iOS 18.4 Adds a Highly-Requested Setting to iPhones — But Not in U.S.

[MacRumors]

iPhones are finally getting a much-requested setting, but availability is limited.

The upcoming iOS 18.4 update introduces an option to set a default navigation app, other than Apple Maps, but unfortunately this new setting is limited to users in the EU. There, you can now set an app like Google Maps or Waze as your default navigation app on the iPhone by opening the Settings app and tapping Apps → Default Apps → Navigation.

Apple made this change in response to the EU's Digital Markets Act.

Apple, we would love to see this option made available worldwide.

Apple has at least made a small concession for U.S. users, allowing them to set a default translation app on iOS 18.4. For example, you can set Google Translate as your iPhone's default translation app, instead of Apple Translate.

iOS 18.4 is currently in beta testing. The update will be released to the general public in early April, according to Apple's website.

Article Link: iOS 18.4 Adds a Highly-Requested Setting to iPhones — But Not in U.S.

 

[I7guy]

iOS is now officially fractured.

 

[iObama]

iOS is now officially fractured.

Becoming less anti-competitive in the smallest way possible ≠ "officially fractured"

 

[spartan1967]

So much valuable data will be lost with this toggle option to another provider.

 

[zorinlynx]

Can we please just not with the clickbaity headlines? That headline was just freaking terrible.

Why not just write, "iOS 8.4 adds the ability to choose your navigation app, but not in the US"

 

[Mr_Ed]

Of course not in the US. They may still want to show ads in Maps here.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Can we please just not with the clickbaity headlines? That headline was just freaking terrible.

Why not just write, "iOS 8.4 adds the ability to choose your navigation app, but not in the US"

Though everything these days requires clickability as that results in revenue. Hence the choice of words for this article.

 

[JPack]

Apple has at least made a small concession for U.S. users, allowing them to set a default translation app on iOS 18.4. For example, you can set Google Translate as your iPhone's default translation app, instead of Apple Translate.

Apple Maps has ads while translate doesn't. Americans will probably never get to choose their default map app unless Apple is legally forced to change.

 

[DubuLovesTofu]

finally being able to never having to use apple maps again is great. sadly right now its not available in the beta, still only shows apple maps in the default navigation app section, but i assume itll be rolled out on its official release of ios 18.4

 

[iMacDragon]

Presumably other apps will have to register in some form to be options.

 

[sigmasirrus]

Come on Apple just open up everything worldwide. Give users choices.

 

[ab2c4]

Yikes, so I live in the US and I always thought Google Maps was my default map program on my iphone lol. All I know is when I tap on an address it opens in Google Maps so I guess I don't understand.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

Apple, we would love to see this option made available worldwide

Chances are it is likely coming to other countries, via Apple Intelligence. Right now, Siri will use frequently used navigation app on CarPlay if you if it asks if you want direction. So chances are Apple will likely expand on that in future versions of iOS.

 

[HouseLannister]

Would setting a default stop websites from asking me to open in Google Maps when I don't have that app installed on my phone?

 

[Rychiar]

I hate all the other navigation systems. maps is the best

 

[apples_arrogance]

Thank you EU - 🇪🇺 🙌

 

[Remy149]

Would setting a default stop websites from asking me to open in Google Maps when I don't have that app installed on my phone?

There is a safari extension that fixes that. Look for mapper for safari in the App Store.

 

[Taipan]

Becoming less anti-competitive in the smallest way possible ≠ "officially fractured"

„having positive side effects“ ≠ „not being true“

 

[ProbablyDylan]

iOS is now officially fractured.

I'd like to remind the class that this is the choice Apple made. The EU only mandated that the option be there - Apple chose to limit it to the EU.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Can we please just not with the clickbaity headlines? That headline was just freaking terrible.

Why not just write, "iOS 8.4 adds the ability to choose your navigation app, but not in the US"

I understand your feedback, and I want to share my personal thoughts on this below. I do not speak on behalf of MacRumors as a whole.

