Incredible Maps Improvements

Apple has been updating its Maps app pretty aggressively over the past few years, and it looks like iOS 15 is no exception. Meg Frost, Apple’s Director of Product Design for Apple Maps came onto the virtual stage to share how Apple Maps will be taking its next major leap in showing much more detailed information.

Firstly, for users who like to use Apple Maps to simply browse and explore the world, it’s going to be possible to start with a large interactive globe view to spin around the world and zoom in on any location.

When getting in close to major cities, Maps will also now include custom-designed landmarks for key places like the Golden Gate Bridge, along with incredible new details for commercial districts, marinas, buildings, plus elevation, new road colours, and labels. There’s also going to be a cool new nighttime mode with a moonlit glow.

Apple is also seriously upping the amount of detail shown in navigation mode. You’ll now be able to see turn lanes, medians, bus and taxi lanes, crosswalks, bike lanes, and more when navigating, with incredible attention to detail. Overlapping interchanges will even be shown in 3D when driving along highways.

Naturally, this level of detail won’t be rolling out globally all at once. Like many of Maps’ improvements, it’s going to start with seven major U.S. cities for 2021, with more coming next year. It also may not be available on CarPlay at launch either, but should arrive by the end of the year.

Apple Maps is also gaining some noteworthy transit improvements, making it easier to find nearby stations, pin favourite transit lines to the top, and keep track of all of this on the Apple Watch. You’ll also be able to follow your transit route and get notifications when it’s time to get off.

In another cool use of augmented reality features, Apple Maps will also help you get your orientation when exiting a transit station. You can hold up your camera to scan nearby buildings, so it can figure out where you are and then direct you to where to go next in AR to complete your trip.