Apple Maps Gains Turn-by-Turn Directions for India

Apple has added turn-by-turn navigation to Apple Maps for India. The app now offers the detailed directions for driving and walking, with options to book a ride through Uber and Ola also showing within the app.

Still missing for users in India is public transit information, lane guidance and speed limits, although given that the addition of turn-by-turn directions is part of an ongoing improvement to Apple Maps, these are likely to follow.

Rival Google Maps has been the de facto navigation app in India for some time, thanks to its driving, walking, and public transport modes. Users of the app have also benefited from the development of region-specific special features like "two-wheeler" mode which provides motorcycle and scooter users with shortcuts across cities.

By contrast, Apple's navigational contributions in the country have come in for some criticism, with some users calling out the app's sparse data for a number of cities and towns, including missing landmarks.

The introduction of turn-by-turn directions comes nearly three years after Apple announced the opening of a Hyderabad-based development center focused on improving Apple Maps in India.

(Thanks, Ram!)

Tags: Apple Maps Guide, India

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Scottsoapbox

9 months ago

Now that is news worthy progress. None of this 'Apple maps adds another mall to its impressive roster 37 other malls'.

Rating: 9 Votes

manu chao

9 months ago

I just assumed turn-by-turn was just built in to the technology. I understand that public transport was a localisation thing. But turn-by-turn? huh, learn something every day. I thought when your route hooks a hard left, the software would pick up on that.

Apart from a visually accurate map, turn-by-turn requires knowledge whether, eg, it is possible to make a left turn at any given intersection, or whether a given street is a one-way street. Just having a satellite photo of an intersection might not be enough for it, you need actual on-the-ground driving information for that.

Rating: 7 Votes

truthertech

9 months ago

That’s cool and all, but I’ll be more excited when they make it useable (better than Google maps) in California.

I use it regularly throughout CA and it works great. As the studies show, Apple Maps is now a bit more accurate than Google Maps. Apple has come a long way from their disastrous start and frequent travelers like me have thankfully been able to switch over to Apple Maps. Apple has finally finished their base map that they have been spending billions and years assembling, so now improvements are rolling out even faster. State of the competition?

Apple Maps wins hands down for privacy (remember Google is storing everywhere you drive, walk, etc., and adding that to your "universal identifier" file.). Apple also has a nicer interface, is usually more accurate in time estimations, etc., and has better transit directions.

Google is still a bit better for searching for places, has Street View (Apple is getting ready to roll out their version which hopefully will be much better than the clunky version GM has), and bicycle directions, which is useful in some cities.

Rating: 2 Votes

manu chao

9 months ago

Western??? There are entire continents west of India. Gotta be a little more specific.

"Western people" is meant as a label for people from the Western World ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_world'), for Westerners ('https://www.collinsdictionary.com/de/worterbuch/englisch/westerner'). It likely is an unconscious variation based on those two terms (ie, the poster meant to say 'Westerners' or 'people from the Western World' but like a misspelling of a word his fingers typed something slightly different, however unlike a misspelling a new phrasing cannot be dismissed as simply incorrect, just as potentially imprecise and confusing, and even if the term doesn't show up in dictionaries yet, it doesn't mean it hasn't received some noticeable usage yet).

Rating: 2 Votes

akbarali.ch

9 months ago

Finally, we are halfway there for iPhone's price justification in India.

Rating: 1 Votes

JohnnyGo

9 months ago

It looks like our tipster meant to refer to just India, but we're trying to confirm and will update the post if we learn more.

Is Brazil coming anytime soon ?

Rating: 1 Votes

dominiongamma

9 months ago

That’s cool and all, but I’ll be more excited when they make it useable (better than Google maps) in California.

It will never be better then google maps because they are years ahead

Rating: 1 Votes

akbarali.ch

9 months ago

Just buy from unauthorized resellers or refurbished iPhones.

Yes, plan already in place. I bought used iPad 6 from a from a seller (with 8 months warranty pending). Same i'll do for the iPhone as well. Current gen prices of all devices just leapfrogged out of my reach.

Rating: 1 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]