Apple adds 20 Flyover cities, new Traffic and Nearby data to Maps
As part of Apple's continued Maps buildout effort, the company on Wednesday added 3D Flyover, traffic and point of interest data to its in-house mapping solution, including popular locales like the Virgin Islands and Taiwan.
In what has become a monthly routine, Apple expanded its running list of supported Flyover cities to include 20 new locations in Europe, Africa, Japan and the U.S. Including today's additions, Apple's 3D Flyover feature is available in 240 areas around the world.
Apple uses high-resolution photos and sophisticated three-dimensional models to render Maps' Flyover imagery. The feature makes it easy to spot landmarks, buildings and other objects of interest and is marketed as an alternative to Google's ground-level Street View product.
In addition to new Flyover cities, Apple activated live Traffic data for Taiwan. Finland was also added to the list of countries serving up data for iOS 9's Nearby, a feature that suggests close by points of interest based on their proximity.
Offered up in Maps and Siri Suggestions, the service automatically populates a set of predefined search categories, such as Food and Health, with information based on a user's location. Apple first launched Nearby in September with data for six major markets, adding three more in the past few months.
Apple's iOS Feature Availability webpage was most recently updated two weeks ago.
In what has become a monthly routine, Apple expanded its running list of supported Flyover cities to include 20 new locations in Europe, Africa, Japan and the U.S. Including today's additions, Apple's 3D Flyover feature is available in 240 areas around the world.
- Adelaide, Australia
- Amiens, France
- Berne, Switzerland
- Bremen, Germany
- Columbus, OH
- Dresden, Germany
- Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- La Rochelle, France
- Louisville, KY
- Middlesbrough, UK
- Nantes, France
- Salzburg, Austria
- South Bend, IN
- Springfield, MO
- Taormina, Italy
- Toulouse, France
- Toyama, Japan
- Tucson, AZ
- Virgin Islands
Apple uses high-resolution photos and sophisticated three-dimensional models to render Maps' Flyover imagery. The feature makes it easy to spot landmarks, buildings and other objects of interest and is marketed as an alternative to Google's ground-level Street View product.
In addition to new Flyover cities, Apple activated live Traffic data for Taiwan. Finland was also added to the list of countries serving up data for iOS 9's Nearby, a feature that suggests close by points of interest based on their proximity.
Offered up in Maps and Siri Suggestions, the service automatically populates a set of predefined search categories, such as Food and Health, with information based on a user's location. Apple first launched Nearby in September with data for six major markets, adding three more in the past few months.
Apple's iOS Feature Availability webpage was most recently updated two weeks ago.
Comments
If apple was serious about services they would have bought HERE maps with that pile of money they have been sitting on.
And why stop there? Indoor Navigation using improved Wi-Fi, Cellular and GPS technology is just around the corner, and would enable the journey to continue into an office, shop, gallery or even one's own home to do some shopping, viewing or HomeKit admin.
Hurry tomorrow, I need you now...
If their data centre ever gets past the eco-morons in Ireland and construction starts, the irony is every non-local truck driver who has to deliver stuff to the site won't be able to use Maps, that's for sure. HERE maps would have got them there.
I'm glad Apple didn't buy HERE because that would have likely ended my ability to use it. I hope the new owners don't make it exclusive.
Flyover is a useless gimmick compared to transit directions.
Here in Tokyo—which may have the best transit network in the world—all transit data is open source for Tokyo Metro, JR East and many private train and bus lines, but Apple Maps has no transit directions. Google is eating Apple's lunch when it comes to transit.
Streetview however, is super useful, but it unfortunately seems Apple is not going down that route.
I doubt that would happen though, as here we are, years after flyover was announced, and it just isn't that common. The resources thrown at it seem to be minimal. It's like they have the one Cessna available to do the entire world. On the weekend. And if Apple is driving around the streets to develop a street view competitor, it will roll out just as half arsed as flyover. I don't believe Apple has its heart in it.
P.S. SIRI is still Sh!t. On so many levels their Software & Services need to be kicked up a several notches.
Cortana is amazing. I can say 'get me directions to DCU in Dublin' and she'll come back with 'Alright, getting you directions to Dublin City University' Then I get a screen with public transport options, legs involved and transit details and times. There are also three icons for a car, public transport and walking. If I touch the car icon then a voice nav button it launches HERE Drive with the route loaded.
The UK is oddly un-represented tho' I did see an Apple camera van(pretty sure) on the M11 which, given you can't stop, is redundant..