Among the new features that Apple will integrate into iOS 18 are the topographic mapscurrently an exclusive feature of watchOS 10.
The topographic maps should arrive on iOS 18, macOS 15 and on visionOS 2, future versions of the iPhone, Mac and VisionPro operating systems that should be previewed at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2024 which will be held online from 10 to 14 June 2024.
The developer conference will be held online but developers and students will have the opportunity to attend in person during the special opening event at Apple Park.
On watchOS 10 the Maps app allows you to view a topographic map with contour lines, relief, altitude details and points of interest; this function (available in the USA) is useful for searching for nearby itineraries and trails, with maps showing detailed information, for example the length, type and difficulty of the route.
Macrumors reports that the backend for managing topographic maps is present in iOS and macOS but is “dormant” and should be activated with future operating system updates.
A different new feature that we should see in iOS 18 Maps is the possibility of create personalized itineraries. Macrumors has identified a server-side file called “CustomRouteCreation” linked to Maps, allowing us to imagine the possibility of or creating more varied routes in Maps, asking for example to follow a route with tourist stops rather than simply going from point A to point B on as quickly as possible.
Currently, the Apple Maps app allows you to manually add steps to a generated route and it is up to the user to set intermediate steps which include, for example, stops in places of tourist interest.
We will know more about these and other news regarding Apple’s future operating systems from 10 to 14 June 2024, with WWDC24 which will put the spotlight on the new features of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS.
For everything we know so far about iOS 18, the link to follow is this.
