Apple Maps has evolved into a robust navigation app, incorporating significant feature enhancements with each iOS update. A lesser-known but highly useful feature is the ability to create and utilize ‘Guides,’ allowing users to categorize locations for quick access and organization. While Google Maps often takes the spotlight, Apple has steadily improved its mapping service, particularly in visual refinement and user experience.
iOS 15 brought notable changes to Apple Maps, especially for urban users, with detailed city views, augmented reality directions, and enhanced public transit support. Amidst these advancements, the My Guides feature offers a unique way to personalize and streamline location management within the app.
With the upcoming iOS 16 release, Apple focuses on improving the Apple Maps user interface. While iOS 15 concentrated on map visuals, iOS 16 is all about the software elements. Transportation mode, departure time settings, and toll avoidance options are now more accessible via dropdown menus above route listings. This design shift makes the My Guides feature even easier to find and use. Depending on your frequently visited locations and Siri Suggestions, My Guides will prominently appear on the Apple Maps home screen.
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To understand the potential of Guides in Apple Maps, explore the professionally curated Guides provided by news and media outlets. To find these, open Apple Maps and tap the search bar. Scroll to the ‘My Guides’ section, and below that, you’ll see ‘Guides We Love’ and ‘Explore Guides.’ These guides showcase a bold title, a captivating cover photo, and a list of curated locations. You can add any of these to your saved guides with a simple tap.
Creating Your Own Apple Maps Guide
Apple Maps interface on iOS showing search and navigation features
To begin creating your custom Guide, launch Apple Maps and tap the search bar. Scroll down to ‘My Guides’ and tap ‘New Guide.’ You will be prompted to add a relevant title and a cover photo. After entering the name and selecting an image, tap ‘Create’ to add the Guide to your Apple Maps profile. To populate your Guide with locations, search for a specific place using the search bar and tap the “…” button on the place card. Then, select ‘Guides’ and choose the Guide you want to add the location to.
Guides are an excellent way to group locations and are useful in a variety of situations, not just travel planning. While travel guides are the most obvious application, the Guides feature can be leveraged in many creative ways. For example, you could create a Guide to store frequently searched locations without adding them to your favorites. Or, if you regularly use Apple Maps to navigate around your city – maybe to check ETAs or traffic – saving commonly traveled routes to a Guide can streamline the process. No matter what you use them for, Guides offer a convenient way to organize places directly within the Apple Maps app.
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