Katie Marsal
Apple on Wednesday released the first beta of iOS 6.1.1 with a clear focus on improving its much-criticized Maps application, specifically in regards to turn-by-turn navigation in Japan.
In a note to developers accommodating the release, Apple said iOS 6.1.1 beta 1 includes the following improvements to Maps for Japan:
- Improved pronunciation of roads during turn-by-turn navigation
- Optimized directions to more strongly prefer highways over narrower roads
- Now indicates upcoming toll roads during turn-by-turn navigation
- Added labels for junctions, interchanges, on-ramps, off-ramps, and intersections
- Added indicators for transit station buildings, subway lines, and traffic lights
- Updated freeway color to green
- Updated icons for some location categories including fire stations, hospitals, and post offices Added 3D buildings including Tokyo Station, Japan Imperial Palace, and Tokyo Tower
The move comes as Apple is looking to strengthen its presence in Asia, where revenue has been on the double digit rise, particularly in China and Japan, which were up 67% and 25% year-over-year, respectively, during the company's most recent December quarter.
Wednesday beta of iOS 6.1.1 carries build number 10B311 and is available for the iPad 2 and greater, iPhone 3S and greater, iPod touch 4th-gen and greater, and the iPad mini.
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Amber Neely
29 Comments
Ahh, the "Jailbreak Fix" update
I might have to revise my previous statement about Apple Maps being the best app and that the server-side data is where it's lacking as I'd have thought many of those items could have been updated on the server at any time. [quote name="huntercortez" url="/t/155840/apples-first-beta-of-ios-6-1-1-aims-to-strengthen-maps-in-japan#post_2272368"]Ahh, the "Jailbreak Fix" update[/quote] [I]Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.[/I]
All data are pulled from Apple's CDN. It's extraordinarily more efficient to have static assets stored on iPhone. A handful of client releases are necessary to update hooks and things like directions, which are generated by Maps on the client-side.
Does Apple usually release betas for iOS _._.x updates? I thought they generally drop without much notice?
I don't think they patched the exploit since it is a rather quick turnaround. However evasi0n doesn't work as it says it's an unsupported version.