Mapping

Google Maps gains 3D imagery of Apple Park

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 18, 2017

Google has updated its imagery on Earth and Maps services so you can now tour Apple's massive new headquarters in glorious 3D graphics. However, Google's data appears to be out of date as the Apple Park imagery shows the site in an earlier state, with the main ring-shaped building still being worked on and Steve Jobs Theater in its early stages of development.

According to the Google Maps team, they refresh 3D images of major landmarks and metropolitan areas at least once per year. As the screenshots attest, Google's data still shows the whole mountain of dirt which has since been reduced substantially as Apple is re-using the earth for landscaping, as evidenced by the latest drone flyovers.

To tour Apple Park in 3D on Google Maps, go to maps.google.com or fire up the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad, and search for “Apple Park Visitor Centre”. Now zoom all the way in, switch to Satellite view and click the “3D” icon in the lower-right corner of the interface.

You can now drag the view around, Control-click to rotate and more.

The best way to experience Apple Park headquarters in either 2D or 3D is definitely the recently overhauled Google Earth web app, but you'll need Chrome to use it.

Apple in March 2017 added 3D images of Apple Park to its own Maps service, including support for related details, descriptions and searchable geolocation tags.

Thanks, Carlos!

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Google says Apple Watch support will be returning to Maps for iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

Google has confirmed that it will be bringing back support for Apple Watch to the Maps app for iPhone and iPad at some point in the future. In a statement issued Tuesday to AppleInsider, a spokesperson for the search giant said: “We removed Apple Watch support from our latest iOS release, but expect to support it again in the future”.

The company provided no explanation for the removal of Apple Watch functionality from Maps for iOS, which went largely unnoticed because it wasn't mentioned in App Store release notes.

As we reported yesterday, recent updates to major iPhone apps like Google Maps, eBay, Amazon and Target came stripped of all Apple Watch support, perhaps indicating that watchOS features in them were not widely used.

Google brought its Maps app to Apple Watch in September 2015, with features like turn-by-turn driving, walking and transit directions for recently visited points of interest. The app lacked other features found in Apple's Maps for Apple Watch, such as no conventional map view and the inability to conduct searches without a tethered iPhone.

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How to use your iPhone’s compass with Apple Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 28, 2017

iPhone includes a magnetometer sensor, also known as digital compass. With it, your iPhone can tell the direction it's pointed at. Along with built-in GPS and iOS's Location Services, this allows for some cool navigation capabilities. If you're wondering how to use iPhone compass with Apple Maps, you've come to the right place.

Displaying compass on a map not only helps you orient yourself better and find a route to a location, but also stay on course while navigating to avoid distractions that could lead to dangerous situations. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to display the compass for navigation and use it with Apple Maps turn-by-turn directions.

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Apple Maps launches transit directions for Paris

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 24, 2017

Apple has added transit options to its Maps app for the city of Paris, TechCrunch reported Monday. Customers can now use Apple Maps on their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and Apple Watch to calculate itineraries using the available public transportation options which include subway, RER and busses lines, among others.

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Apple Maps now shows EV charging stations in UK, bike rental hubs in London, Paris & New York

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 20, 2017

More than four months after Apple Maps users in the United States gained the ability to locate ChargePoint electric vehicle stations around them, Apple is bringing a similar feature to its customers in the United Kingdom. As a cool bonus, European users can now identify bike rental hubs on a map, too.

According to Bloomberg earlier this week, Apple is using data from German company Cirrantic’s Moovility service, which maintains a detailed list of charging stations for electric vehicles made by Tesla and Nissan, among others.

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How to share your real time location on Google Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 21, 2023

Google recently introduced a location-sharing feature in the mobile Google Maps app that's somewhat similar in functionality to Apple's Find My Friends app. On your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Google Maps allows you to share your location with others for up to 72 hours, choose who can see where you are, hide other people's locations from a map and more.

In this step-by-step tutorial, you'll learn how to share your real-time location on Google Maps with friends and family in case you'd like to let them know where you are and when you’ll get there.

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Google Maps gains real time location and trip sharing features

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

Google today announced that you can now let your friends and family know where you are and when you'll get there, right from Google Maps for iOS and Android. The answer to “where are you?” is only a tap away—with this useful new feature, people you share with can track your real-time location on iPhone, iPad, mobile web and desktop. Additionally, you can share your trip progress from navigation with others.

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Apple Maps brings transit directions to Detroit and Windsor metropolitan areas

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 13, 2017

Hot on the heels of launching transit directions in New Orleans ahead of Mardi Gras and real-time traffic conditions in Argentina, Apple Maps has now gained directions for various public transportation options in Detroit and Windsor. Customers in the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area and those living in the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario can now navigate using public transportation such as buses and trains with Apple Maps for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.

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Google Maps for iOS updated with shareable lists of your favorite places

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 13, 2017

Following its most recent update which brought out the ability to track how busy places are in real-time, Google today announced a new Lists feature on Google Maps for iOS that lets you keep track of your favorite places and easily share them with friends.

Beginning today, users are permitted to create custom lists of places, share their lists with others and follow the lists their friends and family share with them, all without leaving the Google Maps app.

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