Apple unveils transit data for Maps in iOS 9
As expected, Apple announced transit directions integration are coming to the Maps app in iOS 9, featuring multi-modal routing, rail line information and Siri integration, among other functions.
Fittingly dubbed Transit, Apple's transit solution brings public transportation options into Maps, including data for buses, subways and ferries.
Unique to Transit is deep train station mapping that depicts underground structures in their entirety instead of as a dot. Also supported are walking times from one end of a subway station to another, providing more accurate estimates to help commuters catch their train.
Transit also features support for Siri, meaning Apple's virtual assistant will be able to incorporate transit options alongside vehicle and walking directions.
At launch, Transit data will be available in Baltimore, Berlin, Chicago, London, Mexico City, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. Apple highlighted Chinese availability with initial support in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xi'an and Zhenghou, with more to come.
Fittingly dubbed Transit, Apple's transit solution brings public transportation options into Maps, including data for buses, subways and ferries.
Unique to Transit is deep train station mapping that depicts underground structures in their entirety instead of as a dot. Also supported are walking times from one end of a subway station to another, providing more accurate estimates to help commuters catch their train.
Transit also features support for Siri, meaning Apple's virtual assistant will be able to incorporate transit options alongside vehicle and walking directions.
At launch, Transit data will be available in Baltimore, Berlin, Chicago, London, Mexico City, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. Apple highlighted Chinese availability with initial support in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xi'an and Zhenghou, with more to come.
Comments
Did you lunch with [@]Apple ][[/@]? How many stores did you visit? The one in Grand Central Terminal is quite unique, but I normally go to the SoHo store.
i wish this was available last week when i was in NYC
Android has had it for a few years now...lol /s
I would've recommended Embark. My 9 yr old son is a subway savant because of it.
I would've recommended Embark. My 9 yr old son is a subway savant because of it.
Apple owns Embark. Probably the foundation for the new feature.
I know because I was born there. ;-)
Hello? Bike directions? thump thump Is this mic on?
I hope that they either include or offer the ability to scrape data for real-time tracking of the different modes of transportation, at least for those transit providers who provide real-time tracking.
Android has had it for a few years now...lol /s
So has iOS.
Apple's website shows a feature under iOS 9 that they didn't mention during the keynote: an Android app for migrating contacts and even installation of some apps for migrating from Android to iOS. That looks really slick. Hell, Android phones often don't even let users migrate their apps and such from their old phone, and Apple will let you migrate from an Android phone. That's a win.
Its very irritating looking at Find Friends, and not be able to see what is around that location without manually opening Maps, then multitasking between apps to find the road a friend is on, or what businesses are around that location.
better yet, just have Find Friends integrated with Maps, and get rid of the separate app.
Another example of Apple abandon-ware.. Find Friends.
i wish this was available last week when i was in NYC
There's a free app (at least I think it was free) called NYC Transit that has a route planner, the official subway map and gives plenty of info, although it doesn't show the physical entrances to subway stations as Maps is going to. But it does show the service status of each line and lets you know when routes change or stations are going to be skipped because of construction, etc. That information is presented poorly, but at least it's there.
There's another app called Subway Time that will tell you when the next train is arriving, but only for those lines that have the technology implemented, which is only the 7th Avenue 1,2,3; the Lexington Avenue 4,5,6; the 14th St L, the 42nd street Shuttle and the Staten Island Railway lines.
But it's great that Apple is finally adding transit information and it looks like they're doing a very classy job about it.
Yes - I would have been much happier if Apple and not Google had bought them
Yup - but more people actually use apps on iOS so Apple gets more data than Google from mobile users.
Totally with you on this one! Brussels has a great public transportation network and their app is awesome! But I believe that before the "capital of Europe" will be incorporated, bigger cities like Paris, Sydney, and Rome will be. But let's keep our fingers crossed!
Hello? Bike directions? thump thump Is this mic on?
I presume you're looking for bike trails and bike friendly roads? I'd really be grateful for that as well.