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Apple Maps

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Apple Maps:

Find electric car charging stations in Apple Maps

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Where Can I Plug In?
Find charging stations from Apple Maps.
Image: Ank Kumar/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple Maps makes it easy to find EV charging stations while you’re on the road to figure out where you can top up your electric car. Apple added some powerful new features in iOS 17 to simplify this sometimes-daunting process for EV owners.

Now you can see electric car charger availability, charging speeds and connector types in Apple Maps so you can find a way to juice up your vehicle when on a road trip. Here’s how it works.

All the CarPlay upgrades coming in iOS 26

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Liquid Glass design in CarPlay
iOS 26 will make CarPlay even better.
Photo: Apple

In addition to a Liquid Glass design overhaul, iOS 26 will improve the CarPlay experience by bringing several iPhone features to cars’ infotainment displays.

If you’re a fan of Apple’s in-car software, check out how iOS 26 will upgrade your experience later this year.

AI updates bring new tricks to Apple Maps, Music, Wallet and more across devices

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OS 26 AI updates
A slew of new features will come in core Apple services across devices this fall.
Photo: Apple

Updates coming this fall to core Apple services like Maps, Music and Wallet focus heavily on artificial intelligence integration and personalization. The updates promise to make everyday tasks more intuitive and enjoyable for users across the Apple ecosystem.

Apple Maps adds restaurant, hotel, golf course reviews from pros

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Apple Maps reviews from pros
Apple Maps can advise you on where to go, not just how to get there.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The listings in Apple Maps for restaurants, hotels, golf courses and more got rankings and reviews from expert sources starting on Wednesday. This includes information from Michelin Guide, Golf Digest and others.

These join the reviews already in the app that were submitted by regular users, and the ones brought over from Yelp.

7 everyday tasks that Apple Watch makes easier

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Apple Watch pros
Sometimes, your Apple Watch really is better than your iPhone.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

It’s time to break the habit of doing everything on your iPhone while overlooking what’s often a better alternative. Consider the Apple Watch pros: It’s a very capable little computer, and it’s right there on your wrist. Odds are you aren‘t taking advantage of half of what it can do for you.

Here are the simple tasks I used to do on my iPhone that are now easier because I do them on my Apple Watch. And all without needing any third-party software. The only apps required come preinstalled on every Apple Watch.

Apple Maps changes Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America [Updated]

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Gulf of America in Apple Maps and Google Maps
Gulf of America now appears in both Apple Maps and Google Maps.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Google Maps switched the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America after President Donald Trump ordered the name change, and Apple did the same shortly thereafter.

Apple began making the change Tuesday for U.S. customers. It will roll out the new nomenclature to Apple Maps users globally in the near future, according to a report.

Get to know Kendrick Lamar before his Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show

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Kendrick Lamar Road to Halftime
Apple offers many ways to get ready not for the game but for the halftime show with hip hop star Kendrick Lamar.
Photo: Apple Music

With hip-hop icon Kendrick Lamar taking center stage at the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on February 9 at New Orleans, Apple kicked off the artist’s Road to Halftime festivities Monday.

“Throughout his career, Kendrick Lamar hasn’t met the cultural moment so much as he’s defined it,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s global head of content and editorial. “He is an artist’s artist — authentic to his core. We couldn’t be more thrilled to watch him headline the third Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, in what’s sure to be another moment we’ll all be talking about for decades.”

Web version of Apple Maps adds Look Around street-view feature

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Apple Maps web version adds Look Around
With a click on the web version of Apple Maps, you can switch to a street view.
Photo: Apple

Apple just enhanced its web version of Apple Maps by adding a beta version of Look Around, a street-level view similar to Google Street View in Google Maps. The new functionality lets users explore high-resolution, ground-level views of cities and points of interest directly through their web browser. The Apple Maps app already has Look Around.

