Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Apple
Apple Maps was supposed to become the number one Google Maps alternative, and the detailed city experience was the ambitious update whose role was to make it happen.
Unfortunately, Apple showed little commitment to bringing this long overdue update to users worldwide, so the detailed city experience remains available in limited regions.
The expansion has made painfully slow progress lately, and despite Apple already collecting data in more new regions, the company hasn't shared any big news on Apple Maps in months.
However, it doesn't mean the Cupertino-based iPhone maker has been ignoring Apple Maps. A subtle update that has now been released to users in Montreal includes new 3D models, as Apple seems to be focused on polishing the detailed city experience in regions where it has already released this update.
The DCE landed in Montreal in 2022, but Apple is only now enabling new 3D landmarks, albeit it still looks like the tech giant has more work to do to cover all essential locations in these regions.
The iPhone maker has yet to publish an announcement on this subtle update, and I doubt more details will land, so we'll have to scan the maps ourselves to see what else is new. Please let me know in the comment box below if you have also noticed DCE updates in other regions besides Montreal.
Meanwhile, Apple must accelerate the DCE rollout if it wants Apple Maps to remain relevant in the navigation space. This highly anticipated update is still missing in many large countries, and even if it's available, the data is incomplete, as is the case with Montreal. Apple is still working on expanding the detailed city experience, albeit its typical CIA-inspired secrecy means we won't be getting any previews or teasers until the rollout kicks off.
The detailed city experience includes many notable updates besides the new maps and the 3D landmarks. Apple has also integrated improved navigation with stop signs and traffic light icons on the map, better directions, and Waze-inspired traffic reports that allow users to mark the location of accidents, speed traps, and other hazards. However, due to the slow rollout of the detailed city experience, the adoption of traffic reports is still low, so drivers won't find many reports when driving with Apple Maps, even in regions where the DCE is available.
Google Maps remains the top navigation app worldwide, including the Apple user base, despite the DCE making Apple Maps significantly more beautiful overall. The DCE also includes support for Look Around, Apple's alternative to Google's Street View, allowing users to explore the world with street-level imagery. However, Apple Maps remains available exclusively on Apple devices, such as the iPhone and MacBooks, with no web-based or Android version on the table.
The expansion has made painfully slow progress lately, and despite Apple already collecting data in more new regions, the company hasn't shared any big news on Apple Maps in months.
However, it doesn't mean the Cupertino-based iPhone maker has been ignoring Apple Maps. A subtle update that has now been released to users in Montreal includes new 3D models, as Apple seems to be focused on polishing the detailed city experience in regions where it has already released this update.
The DCE landed in Montreal in 2022, but Apple is only now enabling new 3D landmarks, albeit it still looks like the tech giant has more work to do to cover all essential locations in these regions.
The iPhone maker has yet to publish an announcement on this subtle update, and I doubt more details will land, so we'll have to scan the maps ourselves to see what else is new. Please let me know in the comment box below if you have also noticed DCE updates in other regions besides Montreal.
Meanwhile, Apple must accelerate the DCE rollout if it wants Apple Maps to remain relevant in the navigation space. This highly anticipated update is still missing in many large countries, and even if it's available, the data is incomplete, as is the case with Montreal. Apple is still working on expanding the detailed city experience, albeit its typical CIA-inspired secrecy means we won't be getting any previews or teasers until the rollout kicks off.
The detailed city experience includes many notable updates besides the new maps and the 3D landmarks. Apple has also integrated improved navigation with stop signs and traffic light icons on the map, better directions, and Waze-inspired traffic reports that allow users to mark the location of accidents, speed traps, and other hazards. However, due to the slow rollout of the detailed city experience, the adoption of traffic reports is still low, so drivers won't find many reports when driving with Apple Maps, even in regions where the DCE is available.
Google Maps remains the top navigation app worldwide, including the Apple user base, despite the DCE making Apple Maps significantly more beautiful overall. The DCE also includes support for Look Around, Apple's alternative to Google's Street View, allowing users to explore the world with street-level imagery. However, Apple Maps remains available exclusively on Apple devices, such as the iPhone and MacBooks, with no web-based or Android version on the table.
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