Apple Maps deploys 3D view in London, LA, New York and San Francisco – TechCrunch

Apple offers its 3D maps in more cities in the Apple Maps app, including London, LA, New York and San Francisco. The experiment, launched with iOS 15, follows several years of investing in Apple’s mapping platform to make the app more competitive with market leader Google Maps. This included not only the addition of 3D maps, like those now coming to major markets, but also more detailed global maps, improved transit features, AR viewing modes and more.

Many of these features took a long time to roll out, with major metros in the United States and around the world the first to benefit from the enhancements. Augmented reality visualization, for example, only started launching in some cities this year.

With 3D maps, however, Apple Maps users will be able to see more details about areas of the city, including their neighborhoods, shopping districts, marinas, buildings and more, according to the company, as well as details of the city. elevation, new road labels and even personalized ones. -designed benchmarks.

For example, Apple Maps will display renderings of famous places, such as Coit Tower in San Francisco, Dodger Stadium in LA, Statue of Liberty in New York, and Royal Albert Hall in London, with more landmarks to come.

Later this year, these types of 3D maps will be available in Philadelphia, San Diego and Washington, DC, according to Apple. Then, next year, they will arrive in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

Apple is also improving its road-level navigation in Apple Maps, with turn lanes, medians, bus and taxi lanes, and crosswalks more clearly displayed. These appear in a 3D viewing mode that makes it easier to see the best lane to choose based on traffic conditions or for better route planning purposes. The app will also display the estimated time of arrival, based on current conditions, like Google Maps does. This new navigation, which was previously announced for a 2021 release, will arrive in CarPlay later this year, Apple said, without giving a more specific deadline.

Likewise, other major map updates, which were announced earlier this year, are also rolling out. This includes transit features designed to make Apple Maps more competitive with third-party apps often preferred by transit users, like Citymapper. Now nearby transit stations are prominently displayed at the top of the screen, and users can pin their favorite lines in Maps for easy access. And once a route is selected, Maps automatically notifies users when it’s time to disembark, which users can also follow on their Apple Watch.

Apple Maps offers more immersive walking routes with step-by-step guidance powered by augmented reality. This allows users to lift their phones to scan buildings in their area, allowing Maps to generate a more precise location to provide more detailed guidance. This was rolled out in some markets during the year.

Additionally, iOS 15 users can view a new 3D globe and press a Explore Guides button in the Apple Maps app to access selected guides from brands like Time Out, The Washington Post, the National Park. Foundation, Complex and The Engouement. These will offer suggestions on things to do or see in various cities around the world. Users can also create their own guides to share with friends and family.