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Apple Maps update may drive Google Maps off course

Alex Yau
June 9, 2015

Apple Maps had a terrible launch back in 2012, which has led to Google Maps dominance as one of the most used navigation apps. But Apple isn’t going down just yet. The tech giant has finally added transit directions to its Maps app.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software engineering, announced on the update on Monday at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Transit directions will show the user how to get from one point to another using public transport, including buses, trains and subways. These directions will launch in nine cities: Baltimore, Berlin, Chicago, London, Mexico City, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto and some parts of China.

Users can click on certain stations to see arrival and departure times. Unlike Google Maps, Apple has mapped the stations and users can get information on the best places to enter or exit depending on their destination. Federighi said that this will make the “difference between catching your train on time and being stuck.”

Apple Maps and Apple Watch

The Apple Watch will also get Apple Maps transit support. Users can push transit maps from their phones to the Watch.

Will this feature finally help Apple Maps beat Google Maps? Let us know in the comments below.

For more on Apple, visit What Mobile’s dedicated Apple page. 

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