iOS 6 Maps with 'Flyover' 3D Hacked to Run on iPhone 4

As we noted earlier this week as part of our roundup of device compatibility for various iOS 6 features, several of Apple's new mapping features including Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation are not officially supported on the iPhone 4, much less the iPhone 3GS.

ios 6 maps flyover
But as reported by SlashGear, a member of Russian site iguides has posted videos [Google translation] showing the 3D maps and Flyover working on a jailbroken iPhone 4. The poster has also included instructions for adding the functionality, although the procedure is not yet a completely straightforward one.


Apple has historically placed hardware restrictions on certain features of its iOS release, based at least in part on how well older hardware handles the specific features. In other cases like Siri on the iPhone 4S, Apple's limitations may have more to do with differentiation and marketing. But it seems reasonable to think that 3D map performance on the pre-A5 devices like the iPhone 4 simply doesn't meet Apple's requirements, and thus the company has elected not to officially support the feature on that hardware.

Regardless of the reasons for Apple's limitations on mapping features, hackers and developers will undoubtedly continue working on ways to circumvent those restrictions, and we will likely see other features like turn-by-turn navigation also come to older devices for those willing to tweak their devices to enable them.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

ouimetnick Avatar
154 months ago
Yup. Definitely a hardware limitation. :rolleyes:
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sshhoott Avatar
154 months ago
There is no reason why iPhone 4 shouldn't support 3D maps.

Apple, if you won't give it, we'll take it from you!
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
inket Avatar
154 months ago
Just like there's no valid reason for Apple to disable VIP mailboxes on the 3GS.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
longofest Avatar
154 months ago
But it seems reasonable to think that 3D map performance on the pre-A5 devices like the iPhone 4 simply doesn't meet Apple's requirements, and thus the company has elected not to officially support the feature on that hardware.

But yet the video shows it working quite well, so it seems equally as reasonable to think that Apple is once again limiting these features purely for marketing reasons.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xxgilxx Avatar
154 months ago
Did not needed a russian hacker to figure this one out...
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Carlanga Avatar
154 months ago
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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