Currently in public beta testing. No need for a specific Maps app, but
it does need an up-to-date version of Safari, Chrome, or Edge web
browsers (apparently does not work with Firefox for some weird reaon).

Apple takes direct aim at Google with surprising launch
of Apple Maps on the web
-------------------------------------------------------
Now you won't need an Apple device to use the best mapping service.

Apple Maps might have had an inauspicious start, but over the years
it's gotten a whole lot better. Today, Apple Maps is as good or
better than Google Maps, with stunning visuals, incredibly detailed
topography, and rock-solid turn-by-turn directions and traffic
updates. The only problem (other than a secret Duck Duck Go
integration) is it only works on Apple devices.

Now the secret's out. Apple on Wednesday launched Apple Maps on the
web in beta, allowing anyone to use the service in a browser. Now,
you won't need an Apple device to use Apple Maps, and many features
are already available, including driving and walking directions;
point-of-interest information including photos, hours, ratings, and
reviews; ordering food directly from the Maps place card; and
curated Guides to discover places to eat, shop, and explore in
cities around the world. Additionally, Apple says the Look Around
feature, which lets you explore 360-degree panoramic views of some
places, will be available in the coming months.
<https://beta.maps.apple.com>

Apple Maps on the web joins Apple Music and Apple TV on the web, but
those are for subscribers. Apple Maps will presumably remain a free
service available as an alternative to Google Maps. It is currently
available in English with Safari and Chrome on Mac and iPad, as well
as Chrome and Edge on Windows PCs. Support for additional languages,
browsers, and platforms will be expanded over time, Apple notes.

There is no timetable for the service to come out of beta.

<https://www.macworld.com/article/2408087/apple-maps-on-the-web-beta-launch-directions-look-around.html>

On 2024-07-24 17:29, Your Name wrote:
>
> Currently in public beta testing. No need for a specific Maps app, but
> it does need an up-to-date version of Safari, Chrome, or Edge web
> browsers (apparently does not work with Firefox for some weird reaon).
>
>
>
>    Apple takes direct aim at Google with surprising launch
>    of Apple Maps on the web
>    -------------------------------------------------------
>    Now you won't need an Apple device to use the best mapping service.
>
>    Apple Maps might have had an inauspicious start, but over the years
>    it's gotten a whole lot better. Today, Apple Maps is as good or
>    better than Google Maps, with stunning visuals, incredibly detailed
>    topography, and rock-solid turn-by-turn directions and traffic
>    updates.

<https://beta.maps.apple.com>

Sorry - while it has lipstick on a pig facets, it's still not as good as
Google Maps.

I use both a lot - usually Google Maps for planning, Apple for short
trips and back to Google or Waze on longer drives.

IAC, I just took a look at the beta (thanks for the link) and I'll use
it over the next while and see how it fares.

Apple are surprising in another way - appears their evolved Password
features will also be usable in Google Chrome.

"We'll see," said the Zen Master.
-Charlie Wilson's War

--
"It would be a measureless disaster if Russian barbarism overlaid
the culture and independence of the ancient States of Europe."
Winston Churchill

On Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:29:33 +1200, Your Name wrote:

> Currently in public beta testing. No need for a specific Maps app, but
> it does need an up-to-date version of Safari, Chrome, or Edge web
> browsers (apparently does not work with Firefox for some weird reaon).
>
>
>
> Apple takes direct aim at Google with surprising launch of Apple
> Maps on the web
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Now you won't need an Apple device to use the best mapping service.
[snip]

It looks like mapkit has had a public API (https://developer.apple.com/
documentation/mapkitjs) for quite some time now. DuckDuckGo uses it to
provide a maps experience much like Google.

I can also confirm that firefox is "unsupported". This is trivial to
bypass by spoofing a Safari user agent, and so far it's perfectly usable.
After getting to compare DDG and Apple Maps on the web, the data is all
the same, but ranked and presented very differently. Queries on DDG are
relatively geographically broad and static: one example returned results
for a ~5mi radius while zoomed to ~0.5mi. The maps beta is much tighter,
but even fairly minor shifts cause it to run the query again.