LIVE TEXT AND MAPS
Explore better with two new modes in Maps, and look up text in images
Apple’s Maps has had a bumpy ride, and faces tough competition. It has languished far too long, demonstrating how important presentation and reliability are. Monterey doesn’t bring any radical change, but it has received more thorough attention to detail which could now make it your first choice for planning journeys and tours, and more fun for the armchair traveler too.
In addition to existing Public Transport and Satellite map modes, Maps now has dedicated Explore and Driving modes which are far better than Big Sur’s default. Explore mode shows where to go, while Driving shows how, or sometimes whether, you can get there by car, including traffic delays and details of roadworks. All four modes have been redesigned to improve labeling of streets in urban areas, and points of interest and facilities are more clearly visible. Cyclists are still relatively neglected, as designated bike routes and lanes aren’t displayed — neither are footpaths except when zoomed close in, where a lack of topographic information makes them nearly useless.