Today in Apple history: Apple fixes ‘life-threatening’ Maps glitch

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Australia Park
This probably isn't the spot people wanted to reach!
Photo: Papphase/Wikipedia CC

December 10: Today in Apple history: Apple fixes Australian Apple Maps glitch December 10, 2012: Apple fixes an Apple Maps error that caused several motorists in Victoria, Australia, to become stranded in the remote Murray-Sunset National Park.

The early Apple Maps glitch showed the town of Mildura nearly 45 miles from its actual location. In the aftermath, Victoria police describe Apple’s navigation app as “potentially life-threatening.” That’s pretty much the opposite of “it just works.”

Today in Apple history: Maps manager is navigated out of Apple

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maps
Yep ... we're pretty sure that's not right.
Photo: Apple

November 27: Today in Apple history: Apple fires Maps manager Richard Williamson November 27, 2012: Apple fires the manager responsible for the disastrous Apple Maps launch in iOS 6 after the glitchy software delivered embarrassingly bad data to users around the world.

Richard Williamson, who oversaw Apple’s mapping team, gets the ax from Eddy Cue, who assumes leadership of the project.

Today in Apple history: Scott Forstall gets forced out of Apple

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Forstall
The disastrous Apple Maps showed Scott Forstall the way out of Cupertino.
Photo: Apple

October 29: Today in Apple history: Scott Forstall gets forced out of Apple after disastrous Apple Maps launch October 29, 2012: Scott Forstall, Apple’s senior vice president of iOS software, is fired from the company after the disastrous Apple Maps launch. After Forstall is ousted, Apple divvies up the roles he previously handled among other high-level execs.

Jony Ive assumes leadership of the Human Interface team. Craig Federighi becomes head of iOS software. Eddy Cue takes control of Maps and Siri. And Bob Mansfield “unretires” to lead a new technology group.

Why company listings in Apple apps should get more accurate and useful

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Apple Business Connect lets companies control how they look in Apple apps.
Real companies display their logos in Apple’s Mail, Phone and Wallet apps.
Image: Apple

An update to Apple Business Connect that launched Wednesday enables any verified business to control how it appears in Apple Maps, Wallet and Mail, even if they don’t have a brick-and-mortar storefront.

This should give consumers access to the accurate information they need about these companies because it’ll be supplied by the best source: the owners of the businesses.

Other changes should help protect consumers from phishing attempts.

8 secret features in Apple Maps

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Find Your Way Around Apple Maps
Apple Maps can help you find your way anywhere you need to go — but I can help you find hidden features in the app.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

With tons of advanced features, Apple Maps competes quite handily with the likes of Google Maps and Waze. I put together a big list of the best eight features hidden in Apple Maps.

You can learn them all in this post — and see them in action in our video below.

18 hidden features in iOS 18 that Apple didn’t tell you about

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Hidden iOS 18 features
There are so many hidden features in iOS 18 to try out!
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

iOS 18 is packed full of great features Cult of Mac has covered at length — but the upcoming iPhone software update packs many more tiny features and small improvements that Apple did not mention or talk about. If you know to look out for these features, they’ll make the everyday interactions with your phone faster and easier.

Here’s a roundup of 18 little changes and useful features in iOS 18. Keep reading or watch our video.

Browse local hiking trails and build custom walking routes in Apple Maps

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Image with the words
Create custom walking paths ahead of your next outdoor excursion.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can get rich topographical hiking maps of local trails and U.S. national parks on your iPhone, right in Apple Maps. New in iOS 18, you can build custom routes connecting walking paths and save them to your device for offline access.

You can use this feature to plan a hike as a day trip. Planning your route in advance could save you the hassle of getting lost without a signal — or keep you from starting an overly ambitious hike.

According to Apple, the update comes with data for “all 63 U.S. national parks.” In my testing, Apple Maps showed a thorough knowledge of the trails in northeastern and Appalachian Ohio, too. It could contain detailed trail data about your local park as well.

Here’s how to make the most out of the new hiking maps in iOS 18.

