From now on, the Apple Maps web version It is also available on iPhone, something that until now was not possible. And although it may seem a minor detail, it has much larger implications than it seems.
How to consult Apple Maps without the app
Until very recently, if an iPhone user tried to access an Apple Maps link from the browser, it was automatically redirected to the native app. This could be an obstacle in certain situations, especially if you were using a third -party browser such as Chrome or Firefox and you didn't want to get out of there. But Apple has updated its official support document to confirm that the Apple Maps website (Maps.apple.com) It is already fully compatible with iPhone, in addition to Mac, iPad and PC. This means that you can open an Apple Maps link directly from Safari, Chrome, Firefox or Edge on your mobile without being redirectly redirected to the app.
This novelty comes just at a key moment: with the entry into force of new regulations in the European Union that force Apple to allow the use of predetermined apps other than their own, users can now choose third -party services such as Google Maps or Waze as default browser. And if Apple wants to continue competing on equal terms, offer a web version of its application that works in any browser and in any operating system is a fundamental step.
Apple Maps has traveled a long way from its rugged launch in 2012. In its beginnings it was harshly criticized for location errors, incomplete information and a user experience well below the one it offered Google Maps. However, over the years, the company has been polishing all those details until the app becomes a reliable, fluid and with a much cleaner and careful design.
Today, Apple Maps offers very detailed navigations and includes 3D views, augmented reality to orient in large cities, functions such as “Around look, simulating the famous Google Street View and interior maps of airports and shopping centers. It also provides real -time information on traffic or about public transport, with a Very visual interface That does everything very intuitive.
Apple Maps is worth it
The possibility of using all these functions directly from the iPhone browser without the need to open the app may seem unimportant improvement, but it is a great step towards interoperability, something that users have been claiming for years.
And it is no accident that the company has chosen to launch this function right now. Everything indicates that this opening is part of Apple's strategy to meet the Digital Markets Law of the European Union and better position themselves in an environment where users have more freedom to choose their predetermined services.
The fact that Apple Maps no longer depends exclusively on its native application opens the door to new uses: from consulting incognito mode to quickly accessing a location from a messaging app without closing the browser. In short, a small improvement, yes, but with great potential to transform the navigation experience into the iPhone.
