Apple launches 3D maps

Apple has launched 3D map viewings for four major cities.
Apple has launched 3D map viewings for four major cities.

Apple maps will get a notable upgrade in iOS 15. Users will now be able to access 3D rendering of four major Western cities, over more details, driving routes and better navigation. The first cities included in this update are London, Los Angeles, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area, with more to be added soon.

“We are thrilled to offer the new Apple Maps experience. Maps is the best way to navigate the world: It is easy to use, beautifully designed, and built with privacy at its core. With this update, we are pushing Maps even further, providing more ways for users to discover the natural beauty of the world and explore cities through a new 3D view,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “Our goal has always been to build the best and most accurate map in the world. The upgrades in Apple Maps are a continuation of that effort, with features and an attention to detail that only Apple can deliver.”

An enhanced travel experience 

Maps will now have enhanced navigation, providing users with more details clearly, such as turn lanes, medians, bus and taxi lanes, and crosswalks. In addition, the 3D view will assist in making sections that cross over easier to view.

For those who take public transport, Maps now displays nearby stations at the top of the screen. Users can also pin their regular lines in Maps to ensure that their prefered route is as accessible to search as possible. 

Enter AR 

Apple Maps now offers step-by-step walking guidance in AR. Users can do this by raising their iPhones to scan buildings in the area. Maps will then generate detailed directions based on real-world imaging.

Other useful features of maps

Apple Maps offers many useful features in addition to the new updates available in iOS 15:

Look Around 

Look around offers users a way to explore parts of the world through an interactive 3D street-level experience and a smooth, seamless 360-degree view. 

Cycling directions

Cycling directors shows the elevation for a ride, and how busy a street is. It can also show whether there are stairs along a route. 

Speed cameras 

Maps can let users know when approaching speed and red-light cameras along a route, with the added ability to see where cameras are located on the map.

Share ETA 

Users can share their estimated time of arrival with others. 

READ MORE:

Incident reports 

Users can report accidents by informing Siri. For example: “There’s an accident up ahead” or “There is something on the road.” Users can also report when a reported incident has been cleared.

Flyover

With flyover, users can see major metro areas with photo-realistic views.

Favorites

Users can save favourite and regularly used locations.

Indoor Maps 

Users can navigate large indoor spaces such as airports and malls to discover what floor they’re on, and locate stores.

For more news from Top Business Tech, don’t forget to subscribe to our daily bulletin!

Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter

Amber Donovan-Stevens

Amber is a Content Editor at Top Business Tech

Data-Sharing Done Right: Finding the Best Business Approach

Bart Koek • 20th November 2024

To ensure data is not only available, but also accessible to those that need it, businesses recognise that it is vital to focus on collecting, sorting and governing all the data in their organisation. But what happens when data also needs to be accessed and shared across the business? That is where organisations discover a...

Nova: The Ultimate AI-Powered Martech Solution for Boosting Sales, Marketing...

Erin Lanahan • 19th November 2024

Discover how Nova, the AI-powered engine behind Launched, revolutionises Martech by automating sales and marketing tasks, enhancing personalisation, and delivering unmatched ROI. With advanced intent data integration, revenue attribution, and real-time insights, Nova empowers businesses to scale, streamline operations, and outperform competitors like 6Sense and 11x.ai. Experience the future of Martech with Nova’s transformative AI...

How E-commerce Marketers Can Win Black Friday

Sue Azari • 11th November 2024

As new global eCommerce players expand their influence across both European and US markets, traditional brands are navigating a rapidly shifting landscape. These fast-growing Asian platforms have gained traction by offering ultra-low prices, rapid product turnarounds, heavy investment in paid user acquisition, and leveraging viral social media trends to create demand almost in real-time. This...

Why microgrids are big news

Craig Tropea • 31st October 2024

As the world continues its march towards a greener future, businesses, communities, and individuals alike are all increasingly turning towards renewable energy sources to power their operations. What is most interesting, though, is how many of them are taking the pro-active position of researching, selecting, and implementing their preferred solutions without the assistance of traditional...

Is automation the silver bullet for customer retention?

Carter Busse • 22nd October 2024

CX innovation has accelerated rapidly since 2020, as business and consumer expectations evolved dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, finding the best way to engage and respond to customers has become a top business priority and a key business challenge. Not only do customers expect the highest standard, but companies are prioritising superb CX to...

Automated Testing Tools and Their Impact on Software Quality

Natalia Yanchii • 09th October 2024

Test automation refers to using specialized software tools and frameworks to automate the execution of test cases, thereby reducing the time and effort required for manual testing. This approach ensures that automation tests run quickly and consistently, allowing development teams to identify and resolve defects more effectively. Test automation provides greater accuracy by eliminating human...