Apple Maps has recently launched into the web and it is a big deal. That's right: Apple Maps is now available in your web browser, so you can go both on an adventure and navigate your way back—all in the same place. Without needing to open an app.
Whether you're figuring out your next adventure or trying to find out where the new taco shop is located, Apple Maps on the web can help you. It is like a personal tour guide baked into your favorite web browser, with directions, reviews, and surprises waiting for you. Even better, it is available to EVERYONE around the world—yes, you can use it in Tokyo, Toronto, or Timbuktu—so you can navigate like a real professional local.
But wait, there’s more! This is just the beginning, with even more features like Apple’s version of street view, Look Around, set to roll out soon. So buckle up, and get ready to explore the world (or just your neighborhood) in a whole new way.
Key Features of the Apple Maps Web Version
The web version of Apple Maps brings a host of useful features to the browser:
Global Accessibility: Anyone, anywhere can now use Apple Maps through their browser to get directions, check business hours, read reviews, view photos, and even order food delivery.
Curated Travel Guides: Apple Maps offers curated travel guides, helping users discover popular attractions and hidden gems in various cities around the world.
Future Enhancements: Apple has announced that additional features, including support for Look Around (Apple’s street view equivalent), will be rolled out in the coming months.
This rollout also creates interesting opportunities for developers. With MapKit JS, developers can now embed Apple Maps on their websites, fueling map integration and positioning itself as a competitor to or alternative for Google Maps. This will provide new opportunities for websites that previously relied on a mapping service and capitalize on Apple Maps' ability to enhance its functionality and expand globally.
Currently, the web version of Apple Maps exclusively supports English, and it is supported on Mac and iPad inside the Safari and Chrome web browsers, as well as in Edge and Chrome web browsers on a PC. More language support will come, along with more browsers and platforms, and Apple may support improvements in accessibility for even more users in the future.
The introduction of Apple Maps on the web is a major turning point for Apple as Apple incorporates more services outside of its ecosystem of devices. As Apple Maps continues to develop, Apple users and developers alike have the benefit of Apple Maps being an increasingly powerful and competitive mapping service, now across multiple platforms.
For those eager to try it out, the public beta is now live and can be accessed at beta.maps.apple.com.
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