Apple Maps Ads Move Closer to Launch With iOS 26.5 Beta 2

[jz0309]

Can't happen. Ads are a distraction. You can't have distractions while driving. Apple should know this. If they don't know it, their legal department will soon find out when cars start crashing.

I would make the argument that chatbots are a distraction while driving, yet chatgpt (and others?) have been added to CarPlay ...

 

[jeroenvip]

 

[Icehawk]

Way to cheapen a premium product. What's next? Apple+ No Ads add-on?

 

[diblasio]

Welcome to 2026, where you apparently are not allowed to enjoy ANYTHING! 🙁

 

[Eureka20]

I already avoid their app like the plague... but this is wild.

 

[Octavius8]

A whole new version of IOS to update maps app basically?.
Can we opt out and just get the updates for core functionalities and security?

Surely ads in maps is not a core function of maps. Better make maps work super good, then monetize.

 

[tomtad]

That’s Apple Ads splash screen when you first open is pretty depressing I’m not going to lie

Who’s responsible for this?

 

[B4U]

Here We Go maps has no ads and still calls it by its correct name of Gulf of Mexico. Ditto Mapquest! Which is apparently still around.

Are you sure?
This is what I am looking at just now on Here We Go maps with my US-based IP address on the browser.
Also tried the Android app and seeing the same.

So far, I can confirm that only Mapquest and TomTom still call it Gulf of Mexico in the browsers.

Unforunately, the TomTom Go app is not showing that.

 

[canadianreader]

To be fair, what alternative? The only one I know of also has ads.

Look into Organic Maps

 

[4tune8chance]

Do not fear, my fellow worshippers!

An ad-free subscription is coming!!

Sigh, it’s inevitable.

 

[4tune8chance]

Y

Garmin and TomTom make GPS map devices that can send the directions to the vehicle (or iPhone) over Bluetooth. So far, no adds. These units' maps can be updated and the entire device moved between vehicles. My 2012 Ram 2500HD has not had any internal radio navigation up dates in over 10 years. But the large Garmin RV map drive gets updates and the device can be replaced when necessary.

My 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was built in December 2020 and the production of the vehicle stopped 1 March 2021. There have been no updates to the map system since new and there have been lots of road changes here in Arizona. I have the smaller Garmin RV navigation device for the Land Cruiser so have up to date maps.

No adds on these RV Navigation units yet.

Yep looks like it going to be time to blow the dust off my Garmin also.

 

[mentaluproar]

Look into Organic Maps

So I have tried this and it flat out does not work. sigh. guess I'm going back to paper maps

EDIT: deleted and tried again and magically it worked. hm!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Apple isn’t very friendly toward small businesses either. When I tried to register my shop on Apple Maps, they asked me to upload an electricity bill for verification. The shop name is different from the registered company name, so I didn’t proceed. With Google Maps, it was much easier—they only required a video showing the street sign and the storefront.

So, you mean to say that it’s easier for someone else to pretend to own a business that hasn’t registered on Google Maps?

 

[Black_Mage]

Steve was literally pushing for an advertisement based operating system all the way back from 1999 until as late as 2010, he was not your savior.
He literally had a patent for showing a 60 second video advertisement on every Mac boot, from 1999.
The idea that he wouldn’t eventually do this is laughable, of course he would. He wasn’t dumb.

Oh snap! I had no idea.

Steve Jobs Reportedly Envisioned Ad-Supported OS

The idea, never implemented, would give customers a free version of the Mac operating system in exchange for occasional advertisements that users would be forced to watch. Mr. Segall explains that customers would still have the option to purchase the standard version of OS 9, but those without...

www.macobserver.com

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Question is how many on here will actually do something like leave Apple ? Or people just complaining ? Unless you are willing to do something about it then it’s all words.

I’m not, then again I’m not all that upset by this.

 

[mazz0]

lol

Apple can’t even move the erroneous businesses they think operate out of the quiet village cul-de-sac in live on, despite me sending them the correct location (in another county) four times, but I’m sure they’ll serve up appropriate ads. 🙂

Also: FFS Apple. This is what made your stuff not **** like Google and Microsoft’s!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

View attachment 2622198

OHHHHH, that’s what people think “Ads in Maps” is. 😀

 

[4tune8chance]

Apple is celebrating 50 years with ads. Soon we get ads before we dial 911.

Shhhhhhhh, now look what you’ve done. 9…1….1…. …… ….. “police, ambulance or fire?” ‘ but first a word from this weeks Sponsor, gum shoe investigations, do you suspect …………………”

 

[nucl30us_m]

Apple just keeps giving folks more reasons to update to iOS 26

 

[canadianreader]

So I have tried this and it flat out does not work. sigh. guess I'm going back to paper maps

Or iOS 18 since ads are exclusive to iOS 26

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Maps+ coming soon to a phone near you.

 

[JesseBruffett]

Looks like it's time to download Google Maps again.

 

[mentaluproar]

Or iOS 18 since ads are exclusive to iOS 26

considering these things are always online and being attacked, I'm not sure holding back from updates and skipping security fixes is a viable strategy.

 

[haemolysis]

Funny thing is, I find most businesses can already not even handle the burden of the totally free business listings, let alone pay for an ad.

In Australia most businesses have to be user-added and for that reason restaurants and stores rarely have info (times, phone numbers). Updates are rare, many stores don’t exist. Holiday tradings never updated.

If storefronts don’t care about the platform why would they pay for it?

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

Thanks, Tim! This is exactly what was missing from Apple Maps. 🫶