Opening Google Maps links in iOS 6

[crisss1205]

With iOS 6 Apple decided to remove Google maps and replace it with their own solution. In my opinion the new maps is a lot better. But there is one thing that annoys me. Some apps which have not been updated will open maps links using "http://maps.google.com" (Instagram is an example) which means they will open up in Safari not the maps app.

To combat this I have created a little bookmark. When an app opens a map link in Safari, all you have to do it go to your bookmarks and tap it. It will then open the same link, with the attributes in the maps app.

For instructions on how to use the bookmark just visit this blog post I wrote.

http://blog.cttapp.com/p/open-google-maps-in-maps-app-on-ios-6/

 

[protobiont]

I will often look up the directions to a place in google maps on my work pc, then email a link to myself to open on my phone. This is especially useful if I'm going to a remote place that doesn't necessarily have an address (as a biologist, I do this often), and I need to find it on the large screen of my office pc. So, I guess these links will open the web browser now and go to google maps?

So, in that case I could just use your bookmark, and it would take me to the maps app? I'll check it out, and thanks for sharing.

 

[protobiont]

Well, it worked, sort of. The bookmark works just as intended. Unfortunately, something was lost in translation. I got directions to an "unkown" road in the middle of a state conservation area in Florida, and when I used the bookmark, Apple maps gives me directions to an "unknown road" in Kentucy.

I'm guessing the instructions imbedded in the map link are using some sort of address system that doesn't involve GPS coordinates. Odd though that it wouldn't at least use zipcodes or something to prevent Apple maps from searching in Kentucky for a road in FL...

 

[crisss1205]

Well, it worked, sort of. The bookmark works just as intended. Unfortunately, something was lost in translation. I got directions to an "unkown" road in the middle of a state conservation area in Florida, and when I used the bookmark, Apple maps gives me directions to an "unknown road" in Kentucy.

I'm guessing the instructions imbedded in the map link are using some sort of address system that doesn't involve GPS coordinates. Odd though that it wouldn't at least use zipcodes or something to prevent Apple maps from searching in Kentucky for a road in FL...

Yea, unfortunately I have no control over that. It also seems Apple maps cannot find some places. Essentially Apple maps search sucks. For address links like this, http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=San+Francisco,+CA&saddr=cupertino it should work perfectly.

 

[protobiont]

Yea, unfortunately I have no control over that. It also seems Apple maps cannot find some places. Essentially Apple maps search sucks. For address links like this, http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=San+Francisco,+CA&saddr=cupertino it should work perfectly.

Roger that. I hope I didn't imply any problem with your bookmark tool. I should reiterate that it is really cool what you did, and great of you to share it with everyone!

I will definitely be using it. It's just a shame that Apple will be letting me down on one of my primary maps use cases... hopefully they iterate on this often and quickly.

Since you set up the tool, are you able to comment on what information is being passed from the google maps link to the Apple map?

 

[crisss1205]

Roger that. I hope I didn't imply any problem with your bookmark tool. I should reiterate that it is really cool what you did, and great of you to share it with everyone!

I will definitely be using it. It's just a shame that Apple will be letting me down on one of my primary maps use cases... hopefully they iterate on this often and quickly.

Since you set up the tool, are you able to comment on what information is being passed from the google maps link to the Apple map?

Sure no problem.

So essentially the phone used to register maps.google.com links with the maps app. Now they changed it so it handles maps.apple.com links instead. However my approach is to use a new URL scheme, which is maps://

So what I do it take the current Google Maps url, example: https://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=San+Francisco,+CA&saddr=cupertino

and change it to maps://maps?daddr=San+Francisco,+CA&saddr=cupertino

iOS uses the same URL parameters as before. Similarly you can also change it to http://maps.apple.com/maps?daddr=San+Francisco,+CA&saddr=cupertino

If you try the link below, on iOS 6 it will open the Maps App. On iOS 5 and lower, as well as any other browser, it will redirect you to Google Maps.

http://maps.apple.com/maps?daddr=San+Francisco,+CA&saddr=cupertino

Source Code

Also, if you are a developer you can view the documentation, as well as a response from an Apple Engineer about the subject in this forum post.

 

[protobiont]

So, here's the google maps link that I tested it with.

LINK: <https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=2820+E+University+Ave,+Gainesville,+FL&daddr=Unknown+road&hl=en&ll=29.548073,-81.58061&spn=0.061302,0.132093&sll=29.546207,-81.587262&sspn=0.030652,0.066047&geocode=FepzxAEdxmwY-ynZevf5S6HoiDHGL7DoWKxyfQ%3BFfvawgEdt_Ui-w&oq=28&mra=ls&t=m&z=14>

When I open this link it sends me to Kentucky. However, if I just send the destination in Google maps:

Link: <https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=&daddr=29.547215,-81.594994&hl=en&geocode=&sll=29.546207,-81.587262&sspn=0.030652,0.066047&vpsrc=6&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=15&ie=UTF8&ll=29.54826,-81.594858&spn=0.030651,0.066047&t=m&z=15&iwloc=ddw1>

It does go to the proper GPS coordinates. It's odd, because the first link also has the GPS coordinates, but it seems like iOS maps ignores it.

 

[Edslunch]

This is a brilliant solution. Maps works fine for me in my location but I miss the seamless integration with websites and email. This gets it pretty close just wish it was automatic