5 advantages that push you to use Apple Maps now
When the first iPhone was launched in 2007, Steve Jobs reviewed it - whose anniversary falls today! How to browse the world map through the small screen of the phone, and the application used during the presentation was “Google Maps”, as at that time it was the default application for that task, but in 2012 Apple decided to replace it with its own maps application known as Apple Maps, which was not At the same level of quality and professionalism as its counterpart from Google.
Over the years, the company has continued to add new features and technologies to Apple Maps and has become more reliable in place of Google Maps. So if you haven't opened the Apple Maps app on your iPhone before, let me tell you about the features that might prompt you to use it now.
1- Night mode support - browse maps in the dark!
Night mode appeared on iPhone phones for the first time with iOS 13, so users can activate the new model from the screen settings, and then the application interface, which is usually white and bright, will turn into a dark interface in which gray prevails, which makes the vision better and easier for the eye when using the phone. In dark places or dimly lit rooms.
This also applies to the “Apple Maps” application. When you activate the night mode, you will be able to browse the maps in the dark where the colors are dark and the details are crystal clear, which makes a great impression, especially for people who spend some time browsing maps to explore different cities and regions Or they use the navigation feature at night, as the dim lighting of the phone screen makes it easier to focus on the road ahead. So try activating the night mode on your phone and then open the Maps app and you will have a unique experience.
2- "Look around" feature to get around cities
The “Look Around” feature is one of the most important new features that Apple has added to its Maps application, which is very similar to the Street View feature in the Google Maps application, as it allows you to virtually navigate cities and see streets in 360 degrees from all directions. But so far, the feature is available in limited regions and cities in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Ireland, but Apple says it is working to expand the feature internationally and add more regions in the future.
However, several things make Look Around better than Street View, including accuracy and flexibility. When you try the feature on Apple Maps, you will be impressed with the quality of the image that your eyes see, as Apple uses professional cameras to produce excellent images in all respects. Navigating through the streets is also very smooth and you will feel as if you are driving a car around the street! Unlike Street View which distorts the image while walking around.
To use the feature, all you have to do is open the application and view one of the supported cities, and let’s say New York is in the United States, where once the city is displayed on the map, the “Binoscope” icon appears in the left corner when you press it, a pop-up appears showing the virtual tour, so you can navigate on the map To see what the street looks like inside this window, or press the 'double arrow' button to view the Street View in full-screen mode, then enjoy a free tour of the most famous cities!
3- Share your estimated time of arrival (ETA)
On your way to visit family, friends, or co-workers, whether on foot or by car, you might want to tell them your estimated time for the distance between you and them at half-time. That's exactly what the Share ETA feature does in the Maps app on the iPhone, where you can share your ETA with anyone on your contacts list, while you're on the go and using the app's navigation feature.
All you have to do is swipe up at the bottom that displays your arrival time and the distance between you and the destination, where a list of 3 options will appear, press Share ETA, then press Contacts and select the contact you want to send the estimated time of arrival with. Once the transmission is confirmed, the other party will get a notification. When you click on this notification, the “Maps” application will be opened to be able to track your geographical location in real-time and know the time remaining to arrive, if the other party is already using an iPhone.
But if you use the feature with someone who does not use an iPhone, he will get a normal text message with the estimated arrival time, and the application will continue to send other text messages informing the person of any update or delay, meaning if the movement slows due to traffic, a new text message will be sent with it Estimated time of new arrival.
4- Fly over cities and famous landmarks like a bird!
As the name suggests, Flyover, this awesome Maps feature allows you to fly over cities and see buildings from above as if you were a bird! The application first simulates the city in a 3D stereoscopic view, then displays the city from an upper angle, and with the use of “gyroscope” technology, the user will be able to take a wonderful aerial tour with every movement of the phone, or can also navigate by swiping over the screen. Unfortunately, the Flyover feature is not available in all cities of the world, but some of them are in European countries as well as the United States, Mexico, and Japan.
To try the feature, open the “Maps” application on your iPhone and then search for a supported city such as New York, Paris, London, or Rome, and when it is selected on the map and displays information about it in a window below, press the “Flyover” button next to the blue button. Directions" to display the city in 3D from the sky, so start walking around and see the cultural landmarks while you are in your place! Also note there is a "Start City Tour" button at the bottom, tap on it to take an automated tour of the city and its most famous landmarks.
5- Knowing how clean the air is in cities
If you are going to visit a city in another country far away, you will probably want to know how clean the air is in this city. This is very important for people who are highly sensitive to air pollution, they should know the air quality in the city, which changes from day today. While many applications show how clean or polluted the air is in countries and regions of the world, iPhone users can rely on the “Maps” application to find out this information easily.
First, go to “Settings” and then scroll down and tap on the “Maps” app to activate the “Air Quality Indicator” option. After that, you can open the “Maps” application from the main screen and zoom in on the city you want to know how clean the air is, then a small box will appear in the lower-left corner, long press on it until the air quality indicator is displayed, which shows whether the air is in this Healthy or unhealthy city, along with temperatures.