“Alphabet Inc.-owned Google rolled out an updated version of its Maps app for the iPhone and iPad, which can be downloaded from App Store,” Zacks Equity Research writes via Yahoo Finance. “The updated version, which is currently available only in the U.S. and Canada, includes offline maps and navigation and offers information about the busiest store hours and gas prices.”
“In November, Google improved offline capabilities for Google Maps on Android. While earlier, users could just see sections of Maps in offline mode, it now allows you to download maps for locations that do not have robust connections so you can get turn-by-turn directions and local business information as well,” Zacks writes. “Also, Maps automatically returns to online mode when you travel out of the area. Now the feature has reached iOS.”
“In July, Google added a feature to its search services to display the busiest times of the week for local businesses and places. It has now extended the feature to the Google Maps iOS application. The feature is available for different businesses including retail stores, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores and gyms,” Zacks writes. “It has also introduced a gas price tracking feature for its iOS map app (already available on Android), which means that it will display gas prices when users search for nearby gas stations. The app automatically updates gas prices and displays information.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Not the game-changers Google would need to overcome its huge deficit on iOS, the platform of people with disposable income and the proven will to spend it.
What would be of interest, and cause us launch Google Maps over Apple Maps on our iPhones: Draggable intra-route changes à la Google Maps on the desktop.
SEE ALSO:
Apple Maps is now used three times as often as Google Maps on iPhone and iPad – December 8, 2015
Too little, too late. Google gambled on trying to use its Maps app to force Apple to release data, and it lost its premier position as THE maps app for iOS and it will never regain that spot, it’s all downhill from here….
At best this will shore up some of the losses but I really doubt it will even do much of that.
Yes, and who cares…
It just looks crappy and second rate compared to Apple maps.
Where I live, Google maps is far superior to Apple maps, and the offline capability of it absolutely fantastic. I use it often when backpacking, and as long as my battery survives, it helps me stay oriented (obviously I don’t use it as my sole navigation tool).
So, although it pains me every time I open Google maps, I use it almost exclusively. Two major reasons why:
1) Google is a search engine. If I want directions to a park for a soccer game (for example), Apple can never find it. Google finds it every time.
2) I have 3 routes to get home from work. Apple always tells me “Traffic is normal right now”. Google, on the other hand, actually looks at the traffic and gives me the fastest way home. It always is correct. I’ve followed Apple’s traffic suggestions in the past and regretted it.
I just wish I could use Google maps with Siri until Apple fixes those primary issues. Never gonna happen.
I want to love Apple Maps, I really do…Of course, your mileage may vary.
Clarification on point #1: In Google maps I can just enter the name of the park and it finds it. Apple maps rarely knows the park names. If I know the address of the park, Apple does just fine.
In the UK, Apple Search seems to be fixated on commercial entries. And there’s no uber-useful Street View.
“Alphabet Inc.-owned Google” — that really rolls off the tongue.
I just want my maps app to consider my original route choice when auto reroute is done due to missed turn or bad GPS accuracy.
Apple Maps still lags behind Google Maps in my opinion. Like someone pointed out, if you want to find a business for example and don’t know the address, you’re better off with Google. Also it’s public transport search is much much better. I was in Venice in the summer and it even listed the water taxis.
Who cares!
Would like to see “Draggable intra-route changes” and gas prices on the Apple Map app, something I’ve been using on a separate IOS app for awhile now.
Alphabet Inc., I guess that is as phonetically close as they could get to Apple Inc.
THIS is what competition is for.
Hurray! 😀