If you feel lost in a city or do not know very well the path to follow, you will probably have to use a GPS navigator on your computer. The option offered by the Cupertino company itself is Apple Maps. In this article we tell you all the details about this application that you must know to use it.
What is Apple Maps for?
Apple Maps is an application native to the devices of the Cupertino company’s ecosystem. It was released on June 29, 2009 and acts as a simple personal navigator to guide you to a set address. This service has evolved over the years, becoming an improved app. Next we will tell you the different modalities in general with which it has.
Car navigation
Using Apple Maps when driving is the most common thing to do. You will receive both visual and auditory indications of the path that you must follow at all times, such as turns, additions or exits to the highway as well as the exits that you must take in a roundabout.
During the journey you can choose between stopping the audio prompts and even being able to set a new destination along the way. In addition, you can always check the route you have to follow a posteriori and even change the route to follow for another that is more comfortable or shorter. All this is also customizable with the fact of being able to avoid tolls and even roads that are not lined. In addition, you can also share the arrival with all your contacts so that everyone can know the approximate arrival time that will be updated.
Directions while you are walking
When you go down the street without using any type of transport, it is also possible that you need to obtain certain directions. Through Apple Maps you can do it comfortably by entering the address you want to go to. The only problem you may have is that orientation is difficult to interpret. It can be achieved through a ‘vision cone’ that indicates the orientation to which the mobile is pointing in order to continue with the path that has been established.
An aid to travel by public transport
The use of public transport should undoubtedly be promoted. The only problem you may have is that you do not know how to use it correctly due to the large number of lines or means of transport such as bus or train. Through Apple Maps, when you enter an address that is within your city, you will be able to choose the possibility of going by public transport. This will show all the lines that you must take at the specific stops and even where you must stop. This is included as we have said before on both buses and intercity trains.
Navigation while riding a bike
If you usually ride a bicycle, Apple Maps allows you to track all the available paths so that you can go with the greatest of safety. If you live in a city with many of these roads, you can go wherever you want with your bike and your iPhone without getting lost.
Integration with shared transport applications
In order to save money on fuel and in some cases take a good company alongside, with Apple Maps you can obtain information from shared transport applications. This can be seen in a tab that is exclusively dedicated to this type of service. When you mark the route you want to take, the application itself can help you choose the most suitable service for you. It is important to note that this is something that is only available in available locations since this type of service is not totally universal.
Compatible Devices
iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad it will be where you mainly use Apple Maps, especially in the first of these. They will allow you to navigate comfortably through the search engine and follow all the directions you need to reach your destination. In a vehicle, they can be arrived adjusted on a support to always have the map in view as if it were a classic GPS or carry it by hand to be able to walk to follow all the indications. In addition, with a simple touch, wherever you are, you can consult in a comfortable and fast way.
Mac
Natively on a Mac you can also find the Maps application. Obviously you are not going to go with the computer in the car or in hand on the street while you are following their directions. It is designed so that you can plan a trip or consult a specific address on a larger screen. In a comfortable way you can send a route that you have marked yourself to another device such as the iPhone so that you can follow these instructions. It is comfortable because you can clearly see all the routes that are available as well as the time it will take to complete it and even be able to enter several stops or points through which you want to pass yes or yes.
Apple watch
Apple Maps is also integrated with the Apple Watch to be able to have information on all the directions that must be followed. It is something quite useful when you are walking since you will not have to have to carry your iPhone always in hand. On the screen of the smart watch you will be able to have information about the turns you must make and the next steps to follow. Added to this is the possibility of receiving different vibrations that are really useful when you are driving so that you know that a turn is approaching. That is why this navigation service acts as a helper on the Apple Watch.
Control over the Apple Maps interface
The Apple Maps interface allows you to have absolute control over everything you are seeing on the maps. With a single finger you can always move freely and zoom to see all the streets and important places. Added to this is the possibility of using two fingers to change the angle of vision in order to see more ground and always adjust it to your comfort.
In the interface itself you can also choose the type of route you want to follow as we have commented previously, and this changes when you start browsing. In the interface that will appear you will be able to have access to different places of interest during the journey as well as to observe the route or deactivate the sound of all the instructions.
Available map types
Within Apple Maps you can find different types of maps to fully customize the experience that you are going to find. Three possible modes are integrated:
- Maps. The classic view that we all know of Apple Maps where all important places can be easily visualized, with a clearer representation of all the streets that surround you in order to mark points or have clear information on the directions to follow as well as traffic .
- Public transport. With this view you will be able to visualize the different public transport lines that exist on the map. The train lines are particularly prominent although it is available in select locations.
- Satelite. One of the less clear views since a view is placed on the screen where all the rock formations such as mountains appear to have a clearer view of everything around you.
This is a view that can be modified at the moment from the interface of Apple Maps itself, being able to change when the GPS is already activated or when doing a simple search for an address. To this is added the possibility of integrating it with the dark mode of the iPhone so that it has a totally gray background with the aim of damaging your eyes less when there is not enough ambient light.
What the address search engine offers
The search engine that is integrated into Apple Maps will allow you to search for addresses as well as specific locations. Restaurants, monuments or official places enter here so you don’t have to always enter the address. Added to this is the possibility of including sites that you yourself see that do not appear when you search but that you know exist.
When you find a specific place you can find a lot of information about it. For example, you can consult the telephone number, the opening hours, the web page as well as the opinions of other users in the event that it is linked to the platform compatible with this service.
In addition, in the search engine you can choose different locations with relevance. For example, you can choose between important categories such as gas stations, restaurants, bars, post offices, tobacconists … By clicking on this category you will get a list of places that can be chosen to start the journey in the way you want: by car , on foot or by public transport.
Setting favorite places
To avoid having to always search for the same address, Apple Maps will allow you to save different sites so that you can quickly access them from the address search engine itself. The first and most logical is to save your home address as well as your work address. This is information that will be taken directly from your contact card.
Added to this is the possibility of choosing other favorite places that you frequent in order to always have them visible on the map and also in the search engine. This can be done both for a specific address on the map as well as for a specific establishment that can be saved when accessing its information sheet.
Integration with Siri and other applications
When using the voice assistant, Siri will always open Apple Maps as it is its default application when navigating.The voice assistant can be asked to take you to a specific address or even tell it to take you to home or work. Apple Maps will immediately open to begin your journey. Added to this is the possibility of losing the assistant who takes you home or work from a contact with a simple voice command. This will obviously work in the event that this address is well established on your contact card.
Warning of events on the road
Knowing everything that is happening on the road is vital to driving safely and even saving time on the road. Apple Maps integrate road signs that users can give themselves to warn other drivers. These notices include the fact of notifying about an accident on the road, a cut in the road and even different retentions that may occur. In this way you can have clear information so that you can be in advance notice and go with much more care and even avoid an area where there is a retention in order not to waste so much time to reach your destination.
Split View mode
As it can be exploited in other navigation applications, it is also possible to use the Split View mode. In this way, a specific area of a city such as the street or the monument can be seen in 3D. In this way it is much easier to locate different sites or even better understand the indications that are being made. The only downside is that this is a feature that is only available in specific regions.
Weaknesses of the application
The truth is that Apple Maps is not a completely perfect application, especially when compared to other similar services from other companies. Some of the weak points that can be found are the problems when looking for places like bars or restaurants. The database for this application is quite small and out of date. It also does not have any system to be able to give an evaluation in a simple way since it depends on other external pages.
And this outdated is sometimes also carried to the point that some streets are not entirely up to date, especially the forbidden addresses. This is in addition to the fact that it lacks some features such as a real-time speed display or even speed limits with audible warnings for when they are being exceeded.