Apple Maps comes to Switzerland

After a bumpy start, Apple Maps has become an alternative to Google Maps. There are new functions for Switzerland, including one with augmented reality.

In 2009, Google launched its Street View street photo service in Switzerland in August. 13 years later, the iPhone manufacturer from Cupertino (USA) is following suit and bringing a few more functions to Switzerland. In addition to Switzerland, Apple is launching its service simultaneously in Liechtenstein, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Street View vs. Look Around

Instead of Street View, a function at Apple is called "Look Around". It is basically similar in structure.

Like Google, Apple also has camera cars on the road that photograph the area. Google is likely to win the battle here for having driven down more streets because of its head start. Likewise, Google probably wins in terms of ease of use (just drag Street View man Pegman onto the map).

Apple is ahead in terms of photo quality. Navigating through the streets also seems smoother. You can find recorded routes using the pin or binocular symbol.

As with competitor Google, the faces of the people photographed are made unrecognisable, as are the number plates of vehicles. Anyone who still finds a reason to complain can report it via the following link: https://maps.apple.com/imagecollection/locations.

This unwieldy term refers to pedestrian routes in large cities that have been scanned with backpack cameras. With augmented reality, additional information is displayed via iPhone. In Switzerland, these AR routes are currently only available in the three larger cities of Zurich, Basel and Geneva.

Also like Google, Apple has captured cities (mostly city centres) in 3D. In addition, individual landmarks such as the Chillon moated castle on Lake Geneva were created by hand by 3D designers.

When driving around with the navigation voice, Siri no longer says: "Turn right at the 2nd street", but something like: "Turn right at the next traffic light." According to Apple, this type of voice output is easier for humans to understand. Speaking of navigation: Apple can do car, foot and public transport - but still not bike.

Unlike Google Maps, Apple does not work in browsers etc. by default, but only on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac). Those who have an Android phone or Windows tablet can find a workaround via the search engine DuckDuckGo.com that uses Apple Maps as its map service. However, it remains to be seen whether the new functions will also be available there.

Source: Blick