This iOS 13 Feature, Integrating Maps And iMessage, May Draw Users From Google Maps

Every time iOS is upgraded, Apple always tries its best to provide iPhone users with a less complicated operating system. The biggest target that each producer aims at is, well, to make their smartphones smarter by guessing what tasks people want to perform with fewer tabs. The recent public trial version of iOS 13 has shown how a much-hated Apple app is revitalized under this approach.

Since its appearance in 2012, Apple Maps has received different jokes. With iOS 12, the firm gave its word that this app would bring about a comprehensive reform to bring about more practical benefits for users in the fall. In some situations, Google Maps, which is, according to a widely-cited survey in 2018, the best option for around two-thirds of smartphone users, has lagged far behind the remade Apple Maps.

Particularly, there is one feature that appears to turn into a planning fixture. As first claimed by a Reddit user ThePoutPoutFish, iOS 13’s Apple Maps is now in seamless integration with iMessage. When “ETA is” was typed into the text box, Apple Maps would automatically provide predictions about the length of the trip and the arrival time for them.

There was nothing that they had to do, as iMessage was running throughout the time users were texting to predict the things they wanted to express.

In a comment after that, /u/ThePoutPoutFish declared that “I didn’t press the Share ETA button in Maps in this situation. I just typed in ‘ETA is’ to Messages when Maps was running in the background.”

Automatically providing answers for “ETA is” saves users lots of time from going back and forth between iMessage and Maps. This feature is expected to be very useful when it comes to the situation that people are late for a meeting and want to send a quick update on their real-time status to their client, boss, or co-worker, or the situation that people are late for their dinner.

In addition, this feature will release some folks from their privacy concerns. Despite the fact that Apple apps like Find My Friends and Maps have numerous ways to directly share users’ locations, the “ETA is” feature will be able to provide the same function without compelling iPhone owners to notify different contacts about their real-time status throughout the way.

Other improvements in Apple Maps

While Apple Maps is undoubtedly becoming smarter, it’s crucial to know that there are much more details designed in this app. Last fall, in his analysis, a web-based cartographer roughly calculated that around 97 percent of Apple’s United States map got greatly less detailed. Much similar to its rival, numerous cars filled with sensors and cameras have been used by Apple to take photos and map highways, towns, cities, and streets across the US.

On its official site, the firm declares that the upgraded version of Apple Maps can, at the moment, only be used in “select cities.” In the second half of 2019 across America and then in 2020 in more countries, iPhone users will be able to experience this new version. Although this process needs a large workforce, Apple Maps has soon shown some stunning results.

At WWDC 2019 held in May, an annual Apple event, the company introduced “Look Around” feature from its iOS 13, which rivals Street View feature from Google Maps that has been adopted for a long time. Apple Maps’ Carplay variant also brings about more individualized notifications for its users. For instance, when a car is getting low on its battery, this feature will show the owners the way to the nearest charging station.

iOS 13 may make it possible for Apple to bring back its Maps. The final version of this Apple operating system is anticipated to launch this September, at the same time with the new iPhones. However, iPhone owners are now able to try the public trial version through Apple’s Beta Software Program.