Apple Maps on the Web Receives the First (Almost Insignificant) Update

Apple has become more committed to building a stronger Google Maps alternative, and the company has been working on multiple fronts to improve its offering.

Apple Maps has received several notable updates in the last few years, starting with the detailed city experience – announced in 2022 but whose rollout still happens slowly.

The most recent big update is the release of Apple Maps on the web, which is Apple's first effort to make its platform available outside the Apple ecosystem. With this release, the mapping service goes live on non-Apple devices, as anyone with a PC, be it Windows or Mac, could access the maps.

Apple Maps on the web launch with exclusive support for Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge (which is based on Chromium, the engine powering Google Chrome, so Apple Maps technically supported just two browsers).

However, Apple has been working on expanding the support for Apple Maps on the web, and this week, the company added Firefox to the list.

If you're a tech-savvy person, you certainly heard of Firefox. Often considered the only potent alternative to the invasion of Chromium-powered browsers (such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi, and Opera), Firefox still commands an important market share in the browser space.

Apple allows Firefox users to access Apple Maps on the web on Windows, Mac, and iPad. Obviously, while Firefox is also available on iPhones, Apple doesn't offer support for Apple Maps on the web because the service comes with a dedicated application on the smartphone.

This is the first update for Apple Maps on the web and is almost insignificant, not only because the Firefox market share is not that big and users could still access the service by changing the user agent. In other words, no matter what browser you use, you should still be able to access Apple Maps on the web by changing the user agent, albeit official support means you are less likely to encounter bugs and other performance issues.

Meanwhile, the service still lacks essential features, such as support for logging in with an Apple ID. While users can configure routes on the web, they can't transfer the data to their smartphones or CarPlay because they can't log in with an Apple account. Apple will likely expand the feature lineup with more options, and I'm certain the iPhone event next month will witness the unveiling of a more important update for the web.

Apple has yet to announce an Android version of Apple Maps, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the company exploring this space. Apple Maps needs more users, as keeping the app limited to the Apple ecosystem blocks its attempt to become a cross-platform Google Maps alternative.

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