Google Maps on iPhone Getting New Commuting Features and Apple Music Integration This Week - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Google Maps on iPhone Getting New Commuting Features and Apple Music Integration This Week

by

Google Maps will soon feature an all-new Commute tab that provides one-tap access to live traffic and transit information.

google maps commute
The new tab will tell you if your commute is going to be a normal one, or if you'll need to budget extra time due to things like an accident or heavy traffic. Google is introducing support for mixed-mode commutes that involve both driving and public transit, with helpful information along each leg of the trip.

In addition, transit riders in 80 regions worldwide will be able to see exactly where their bus or train is in real time on the map. Starting in Sydney, Australia, Google Maps will also indicate how full the next bus or train is. Google says the latter feature will be coming to more cities around the globe soon.

Last, Google says it is making Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play Music playback controls accessible within Google Maps.

The new features will start rolling out globally on iOS and Android this week.

Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
106 months ago
And I still remember all too well how Google refused to add turn by turn navigation in their ios app, until Apple released Maps. I'll never forgive them for that and will always tilt towards other options when possible.
Google didn't have their own iOS app until after Apple released Maps because Apple DID NOT ALLOW IT, plain and simple.

The Maps app in iOS has always been Apple's. Back when it used Google Maps, it was really Apple's app using Google's data. Google did not write nor maintain that app, and it shipped as part of iOS. The refusal to have turn by turn directions in that app was Apple's, not Google's.

Only once Apple Maps came about did they finally allow Google to write their own Maps app; as far as I'm concerned that was the best thing that ever happened for Google Maps on iOS because they were extremely stifled before by Apple's refusal to let them write the app.

I don't mean to be combative, I just get tired of people getting the history behind this wrong. Apple was the bad guy here, not Google.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
106 months ago
And in about 20 years we can expect this in Apple Maps
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tzm41 Avatar
106 months ago
Google owns Waze. Waze has been doing this forever. What’s the difference between the two and why switch? Not trashing google just honestly asking why make two identical apps
Maybe there are people like me who don't appreciate the cartoonishly styled and ad plagued Waze app.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
shyam09 Avatar
106 months ago
I vividly remember Google releasing their first iOS Maps app some time after iOS 6 came out with Apple Maps.

Before that, Google did not have their own Maps app on iOS. The "Google Maps" in iOS was an Apple-created app and its lack of features was on Apple.

If you have a link to information that disputes this, please post it because I don't recall any sort of alternative Google Maps app for iOS before iOS 6 came out. I'm quite curious myself if I'm actually wrong, it's just that my own memory completely supports what I wrote.
Wiki history points that you're correct:

Up until iOS 6 ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_6'), the built-in maps application on the iOS ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS') operating system was powered by Google Maps ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps'). However, with the announcement of iOS 6 in June 2012, Apple ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.') announced that they had created their own Apple Maps ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Maps') mapping service,[13] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-13') which officially replaced Google Maps when iOS 6 was released on September 19, 2012.[14] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-14') However, at launch, Apple Maps received significant criticism from users due to inaccuracies, errors and bugs ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug').[15] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-15')[16] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-16') One day later, The Guardian ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian') reported that Google was preparing its own Google Maps app,[17] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-17') which was released on December 12, 2012.[18] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-18')[19] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-19')
Google's Android app was released in 2008 //


On September 23, 2008, coinciding with the announcement of the first commercial Android device ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Dream'), Google announced that a Google Maps app had been released for its Android operating system.[11] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-11')[12] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-12')

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
106 months ago
Google owns Waze. Waze has been doing this forever. What’s the difference between the two and why switch? Not trashing google just honestly asking why make two identical apps
They didn't make 2 identical apps. They made one app and acquired another. There are enough people who prefer one over the other to justify the existence of both. I think Google Maps will eventually integrate most of Waze's top features and ultimately kill Waze approx. 3-4 years from now.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gavroche Avatar
106 months ago
And in about 20 years we can expect this in Apple Maps
And I still remember all too well how Google refused to add turn by turn navigation in their ios app, until Apple released Maps. I'll never forgive them for that and will always tilt towards other options when possible.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Music iPod Page Not Found

Apple Music Has a Hidden iPod You Can Play With

Friday October 23, 2026 7:11 am PDT by
Apple Music has a 404 page easter egg on the web: a functional iPod that appears when you load a page that does not exist, such as music.apple.com/macrumors. "Page Not Found," says Apple. "Give this a spin instead." Apple is clever with this. If you navigate to music.apple.com/ipod instead, the page says "Looking for something?" instead of "Page Not Found." The easter egg is only...
Apple Music New Branding

