Google Maps is facing tough new competition from Apple. The company behind the iPhone has made Apple Maps available in web browsers across Windows PCs, iPad, and Android devices. In the last 12 years since Apple launched its Apple Maps service, it was only accessible from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Apple completely overhauled its Apple Maps service with a new redesigned interface, better road coverage, more detailed dimensions for buildings, and more precise addresses back in 2020
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For the first time in over a decade, the launch puts Apple Maps in direct competition with Google Maps, which has been available on the web since its launch in early 2005.
Google Maps is used by over one billion people every month around the world.
For the first time, Apple Maps users will be able to plot driving and walking directions from their web browser, scope out new places to eat and drink as well as read useful information including photos, hours, ratings, and reviews for local businesses.
Apple Maps also lets you place an order for food directly from within its listings.
Curated Guides to discover new places to eat, shop, and explore in cities will also be available in your browser. Publishers like The Boston Globe, OpenTable, Infatuation, and TimeOut have all contributed interactive guides that can be viewed in their entirety within the Apple Maps app.
It comes as Apple announced a swathe of new features for its Maps application specifically designed for those travelling to Paris for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Not everything you're able to do on your iPhone, iPad and Mac within Apple Maps is possible from your web browser right now, with additional features, like its 360-degree panoramic "Look Around" that competes head-to-head with Streetview on Google Maps, set to launch in the coming months.
Aside from its Streetview competitor, known as Look Around, Apple Maps now offers the same features that iPhone, iPad, and Mac owners have enjoyed for years on desktop PCs
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By expanding Apple Maps into web browsers, Apple — worth $3.2 trillion — is hoping to reach more users and offer a serious alternative to Google Maps, which is the default map service online, despite some competition from smaller players like Bing Maps and Here WeGo.
For now, Apple Maps is only available in English.
It's also not compatible with every web browser. You'll need to be using Safari or Chrome on Mac and iPad, or either Chrome or Microsoft Edge on Windows PCs. Apple says it has plans to add support for more languages, web browsers, and platforms in the future.
