The rumoured iOS 9 Apple Maps boost will only include public transport information for a handful of cities, according to reports.
The prolific 9to5Mac’s sources believe the Maps Transit update will only reach around half a dozen cities initially, plus full access in China where Apple has a long-time navigation partner.
Tuesday’s report claims New York and San Francisco will be the only cities in the U.S. available at launch, while Toronto, London, Paris and Berlin would make up the numbers.
If the report turns out to be true, offering such a pithy number of cities from the get-go would inhibit Apple’s ability to make a splash, especially when Google Maps boasts masses of public transport information in locations around the world.
Again, if the report is accurate, it’s unclear how far along Apple is when it comes to filling out the roster. The sources claim Boston and Tokyo would be the next priorities on the list, but there’s no indication of when the roll out may be ready. Despite Los Angeles featuring in the screenshots above, the City of Angels is a ‘low priority,’ the sources say.
Apple has the ability to add cities over the air and could choose to send push notifications to users when public transport data is for their area is added to the mix.
Related: WWDC 2015: What to expect
The planned launch of Maps Transit is likely to come as part of Apple’s iOS 9 presentation at WWDC on June 8.
During the keynote, Apple is expected to preview HomeKit integration, the new San Francisco typeface and performance upgrades that will improve compatibility with older iPhone and iPad devices.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
