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I maintain attempting to make use of Apple Maps extra on my iPhone. However I routinely discover myself switching to Google Maps and staying with it. Google Maps is by far my favourite Google app, having develop into a type of important providers Google offers. If I got the choice to make Google Maps the default navigation app on iPhone, I feel I might.
It seems that Apple may supply that choice to iPhone customers come iOS 18. Similar to with the browser or e mail, you may be capable of set Google Maps because the default navigation answer on the handset. There’s a giant caveat in all of this, and it’s referred to as the European Union. That’s proper, the transfer is likely to be a part of Apple’s compliance roadmap for the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
I’m not only a longtime iPhone consumer; I’m an EU-based one. I’ll expertise all of the “goodies” within the DMA. I put that in quotes as a result of I’ve been very essential of a few of the DMA’s necessities. iPhone sideloading and chat app interoperability are coming to the EU smartphone expertise quickly. And I would like none of that.
Whereas I received’t sideload apps on iPhone or Android, and I received’t make WhatsApp work with any third-party chat apps, the DMA may deliver different adjustments that I’ll reap the benefits of. Like, you’ve guessed it by now, setting Google Maps because the default navigation app on iPhone.
Apple printed a compliance document a couple of days in the past that addresses the measures Apple plans to absorb Europe in response to the DMA. I’ve already mentioned one of many options the doc teases. A software program device that may make the iPhone-to-Android switch smoother for the consumer. However the identical doc has this paragraph that applies to Google Maps:
Apple additionally plans to introduce a brand new default management for customers in Settings for navigation apps. Apple goals to make this answer accessible by March 2025
It doesn’t point out Google Maps particularly, as there are many Apple Maps rivals on the market. You can set Waze as your default navigation app in your iPhone as soon as iOS 18 allows the performance. I targeted on Google Maps, my favourite navigation app and the most definitely different I’d set as default on my iPhone.
Apple doesn’t elaborate on the timeline to implement the function. However that March 2025 tentative deadline signifies this could possibly be an iOS 18.3 or iOS 18.4 function. Apple will unveil iOS 18 in June at WWDC after which launch the ultimate model of it in September. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see if Apple mentions DMA-specific options when it unveils iOS 18.
Apple might very properly deliver this function to all iOS 18 customers subsequent yr, not simply the EU. However contemplating Apple’s apparent willpower to limit DMA-mandated options to the EU block, I’d anticipate this default management for navigation apps to be accessible solely in Europe.
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