Now anyone can experience Apple Podcasts on the web

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Apple Podcasts on the web
Now even PC users can experience Apple Podcasts a lot like someone who uses the app for macOS.
Image: Apple

As an alternative to using the Apple Podcasts app, as of Monday anyone can browse, hear, sync and share Apple Podcasts in 170 countries on all major web browsers, including Safari, Chrome, Edge and Firefox.

So now Apple Podcasts joins the likes of Podbay and Podurama in offering its own online player for anyone on any platform.

Apple Maps finds its way onto the web [Updated]

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Apple Maps finds its way onto the web
You can now use Apple Maps on a Windows PC.
Screenshot: Apple/Cult of Mac

A Mac or iPhone is a no longer needed to access Apple Maps — a web version reached public beta testing Wednesday. It allows users to get driving and walking directions from a web browser, including Chrome and Edge on Windows PCs.

Update: Several weeks after the initial release, Apple Maps on the web now works on a broader selection of web browsers.

Apple Maps updated with topographical data, suggested hikes

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Apple Maps in iOS 18
Apple Maps in iOS 18 will help you plan your hikes, whether through the wilderness or a city.
Image: Apple

Apple Let Loose Event:New features in Apple Maps in iOS 18 will be a boon to hikers. The app is getting topographic maps along with thousands of suggested hikes across national parks in the United States.

The app can also create custom walking routes.

Apple Wallet masters Paris transit ahead of Olympics

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Apple Wallet masters Paris transit
Transit riders can buy passes from the Île-de-France Mobilités iOS app or directly from Apple Wallet, and use an iPhone or Apple Watch to tap and ride.
Photo: Apple

As Paris gears up for French Open tennis next week and the Summer Olympics in July, Apple Wallet makes paying for Paris public transit easier. Users can now add a Navigo card and simply tap their iPhone or Apple Watch to ride. It works on the metro, trains, buses and more in the French capital region, Apple said Tuesday. Apple Maps added more real-time transit information, too.

“In the lead-up to what will surely be an amazing summer for the Paris region, we’re thrilled to bring Navigo cards to Apple Wallet and provide Parisians and visitors with an incredibly convenient and secure way to ride transit in Paris and explore the city,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “Users will love the safety, security, and seamlessness of purchasing passes and riding with a Navigo card in Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch.”

How to download Apple Maps for offline use

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How to download maps in Apple Maps for offline use
You don't need an internet connection to use Apple Maps with iOS 17.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 17 allows Apple Maps users to download maps for offline use and generate turn-by-turn directions with them. This can be a lifesaver when traveling in remote areas without a cellular connection.

It’s not complicated, but there are several steps to go through if you want to download Apple Maps of certain cities or regions. Here’s how to do it.

Apple Maps might gain customizable routes, topographic maps in iOS 18

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Apple Maps
Useful new features are reportedly coming to Apple Maps in iOS 18.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple Maps could receive a pair of big updates this year: “Custom routes” and topographic maps. A developer from Argentina spotted the two new features recently in Apple code, saying they could arrive in iOS 18 and macOS 15.

If true, the changes will make Apple’s navigation application more useful for both drivers and hikers.

Find live music with Shazam’s new Concerts feature

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Shazam app
Now you can see live-music recommendations right in Apple's Shazam app.
Photo: Apple

Apple-owned music-identification app Shazam now lets users find live music through a new feature called Concerts, the company said Wednesday.

It surfaces shows in the iOS app’s My Music section based on a user’s Shazam history.

Here’s why people are learning to love Apple Maps

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Apple Maps' use of 3D imagery led the way, but in other ways it trailed Google Maps.
Apple Maps' use of 3D imagery led the way, but in other ways it trailed Google Maps.
Photo: Apple

After its launch in 2012, Apple Maps performed so badly that Apple CEO Tim Cook actually apologized for the service and fired the company’s head of software (for the disastrous launch and other reasons). But now, many people actually choose Apple Maps over Google Maps and other services, according to a new report.