iOS 9 Maps provides en route traffic avoidance, voice and banner warnings
Drivers using Apple Maps in iOS 9 will have the benefit of explicit traffic and construction warnings, including voice turn-by-turn suggestions for alternate routes, according to information shared with AppleInsider.
Reader Nick noted that on a recent road trip using an iPhone with the iOS 9 beta, Siri interrupted with warning that there was "heavy traffic ahead," and suggested a specific exit to avoid it. Later, Siri again warned about "roadwork ahead, with no traffic" while driving in Cleveland.
The new construction warnings, at least, are accompanied by on-screen banners that indicate where the work is taking place and how far away it is.
The iOS 8 version of Maps does incorporate traffic data, including alternate routes and details on the causes of backups, but the information is limited to route creation and estimating arrival times.
Maps will come with a variety of improvements when it launches alongside iOS 9 this fall, the most requested being a return of public transit directions. Transit data was once a staple of the app, but support disappeared in iOS 6 when Apple moved away from Google Maps for its own in-house mapping solution. Transit guidance is one factor that has kept Google Maps popular on the App Store.
Reader Nick noted that on a recent road trip using an iPhone with the iOS 9 beta, Siri interrupted with warning that there was "heavy traffic ahead," and suggested a specific exit to avoid it. Later, Siri again warned about "roadwork ahead, with no traffic" while driving in Cleveland.
The new construction warnings, at least, are accompanied by on-screen banners that indicate where the work is taking place and how far away it is.
The iOS 8 version of Maps does incorporate traffic data, including alternate routes and details on the causes of backups, but the information is limited to route creation and estimating arrival times.
Maps will come with a variety of improvements when it launches alongside iOS 9 this fall, the most requested being a return of public transit directions. Transit data was once a staple of the app, but support disappeared in iOS 6 when Apple moved away from Google Maps for its own in-house mapping solution. Transit guidance is one factor that has kept Google Maps popular on the App Store.
Comments
They are catching up. We'll have to see how it compares to Waze routing though.
Great. I'd love it if Apple incorporated some Waze-like features, such as accident, obstruction and speed trap reporting from users.
Dear Apple,
Your POI data is a hot mess. Please fix that first.
Sincerely,
John.B
Nice, but Apple needs to steal the Green, Orange, Red traffic colors from Google, and also the bike maps.
I don't normally use Waze because the location services settings option are either "Always" and "Never". I don't need a traffic app draining my battery in the background unnecessarily when I'm home, at work, grocery shopping, etc.
N.B. The Waze app hangs if you happen to start it when its set to "Never".
All I knew was that Siri told me to make a turn on the way home that made no sense, and I obeyed%u2014and saved myself a huge headache. Once I got home I looked at the map and saw a little warning icon on the road I'd have normally expected to take. I tapped it, and it told me (text) that there was a tree down across the road according to local police.
The tree had to have fallen just minutes before my journey: I was driving right after the end of a short but powerful storm. I was impressed that local police info (US) was getting into the Maps app so rapidly, with Siri automatically helping me avoid it.
(I don't know whether that warning icon was treated as a "closed road," or if Siri simply responded to knowing that traffic speed had fallen to 0 on that road. All I know is that I was spared the hassle, and the icon told me the exact cause. And I saw several other warning icons across the city when I panned around%u2014all for trees down.)
[INDENT][B]Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleZilla[/B]
[I]Nice, but Apple needs to steal the Green, Orange, Red traffic colors from Google, and also the bike maps.[/I]
[/INDENT]
Bike maps would be a great addition—but traffic colors have been in Apple Maps for ages. Tap the (i) to turn on Traffic if it's not already on.
(PS%u2014I like how the forum turns a double dash into garbage code
So when the hundreds of millions of people with iPhones get the same "alternate routes" tips as you when you're stuck in traffic, what's the point? The traffic will just follow you.
why does it matter? i dont use Waze. i use Maps. thus the feature adds value, whether Waze has it or not.
Dear Apple,
Your POI data is a hot mess. Please fix that first.
Sincerely,
John.B
Dear John:
We have over twenty thousand people working for Apple. We can work on more than one thing at the same time. Thank you.
Love,
Apple
why does it matter? i dont use Waze. i use Maps. thus the feature adds value, whether Waze has it or not.
Exactly. I use Maps. I could care less what Waze does. This feature will improve my experience.
why does it matter? i dont use Waze. i use Maps. thus the feature adds value, whether Waze has it or not.
Probably because it's not just about you. There are many features in Waze that has some users sticking to it until the Apple alternative catches up...such as better routing, user reportable hazards, accidents, police etc.
I think people forget what Apple maps was like under google:
There is a reason why google lost nearly 30% of map users to apple's solution. Because despite some early teething, apple maps was good enough and gave people turn-by-turn navigation, that's all that most people wanted.
I just wish that Apple Maps had higher contrast map views. I have to use Google Maps because I can at least read their maps in the car.
Why is the distance to the next turn so big and the street name so small. A bit backwards. The name of the street and which way to turn is what's most important. The distance is not always accurate. The distance reported is still says 50 feet while in the middle of the turn.
why does it matter? i dont use Waze. i use Maps. thus the feature adds value, whether Waze has it or not.
For you, that's fine. Many other people prefer to use the best product for a purpose, and the best product may be about to gain some competition.