution images from the Look Around feature in Maps.
This should open up some interesting possibilities for third-party applications that use the new MapKit features. During its WWDC keynote, Apple noted that Bird is using the City Experience view to offer more detailed maps so users can track the company’s bike and scooter rentals. Meanwhile, images from Look Around will be integrated into Zillow, giving users a better sense of the area around any homes they’re exploring.
Other iOS 16 Map Changes
Just a look at the iOS 16 Maps screenshots that Apple used to preview the software update hints at additional tweaks that appear in the form of Maps. For example, when you search for directions, your mode of transportation — car, foot, bike, public transit, or ride-sharing — is now placed in a drop-down menu rather than a banner with options spanning across your phone screen. (You can see this in the multi-stop orientation image above.)
Apple also says that Maps will store past routes in Recents, so they can be accessed quickly.
iOS 16 Maps Predictions
As we suggested at the beginning, these are not revolutionary changes to the maps. But they are welcome additions that should make navigation and trip planning a lot easier on iPhones running iOS 16.
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