Apple Music's New Look Officially Announced

Wednesday October 21, 2026 9:06 am PDT by
Following the introduction of a new Apple Music logo and app icon earlier this month, Apple today officially introduced Apple Music's new brand identity. In a YouTube video shared today, Apple said the new Apple Music visuals were "made by sound." More specifically, Apple said it played a sound through a container of water, resulting in the liquid moving at the frequency of the notes. Apple...
Apple Music New Logo on Website

Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website

Wednesday October 21, 2026 2:24 pm PDT by
As spotted by Hidde Collee, the Apple Music page on Apple's website now has the updated branding that Apple officially introduced earlier today. Apple Music has a new black-and-white logo and app icon, with Apple doing away with the red color scheme that it previously used for the streaming music service. In a YouTube video released earlier today, Apple showed how the new Apple Music...
Latest Stories
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
50 minutes ago
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
2 hours ago
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
2 hours ago
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
2 hours ago
Prevent Siri and Search From Accessing Specific iPhone Apps
Prevent Siri and Search From Accessing Specific iPhone Apps
3 hours ago
Best Early Black Friday Deals on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo
Best Early Black Friday Deals on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo
4 hours ago
MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Reviews Are In: Is the Touchscreen Worth It?
MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Reviews Are In: Is the Touchscreen Worth It?
4 hours ago
Early Black Friday Accessory Deals at Amazon Include TVs, Headphones, and Charging Devices
Early Black Friday Accessory Deals at Amazon Include TVs, Headphones, and Charging Devices
5 hours ago
Apple Creator Studio App Updates Rolling Out, Starting With Logic Pro
Apple Creator Studio App Updates Rolling Out, Starting With Logic Pro
5 hours ago
Siri AI Waitlist Now Limited to Times of 'High Demand,' Says Apple
Siri AI Waitlist Now Limited to Times of 'High Demand,' Says Apple
7 hours ago
See Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro in Action
See Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro in Action
7 hours ago
MacBook Neo Shipments Expected to Double in 2027
MacBook Neo Shipments Expected to Double in 2027
8 hours ago
HomeView Code Suggests Future Support for AI Chatbot Apps, Anti-Spoofing Protection
HomeView Code Suggests Future Support for AI Chatbot Apps, Anti-Spoofing Protection
8 hours ago
Got an iPhone Duo on Launch Day? Tomorrow Could Be Your Last Chance to Return It
Got an iPhone Duo on Launch Day? Tomorrow Could Be Your Last Chance to Return It
9 hours ago
Apple Launching Five New Products Tomorrow
Apple Launching Five New Products Tomorrow
11 hours ago
Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 256 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements
Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 256 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements
20 hours ago
Apps Can Now Try to Stop You From Canceling Subscriptions
Apps Can Now Try to Stop You From Canceling Subscriptions
20 hours ago
'Super Mario Odyssey' Can Now Run on Apple TV Thanks to AI
'Super Mario Odyssey' Can Now Run on Apple TV Thanks to AI
21 hours ago
How 'Resident Evil' Director Zach Cregger Uses His iPhone to Make Movies
How 'Resident Evil' Director Zach Cregger Uses His iPhone to Make Movies
22 hours ago
HomePod Mini 2's Amount of RAM Confirmed
HomePod Mini 2's Amount of RAM Confirmed
22 hours ago
Apple TV's '12 Days of Snoopy' Special Arrives November 13
Apple TV's '12 Days of Snoopy' Special Arrives November 13
23 hours ago
Apple is Putting Employees on an AI Budget
Apple is Putting Employees on an AI Budget
1 day ago
Apple Releases Xcode 27.3 Beta With Three New Features
Apple Releases Xcode 27.3 Beta With Three New Features
1 day ago
Apple Will Check Public iCloud Links for Harmful Content Starting in iOS 27.3
Apple Will Check Public iCloud Links for Harmful Content Starting in iOS 27.3
1 day ago
macOS 27.3 Brings Live Activities to Macs Without Dynamic Island
macOS 27.3 Brings Live Activities to Macs Without Dynamic Island
1 day ago
Apple TV Reportedly Planning 'Silo' Spinoff
Apple TV Reportedly Planning 'Silo' Spinoff
1 day ago
Is It Worth Buying a Titanium Apple Watch?
Is It Worth Buying a Titanium Apple Watch?
1 day ago
macOS 27.3 Includes an Important Security Fix
macOS 27.3 Includes an Important Security Fix
1 day ago
Massive Sale Hits Apple Watch Ultra 3 With Record Low $250 Discounts
Massive Sale Hits Apple Watch Ultra 3 With Record Low $250 Discounts
1 day ago
Does HomePod Mini 2 Have Improved Sound? Here's What Reviews Say
Does HomePod Mini 2 Have Improved Sound? Here's What Reviews Say
1 day ago