Apple Maps extends to the web with MapKit JS beta

Apple is expanding what can be done with Apple Maps, announcing at WWDC 2018 that MapKit JS can be used to embed maps within a website, a function that has been offered by its competition for a considerable amount of time.

MapKit JS is a feature that has been used by Apple for some time, with it powering the maps viewable in the Find My iPhone function on iCloud.com, store searches on the Apple website, and the WWDC 2018 website. The same function is now able to be used by developers in beta, allowing it to be embedded on their own sites.

Functionally similar to the existing MapKit provided to iOS app developers, MapKit JS can display a defined map area of the developer's choosing, pinpoint locations in user searches, and navigational directions between two places. The only real difference between the two versions is that MapKit JS is a JavaScript API that renders within a browser, rather than within an app.

Developers can also add annotations and overlays to the map to customize it, with additional options to display a standard street map or satellite imagery. It is also possible for the map to enable or disable panning, zooming, and rotation, depending on what is required.

As part of its optimization for assorted browsers and device types, MapKit JS also supports standard touchscreen gestures, including pinch-to-zoom and two-finger rotation.

Most users on recent hardware will see the map rendered in WebGL, which provides smooth transitions when zooming, and more control over how labels and annotations work in relation to other map elements. For low-performance devices and other limiting situations, MapKit JS can automatically adapt to a mode that uses image tiles, an older map rendering technology.

Developers are required to sign up through their Apple Developer account and obtain a key, in order to use the MapKit JS beta. There is a free-usage limitation of 250,000 map initializations per key per day, as well as 25,000 service requests which covers geocoding and searches, with developers requiring higher allocations needing to contact Apple on the matter.

The introduction of MapKit JS brings Apple Maps in line with its online mapping rivals, as both Microsoft's Bing Maps and Google Maps already allow developers to embed maps in webpages.

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36 Comments

seanismorris

said about 5 years ago

I’ve been using Google Maps (almost exclusively) for years. I recently gave Apple Maps another try. The directions were “turn East at the upcoming intersection”... etc.

So, not only am I unfamiliar with my surroundings Apple wants me to find where the F’n sun is?

Maybe I’ll give Apple Maps a try in another few years... when they figure out how to use Left/Right for directions.

Maybe Apple will do better with their website embedded maps...

patchythepirate

said about 5 years ago

How long has Apple been driving those multisensor cars around the world with seemingly little or nothing to show for it? Maps info and intelligence are still lacking, and still no street view type feature?

I'm tired of being patient waiting for Apple to get their act together regarding the basic functionality of their most common services..

Siri is still a chore to use for anything but setting alarms.

Siri can't even get dictation right ffs:

Every time I try to dictate a message there's no customization or learning; for example, I don't know of a single person that types "ha ha"; it's always "haha" or "hahaha", but siri dictates "ha ha" for some reason. Or the word "ok"; I've never typed it as "OK", and I've only see other people type it as "OK" about 1/100 times, but that's what siri decides to dictate, every single time, instead of how people normally type it, which is "ok" or "okay".

Maps gives me faulty instructions/info fairly often and hasn't had a meaningful update in a while. (What was the last thing, lane assist a year ago?)

Emails somehow got worse and more convoluted when trying to follow email threads, still very little in the way of email management.

Despite Apple's bizarre claim that 1/2 of merchants use Apple Pay.. THEY DO NOT. (I go out of my way to find and use Apple Pay and it's nowhere near 1/2, despite it being an amazing service.) Even the starbucks **app** got more transactions than Apple Pay, despite Apple Pay being much easier to use, and despite that Apple Pay is accepted at all starbucks locations....kind of unbelievable.

I can't be the only one getting inpatient after years and years of stagnation. It's getting fucking annoying.

I love my X, series 2, ipad pro, airpods, homepod (well, siri kind of kills that one for now) ..my 7 yo macbook air is still going strong (relatively, haha). At this point, it's starting to feel like I'm getting screwed over by Apple neglecting to keep its services up to par (unlike Apple's hardware and core software, which of course continue to be in a league of thier own).

ihatescreennames

said about 5 years ago

seanismorris said:

The directions were “turn East at the upcoming intersection”... etc.

I use Apple Maps all the time. Now that I have a 2 year old who likes to learn street names we even use the spoken navigation to go places we know how to get to just so the street names will be spoken. My 2 year old hears the name of the road and then repeats it (over and over).

I’ve never been told to turn to a point in the compass. It’s alwasy “turn left” or “turn right”. Sometimes, when it’s appropriate, it will be “turn right onto Route 95 North” but not once has it said, “turn north”. Even when I’m “off-road” the directions are “proceed to the highlighted route”, not “proceed north to the highlighted route”.

ericthehalfbee

said about 5 years ago

seanismorris said:

I’ve been using Google Maps (almost exclusively) for years. I recently gave Apple Maps another try. The directions were “turn East at the upcoming intersection”... etc.

So, not only am I unfamiliar with my surroundings Apple wants me to find where the F’n sun is?

Maybe I’ll give Apple Maps a try in another few years... when they figure out how to use Left/Right for directions.

Maybe Apple will do better with their website embedded maps...

I call BS.

I use Apple Maps regularly and I always get left & right turn notices. I don't even think I've ever been told to turn "East". On the major freeways near me (4-5 lanes) it also gives me advance warning to get into the right two lanes (for example) with a clear graphic showing all the lanes and which ones I should be in. I also get orange and red lines on my maps that clearly show where traffic is heavy.

My wife (a nurse who does out patient visits) also uses Apple Maps multiple times per day and finds it very accurate.

2012 called and want their meme back.

Rayz2016

said about 5 years ago

seanismorris said:

I’ve been using Google Maps (almost exclusively) for years. I recently gave Apple Maps another try. The directions were “turn East at the upcoming intersection”... etc.

So, not only am I unfamiliar with my surroundings Apple wants me to find where the F’n sun is?

Maybe I’ll give Apple Maps a try in another few years... when they figure out how to use Left/Right for directions.

Maybe Apple will do better with their website embedded maps...

Bull💩