Apple Maps Goes Web-Wide: Find Your Way from Any Browser

If you're the type of person who can't find your way out of a paper bag without a map, you'll be delighted to know that Apple Maps has finally arrived on the web. Launched on Wednesday afternoon, Apple Maps' web beta is here to make sure you get those driving and walking directions right from your desktop or mobile browser, no matter if you're team Safari, Chrome, or Edge.


So, Apple Maps has finally taken a bold step and made itself available on the web through beta.maps.apple.com. This means you can do almost everything you'd normally do on the iOS version of the app. Need directions? Check. Want to view ratings and reviews? Check. Fancy exploring city guides or ordering food directly from Maps? Double check. It's a pretty comprehensive web experience that's set to get even better with future updates, like the much-anticipated Look Around feature.

Currently, this web-based version is only available in English and works smoothly on Safari and Chrome for Mac and iPad, and Chrome and Edge for Windows PCs. Apple has assured us that support for more languages, browsers, and platforms is on the horizon. Plus, developers using the MapKit JS tool can now link directly to Maps on the web, making this a win-win for both users and creators.

This isn't Apple Maps' first rodeo. Since its debut on the iPhone back in 2012, Apple has been rolling out features to keep up with the competition. We've seen detailed city maps, multi-stop routing, cycling directions, EV routing, and even offline navigation. Previously, Apple Maps on the web was the domain of developers tinkering with APIs to create maps for sites like DuckDuckGo. Now, it's officially here, marking a significant expansion and positioning Apple Maps as a real contender against Google Maps, which has had the web scene on lockdown for years.

But let's not forget about the underdogs. Open-source alternatives are also vying for a piece of the pie. The Overture Maps Foundation, backed by heavyweights like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft, released its first mapping dataset publicly on Wednesday. This move allows developers to freely use this information in their apps, shaking up the mapping world even more.

So, whether you're a die-hard Apple fan or just someone who needs reliable directions, the web version of Apple Maps is a welcome addition. It's packed with features, user-friendly, and ready to take on the navigation giants.

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