Apple is taking a leaf out of Waze’s book with
its iOS 14.5 update, bringing a plethora of
new features to its Maps software including
accident reporting, speed checks, and hazards.
They’re the latest changes to the mapping tool,
designed to create a more convenient and
valuable tool that will change the way people
get from A to B - and ultimately ditch rival apps.
APPLE’S RIDING THE WAZE
When Apple announced it was to transition
from Google Maps to its own custom mapping
tool back in 2012, consumers were excited.
Not only did it mean that Google would have a
new rival, but it would allow Apple to introduce
new features exclusive to the iOS ecosystem
and create a more streamlined and integrated
product. What followed, however, fell short, and
Apple was forced to apologize publicly for
the rollout of its less-than-stellar map app.
“We are doing everything we can to make Maps
better,” Tim Cook wrote on the Apple website
at the time, in one of the most humiliating
moments for the Cupertino company. The truth
is that Apple Maps has taken some wrong turns
over the years, and rivals have developed more
fully-formed solutions that work around the
world. However, that’s not to say Apple hasn’t
tried or hasn’t made improvements. In 2019,
the company revealed it had spent “billions
of dollars” on Maps, and the results are there.
Whilst Google Maps and Waze have larger user
bases than Apple Maps, the software has come
on leaps and bounds and is now a genuine
competitor to the two. Add in the fact that
Apple Maps is the default mapping app on iOS,
and the service now reaches millions of users