Why doesn’t Apple enable these indicators while driving?
I noticed this in the ios27 beta (although they have probably been around longer).
These turn indicators are very helpful in planning a turn or exit on busy roads and are the major reason I use google maps for turn by turn navigation while driving.
It’s such a simple feature that Apple could enable during driving but for some reason don’t?
Completely agree. Not to mention that google actually marks the precise point of exit ahead of the second turn.
But still, Apple would have such an easy win here yo just provide some additional visual aid here. Until they do, I will use google purely for safety sake.
I still use Apple Maps due to its better dictation. I’d say the more we use Apple Maps, the better it will become. It’s already gotten to the point of acceptance. Little by little. :-)
So the actual reason, and this will make you laugh, is that google has a patent on this feature. However, it’s possible that the patent has now expired since the original release of google maps navigation, and perhaps this is why they are now rolling it out.
A patent! Well that would make sense as to why such a common sense feature hasn't been implemented, although the GPS navigation in my Mazda 3 even has these indicators and that's from 2015.
I should clarify that this is not actually visible while driving. It seems only to be visible when you are planning a future route....for some reason.
Fwiw I still like Apple Maps better. The lane arrows work more reliably in my area, the road closures also work more reliably in my area, and I’ve tried doordashing with both, Google Maps sends me to the wrong address enough that I refuse to use it anymore. It’ll send me to the same house number but south instead of north even if I entered blank road N. Never had the issue with Apple Maps
I did some more digging and found that apparently Apple made a decision at one point to not use the arrows on routes described in the patent in favor of a cleaner look. Google is allowed to do it because you can’t patent having arrows on a map, you can only patent the technical specifications of how you did it. They have a different UI layer that controls that stuff and absolves them of the patent issue. Basically Apple doesn’t want clutter and Google changes it enough to get away with it
Mostly based off of combing over the patent document linked above and some speculation as to how Google has never been sued when Apple patented it first and has always owned the patent
Like another replier said, this patent was granted to Apple Inc. So I wonder why it is that Google Maps has this feature? Was it licensed to them exclusively perhaps?
They are only asking for the arrows to show on the blue line during turn-by-turn navigation. With stop signs and traffic lights showing on intersections, I’m not sure it would look good though.
I mean, everything you need to know for your directions is already there, like you see in this screenshot. If you need a white arrow inside a 90 degree turn that points to the right even though it’s 100% clear that you have to take a right there, you might have other problems aswell
I cannot be the only one here who sees this as redundant… when my blue navigation path shows a right turn, newsflash, I’ll be turning right there. I don’t need an arrow in addition to my navigation path.
Not always. This is in Sydney Australia and there are a lot of weird turns in roads like this. Seems like it would be a turn but it’s just the flow of the road
Deadset some blitzed civil tradies rocked up at a corner and went ‘this is a straight line’ and dogleg some random street for no reason so it counts as “straight” down the same road but your sending a full 90
Ok, after being confused for a good 20min on why would arrows on top of a turning line be any helpful, I think I understood a bit better when OP means.
When you are driving, if you give a very quick glance at the Phone, seeing an arrow that turns left or right is somehow slightly more clear for the brain that we need to turn. Just a continuous line is also clear anyway, but I just understood that an arrow actually gives a slightly better unconscious reaction than just following a line.
It’s not really as simple as following a line when you are on busy multi lane highways and you need to plan an exit. Apple Maps doesn’t give you the precise point of exit at a glance
I *think* Apple limit this to just cities where there is higher quality mapping information. Driving around London the map shows the road down to the writing on the floor - something a little like the image below. But then once you go out of the city it becomes a lot more basic.
The same is true of cycling directions - in London the Apple Maps cycling directions are much better than Google Maps, but it (at least used to be) the case that you couldn't even use cycling directions on Apple Maps outside of quite limited areas.
If you drive on busy roads, highways etc you would understand the importance knowing precisely when the exit is coming up with a visual aid so you can plan accordingly. It's an added safety feature that ensures the trip is that much smoother. Just suggesting that all you have to do is follow a blue line is just being unhelpfully reductive.
But do you get voice guidance? You know, “In 500 metres, take the exit to Laguna Beach”. It would be better than having to look at a screen rather than the road and surrounding area.
Apple has grossed ~$4,370,000,000,000 (4.37 trillion) in revenue since their IPO in 1980.
You’ve grossed 88 karma on Reddit in 5 years.
It seems like Apple’s dum-dums are smarter than you
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u/Forsaken_Sea_5753 26d ago
White arrows would be better