Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The new, more detailed Apple Maps is now available across the U.S.

 

Apple’s revamped Maps is now available across the country. The redesigned Apple Maps adds much more detailed information and reduces Apple’s dependence on third-parties to supply data. Not only that, but it also adds the new Look Around feature that competes with Google’s Street View — though Look Around isn’t yet available in all markets.

Recommended Videos

Apple originally launched Apple Maps in 2012, but the launch was riddled with bugs — to the point where Apple CEO Tim Cook even apologized for the issues. Since then, Apple has been working hard to improve Maps, and announced a full redesign of the service in 2018. The redesign first made it to certain cities, like the San Francisco Bay Area, and by the end of last year, it was available in around half of the United States.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

“We set out to create the best and most private maps app on the planet that is reflective of how people explore the world today,” said Eddie Cue, Apple senior vice president of internet software and services, in a blog post. “It is an effort we are deeply invested in and required that we rebuild the map from the ground up to reimagine how Maps enhances people’s lives — from navigating to work or school or planning an important vacation — all with privacy at its core.”

Other new features have been added to Maps since the announcement of the redesign, too. For example, Apple also added a feature called Collections, which allows users to build and share lists of their favorite locations. Apple is also adding real-time transit information to Maps, but that feature is currently only available in select cities, like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Now that the revised version of Maps is available around the U.S., Apple says it will be expanding to the rest of the world. According to the company, the new Maps will begin rolling out across Europe later this year. It’s likely Apple will aim to bring the new Maps to the entire world over the next few years, though considering the relatively slow rollout around the U.S., it’s hard to predict how long that will take.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Samsung and Apple’s race to slim phones might skirt the sticker shock
Samsung Galaxy S24 and iPhone 16 Pro side by side.

Over the course of the past few months, numerous outlets have reported on Samsung and Apple’s plans to make “slim” phones. Naturally, one would think that an “innovation tax” is imminent, but it seems these skinny phones won’t deliver a price shock.

In Apple’s case, the alleged iPhone 17 Air will replace the iPhone Plus model, which apparently had an unexpectedly low sales run. Apple, therefore, has to fill the Plus gap with an Air model this year without making any big changes to the pricing structure.

Read more
Get ready for 2025 with Apple’s massive New Year Fitness+ update
The Apple Fitness Plus icon on an Apple TV.

Apple has assembled its largest New Year’s program and feature update for Apple Fitness+ since its launch, all ready for your 2025 plans to be more fit and healthier. In addition to a completely new strength program and a new sport to train for, there are new guest trainers and some in-depth courses for difficult to master yoga and meditation poses and techniques.

An all-new three-week course of full-body strength workouts arrives as one of the two complete programs, and what makes it different from others is the entire training team has come together to create the plan. It’s the first time this has been possible, and there’s a great deal of excitement surrounding it, which promises to make the sessions upbeat and fun. The focus changes each week, and the program has been designed to be repeated to build consistency.

Read more
Samsung’s $60 Fitbit killer is now available in the U.S.
Design render of the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3.

The new year has barely begun, and Samsung is already hitting the ground running with two new mobile gadgets launching in the U.S. The Galaxy Fit 3 and the Galaxy A16 5G both launched in other markets last October, but Samsung has just confirmed their availability in the U.S.

We'll start with the Galaxy Fit 3, which I find the most interesting. A successor to 2022's Galaxy Fit 2, the Galaxy Fit 3 is a small and affordable fitness tracker akin to the Fitbit Charge 6 or Fitbit Inspire 3. It has a 1.6-inch AMOLED display (45% larger than the Fit 2) and promises up to 13 days of battery life. The case is made of aluminum with a matte finish and is 5ATM/IP68 water-resistant.

Read more