Google Maps for iOS Receives First Update Since Launch with Google Contacts Integration, Local Business Search

Google today updated its Google Maps for iOS to version 1.1, marking the first update since the company launched its standalone app in mid-December after Apple replaced Google with its own default mapping app in iOS 6.

The new update brings a few enhancements to Google Maps, including integration with Google Contacts addresses and easier searching of local businesses by category.

What's New in Version 1.1

- Search your Google Contacts; sign in to have your saved addresses show up when you search for friends and family by name.
- Quickly search for local places by selecting popular categories such as restaurants, bars, cafes, gas stations, etc.
- Choose between Kilometers or Miles for your preferred distance units.
- Note that some features may not be available in all countries.

google_maps_businesses_contacts
Google Maps is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]

(Thanks, Arthur!)

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
govee floor lamp

CES 2026: Govee Announces New Matter-Connected Ceiling and Floor Lights

Sunday January 4, 2026 5:00 am PST by
Govee today introduced three new HomeKit-compatible lighting products, including the Govee Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light. The Govee Floor Lamp 3 is the successor to the Floor Lamp 2, and it offers Matter integration with the option to connect to HomeKit. The Floor Lamp 3 offers an upgraded LuminBlend+ lighting system that can reproduce 281...
Belkin 25W Battery magnetic

CES 2026: Belkin Announces Magnetic Ring Power Bank, Modular Dock, and More

Sunday January 4, 2026 3:02 pm PST by
Belkin today announced a range of new charging and connectivity accessories at CES 2026, expanding its portfolio of products aimed at Apple device users. UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring The lineup includes new Qi2 and Qi2.2 wireless chargers, magnetic power banks, a high-capacity laptop battery, and USB-C productivity accessories, with an emphasis on higher charging...

Top Rated Comments

gmanist1000 Avatar
168 months ago
Search your Google Contacts... not the contacts stored on my phone? Ugh. I guess I should transfer them all over to Google Contacts then...
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Small White Car Avatar
168 months ago
I have Google Maps but it has definitely been put into 2nd place for me. I use it when Apple Maps can't find something (which is still a problem, yes). But when Apple's Maps find what I want I vastly prefer the actual software itself to Google's.


Since I don't think I've ever seen Apple update a built in app through a App store update, this is an advantage for Google. It seems that Apple has to update the entire OS in order to do a maps upgrade. People are more willing to just update a app than they are their entire OS. Even though Apple does have very high adoption rates of its new OS releases.
While I do agree with you in general, it should be pointed out that Apple's recently been putting out OS updates like they're going out of style. So perhaps this isn't as big of a problem as we both thought.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iGrip Avatar
168 months ago
Thanks, Google!

The entire Apple community should come together to thank Google for this.

A different sort of company would do everything they could to kill the iPhone. But instead, Google helps out the entire Apple community by releasing great new software for Apple's platform.

Hey - do you see Nokia writing great software that makes iOS and iPhones more valuable? How about RIM?

But Google has always been there for Apple. They were the ones that made the iPhone a great mapping tool in the first place. And now they continue on.

Thanks, Google!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ilp Avatar
168 months ago
Still no search in local contacts.

Still no remembering of my recent searches. This one completely baffles me. I stopped using Google Maps because of this. Why do I have to re-enter an address I just entered 5 minutes ago? Ridiculous.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mjmar Avatar
168 months ago
iPad version plz
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
silvetti Avatar
168 months ago
The entire Apple community should come together to thank Google for this.

A different sort of company would do everything they could to kill the iPhone. But instead, Google helps out the entire Apple community by releasing great new software for Apple's platform.

Hey - do you see Nokia writing great software that makes iOS and iPhones more valuable? How about RIM?

But Google has always been there for Apple. They were the ones that made the iPhone a great mapping tool in the first place. And now they continue on.

Thanks, Google!

Thank google ?

Do you have any ideia how many millions or billions... Google makes of metrics from people that use their software on iPhones/iPads ?

Google is not doing anyone a favor... it's business...
You should stop thinking either company makes favors to others...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)