Revamped Apple Maps Expands to the Southeast and Central United States [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Apple in December began testing an expansion of its more detailed Apple Maps app in the Central and Southeastern parts of the United States, along with Alaska, and that updated Maps content is now rolling out to all customers.

The revamped Maps app features more extensive geographical details, with updated buildings, roads, parks, sports fields, parking lots, foliage, pools, pedestrian pathways, and bodies of water.

To get its mapping data, Apple uses its own vehicles equipped with LIDAR sensors and cameras. Apple has been using this method to collect mapping information for years now.

Apple began rolling out its updated mapping app to customers starting in iOS 12, and at the 2019 Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple said all customers in the United States would receive the improved Maps app by the end of the year.

Apple has made good on that promise with the rollout of the new mapping terrain to large swathes of the United States, and the updated Maps are now becoming available across most of the country. It could still take some time for all users in the Central and Southeastern areas of the U.S. to see the new content. Apple plans to bring the new Maps app to additional countries in 2020.

(Thanks, @tricil and @NateThompson!)

Update: Though Apple has begun releasing the new mapping updates across the United States, updated Maps features are not yet showing up for all users in the Southeast at this time.

Update 2 -- Jan 30, 2020: The rollout of revamped Apple Maps in the Southeast and Central United States now appears to be complete. This includes the addition of traffic lights and stop signs in Apple Maps on CarPlay.

Article Link: Revamped Apple Maps Expands to the Southeast and Central United States [Updated]

 

[entropys]

completing rollout? Damn Yanks.

Apple plans to bring the Maps app to additional countries in 2020.

take your time, Apple. Take your own sweet time.

 

[rizzo41999]

Even so, the Boston area in Maps doesn't have nearly as much detail as say in CA.

 

[nvmls]

Apple U.S. Maps™

 

[malcolmffc]

So that’s the whole world covered then.

 

[Alan Gordon]

I wonder if this story was posted a little prematurely?

 

[dontwalkhand]

The "revamped" maps suck, says all the roads wrong now in my area, and doesn't even bother to tell us the highway number.

 

[zinacef]

The "revamped" maps suck, says all the roads wrong now in my area, and doesn't even bother to tell us the highway number.

Not sure where you’re referring to but I’ve found that to be the case in Arizona where I live.

 

[DanBig]

Most of the Northeast is not done!

 

[Alan Gordon]

Most sof the North East is not done!

The Northeast (of the U.S.) has been completed since the end of September.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Not sure where you’re referring to but I’ve found that to be the case in Arizona where I live.

LOL yep Arizona.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I wonder if this story was posted a little prematurely?

Just a little Or at least a bit of a clarification.
I always check this page for the best maps information. According to this site, they're just in testing, so some will see the changes, sone won't. So, the data capture may be considered complete, but the rollout is not complete until everyone has it.

Apple’s New Map, Expansion #7: Final Parts of the Continental U.S.

www.justinobeirne.com

 

[Alan Gordon]

Just a little Or at least a bit of a clarification.
I always check this page for the best maps information. According to this site, they're just in testing, so some will see the changes, sone won't. So, the data capture may be considered complete, but the rollout is not complete until everyone has it.

Apple’s New Map, Expansion #7: Final Parts of the Continental U.S.

www.justinobeirne.com

Yeah, I know. There's a thread about Apple Maps here on this very forum which I follow (along with the page you linked).

They started testing this new expansion on December 18, and then it was pulled from people who had it, only to apparently be doing public testing of it again.

MacRumors (I think) usually waits until it goes public before posting a story on it.

 

[Rafterman]

Its good they are making progress, but the fact is, they will forever be behind google.

 

[Alan Gordon]

Its good they are making progress, but the fact is, they will forever be behind google.

That's an assumption. There are areas where Apple is behind Google, and other areas where Apple is ahead of Google.

 

[Rogifan]

Is there a way to turn off dark mode just for the Maps app? I fund it much harder to read in dark mode.

 

[Westside guy]

The single thing that's kept me from switching away from Google's maps is that Google's display of traffic congestion information is easier to grok at a glance. Google adopted the standard green-yellow-red-black paradigm most of the older traffic display systems used, and it's just easier to quickly comprehend.

I notice that, with the revamp, Apple's at least gotten rid of that annoying system of dashes they used to use. But still, it seems like they're trying to be different just for the sake of being different, and sacrificing quick visual interpretation because of it.

 

[theman510]

I love the look and detail of Apple Maps but the fact that I can hit a button in Waze and get 3 updated route options at any time keep me going back to Waze (I live in a very congested area in northern NJ and rush hour commutes can be brutal). Until Apple Maps can do that I'll be sticking with Waze

 

[meaning-matters]

I keep saying it: Maps are unreadable because of the use of very light colors. Especially slightly less light yellow for roads on light yellow background; unbelievable.

 

[anthogag]

I am guessing Canada will get revamped maps in 2020. Detailed maps are great.

 

[MozMan68]

The single thing that's kept me from switching away from Google's maps is that Google's display of traffic congestion information is easier to grok at a glance. Google adopted the standard green-yellow-red-black paradigm most of the older traffic display systems used, and it's just easier to quickly comprehend.

I notice that, with the revamp, Apple's at least gotten rid of that annoying system of dashes they used to use. But still, it seems like they're trying to be different just for the sake of being different, and sacrificing quick visual interpretation because of it.

Or maybe Apple prefers to show traffic and not LACK of traffic (green) like Google.

 

[DamoTheBrave]

“Completing rollout”.
time for Apple’s monthly reminder that there are 195 countries on the planet. Hi from Australia.

 

[Alan Gordon]

“Completing rollout”.
time for Apple’s monthly reminder that there are 195 countries on the planet. Hi from Australia.

"Completing rollout" is a headline from MacRumors alluding to Apple's rollout of the U.S. by the end of 2019.

More countries are being added next year, with Europe and Canada most likely being the most likely places added next since they have been actively spotted gathering data for an upcoming rollout.

 

[AdmiralTriggerH]

“Completing rollout”.
time for Apple’s monthly reminder that there are 195 countries on the planet. Hi from Australia.

The cars have been spotted in Australia already, the did my street a few months ago (Lake Macquarie area) so they are getting there. Hopefully Australia will be complete some time in 2020

 

[Westside guy]

Or maybe Apple prefers to show traffic and not LACK of traffic (green) like Google.

Here’s one problem, though. How do you determine the difference between “traffic is good everywhere in my immediate vicinity” from “the map isn‘t displaying traffic data yet”? I suppose the former never happens in Cupertino, but it’s not unknown within the mile or two around my house.

Right now, where I live, the Google traffic map in my immediate vicinity is all green - at a glance I know there are no issues. With the Apple map, I have to expand it a few times until I see some areas displaying congestion - only then do I know for sure there’s not a data issue.