I have seen many independent ad-supported news websites or blogs struggle in recent years, or even shut down. iMore, as one example within the Apple news sphere.

I think MacRumors provides excellent coverage of Apple news and rumors on a daily basis. I view the odd title like this one that might be more casual or withhold some details as a subsidy in a sense. These stories generally receive more views, which helps to support our organization and the many other quality stories we write with straightforward titles or more depth.

AnandTech shutting down is a sad example of how focusing 100% on quality alone isn’t always enough to stay afloat. They offered incredibly deep technical analysis.

The alternative solution that some sites like The Verge have turned to is a paywall, which is totally fine, but that also upsets some readers!

If you want MacRumors to exist for free for many years to come, like I do, then I hope you can see where I’m coming from. Still, thank you for voicing your totally valid feedback.

It’s also totally your right to simply disagree with me and/or thumbs-down this post, but I’m not sure that changes the reality of the situation for ad-supported web publications.

 

[bousozoku]

iOS is now officially fractured.

Well, they could actually make the operating system more configurable, instead of fighting it. If they do it everywhere, with a few exceptions, they'll have less to fight.

They can still make money on equipment and software they produce.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

I've been using Apple Maps for about 6-7 years as my main navigation app. It's better at finding ways around traffic, at least in Belgium it is.

 

[I7guy]

I understand your feedback, and I want to share my personal thoughts on this below. I do not speak on behalf of MacRumors as a whole.

I have seen many independent ad-supported news websites or blogs struggle in recent years, or even shut down. iMore, as one example within the Apple news sphere.

I think MacRumors provides excellent coverage of Apple news and rumors on a daily basis. I view the odd title like this one that might be more casual or withhold some details as a subsidy in a sense. These stories generally receive more views, which helps to support our organization and the many other quality stories we write with straightforward titles or more depth.

The alternative solution that some sites like The Verge have turned to is a paywall, which is totally fine but also upsets some readers!

If you want MacRumors to exist for free for many years to come, like I do, then I hope you can see where I’m coming from. Still, thank you for voicing your totally valid feedback.

It’s also totally your right to simply disagree with me and/or thumbs-down this post, but I’m not sure that changes the reality of the situation for ad-supported web publications.

Appreciate that feedback, a very cogent response of the issues at hand.

 

[JohnC1959]

I'd love it if they offered this in the US. Every new release I try out Apple Maps hoping to like it as much as Google Maps because it would have the advantage of being better integrated on the iphone/mac. But I still much prefer Google's.

 

[dwaite]

finally being able to never having to use apple maps again is great. sadly right now its not available in the beta, still only shows apple maps in the default navigation app section, but i assume itll be rolled out on its official release of ios 18.4

For those who don't know, the non-embedded Apple Maps API are just web paths based on cloning an old version of the Google Maps web paths(which aren't correct anymore - google moved from map.google.com to google.com/maps so that they can capture the location permission for background usage during web search).

There's no current way to implement a default - apps and websites are explicitly linking to maps.apple.com or google.com/maps or to other providers. The native app will run rather than safari if the official app is installed and uses universal links to "take over" display of those https URLs from the browsers.

So there is no integration point for this today - Apple is basically pushing a beta integration point, that both regular apps and navigation apps will still have to implement. For apps wanting to use this, they'll need to gate around availability checks for years, even if this was to be rolled out globally tomorrow. And it is likely to change - the point is likely to have a fresh scheme with all the navigation providers on equal footing, rather than being forced to adapt the featureset and limitations that google had back in 2012.

This could get wider roll-out once the feature is done, but it is being pushed out in this release because the EU has mandated that something be there by a certain date. The EU has basically mandated that they become the testing ground for unadopted and potentially security-risky features.

More developer info: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/mapkit/preparing-your-app-to-be-the-default-navigation-app