Apple Maps Gains Turn-by-Turn Directions for India

[MacRumors]

Apple has added turn-by-turn navigation to Apple Maps for India. The app now offers the detailed directions for driving and walking, with options to book a ride through Uber and Ola also showing within the app.

Still missing for users in India is public transit information, lane guidance and speed limits, although given that the addition of turn-by-turn directions is part of an ongoing improvement to Apple Maps, these are likely to follow.

Rival Google Maps has been the de facto navigation app in India for some time, thanks to its driving, walking, and public transport modes. Users of the app have also benefited from the development of region-specific special features like "two-wheeler" mode which provides motorcycle and scooter users with shortcuts across cities.

By contrast, Apple's navigational contributions in the country have come in for some criticism, with some users calling out the app's sparse data for a number of cities and towns, including missing landmarks.

The introduction of turn-by-turn directions comes nearly three years after Apple announced the opening of a Hyderabad-based development center focused on improving Apple Maps in India.

(Thanks, Ram!)

Article Link: Apple Maps Gains Turn-by-Turn Directions for India

 

[Scottsoapbox]

Now that is news worthy progress. None of this 'Apple maps adds another mall to its impressive roster 37 other malls'.

 

[iKaushal]

Finally some good news for Indian iPhone users...!!

now awaiting Apple Pay to be launched.

 

[waqas]

Finally. Indian subcontinent means other countries too though like Sri Lanka and Maldives and so on ...?

 

[TheFluffyDuck]

I just assumed turn-by-turn was just built in to the technology. I understand that public transport was a localisation thing. But turn-by-turn? huh, learn something every day. I thought when your route hooks a hard left, the software would pick up on that.

 

[manu chao]

I just assumed turn-by-turn was just built in to the technology. I understand that public transport was a localisation thing. But turn-by-turn? huh, learn something every day. I thought when your route hooks a hard left, the software would pick up on that.

Apart from a visually accurate map, turn-by-turn requires knowledge whether, eg, it is possible to make a left turn at any given intersection, or whether a given street is a one-way street. Just having a satellite photo of an intersection might not be enough for it, you need actual on-the-ground driving information for that.

 

[iPhysicist]

Western people should not drive cars in Indias Meagacities. It's safer to take a Taxi.

 

[timmyh]

Finally. Indian subcontinent means other countries too though like Sri Lanka and Maldives and so on ...?

It looks like our tipster meant to refer to just India, but we're trying to confirm and will update the post if we learn more.

 

[2010mini]

Western people should not drive cars in Indias Meagacities. It's safer to take a Taxi.

Western??? There are entire continents west of India. Gotta be a little more specific.

 

[JohnnyGo]

It looks like our tipster meant to refer to just India, but we're trying to confirm and will update the post if we learn more.

Is Brazil coming anytime soon ?

 

[akbarali.ch]

Finally, we are halfway there for iPhone's price justification in India.

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

That’s cool and all, but I’ll be more excited when they make it useable (better than Google maps) in California.

 

[manu chao]

Western??? There are entire continents west of India. Gotta be a little more specific.

"Western people" is meant as a label for people from the Western World, for Westerners. It likely is an unconscious variation based on those two terms (ie, the poster meant to say 'Westerners' or 'people from the Western World' but like a misspelling of a word his fingers typed something slightly different, however unlike a misspelling a new phrasing cannot be dismissed as simply incorrect, just as potentially imprecise and confusing, and even if the term doesn't show up in dictionaries yet, it doesn't mean it hasn't received some noticeable usage yet).

 

[SBlue1]

I guess he ment non locals.

 

[dominiongamma]

That’s cool and all, but I’ll be more excited when they make it useable (better than Google maps) in California.

It will never be better then google maps because they are years ahead

 

[Sasparilla]

Nice to see. Keep going Apple, doing good.

Now its time for the Indian users to help Apple squash the bugs that got through (nothing specific to Apple here, if Google just released turn by turn for India there'd be bugs / mistakes as well). Of course that's only if Apple is generating the map data in India themselves and its not just getting it from TomTom data etc. (I'm not seeing Apple Map vehicles allocated there at this point so it may just be purchased mapping data ).

 

[Tonewheel]

Go dis vay, go day vay.

 

[UltimaKilo]

Hopefully Apple Pay India soon. Apple needs to refocus its India efforts ASAP, and maybe this is the beginning.

 

[truthertech]

That’s cool and all, but I’ll be more excited when they make it useable (better than Google maps) in California.

I use it regularly throughout CA and it works great. As the studies show, Apple Maps is now a bit more accurate than Google Maps. Apple has come a long way from their disastrous start and frequent travelers like me have thankfully been able to switch over to Apple Maps. Apple has finally finished their base map that they have been spending billions and years assembling, so now improvements are rolling out even faster. State of the competition?

Apple Maps wins hands down for privacy (remember Google is storing everywhere you drive, walk, etc., and adding that to your "universal identifier" file.). Apple also has a nicer interface, is usually more accurate in time estimations, etc., and has better transit directions.

Google is still a bit better for searching for places, has Street View (Apple is getting ready to roll out their version which hopefully will be much better than the clunky version GM has), and bicycle directions, which is useful in some cities.

 

[richie396]

If you have ever driven in India, you might just accept turn-by-turn as a feat in itself. I wouldn't hold my breath for "lane guidance".

 

[avanpelt]

I hope India's turn-by-turn directions are more fully baked than the TBT directions were when they launched in the U.S. Wouldn't want to have any drivers taking a left turn onto an airport taxiway in Delhi.

 

[racerhomie]

Finally, we are halfway there for iPhone's price justification in India.

Just buy from unauthorized resellers or refurbished iPhones.

 

[akbarali.ch]

Just buy from unauthorized resellers or refurbished iPhones.

Yes, plan already in place. I bought used iPad 6 from a from a seller (with 8 months warranty pending). Same i'll do for the iPhone as well. Current gen prices of all devices just leapfrogged out of my reach.

 

[racerhomie]

Yes, plan already in place. I bought used iPad 6 from a from a seller (with 8 months warranty pending). Same i'll do for the iPhone as well. Current gen prices of all devices just leapfrogged out of my reach.

I have been doing this for almost a decade. Even got my aunts old 5S battery replaced. iOS 12 & new battery are awesome on the 5S!