Apple Maps redesign

Apple today announced that all users in the United States can now experience a redesigned Maps with faster and more accurate navigation and comprehensive views of roads, buildings, parks, airports, malls and more.

From Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services:

“We set out to create the best and most private maps app on the planet that is reflective of how people explore the world today. It is an effort we are deeply invested in and required that we rebuild the map from the ground up to reimagine how Maps enhances people’s lives — from navigating to work or school or planning an important vacation — all with privacy at its core. The completion of the new map in the United States and delivering new features like Look Around and Collections are important steps in bringing that vision to life. We look forward to bringing this new map to the rest of the world starting with Europe later this year.”

Features include:

‘Look Around’ – an interactive way to visually explore a city with 3D imagery.
 

‘Collections  – ‘Users can easily build and share lists of places they love or want to go to with friends and family.
 

Customers get quick and easy navigation to the places they visit every day with ‘Favorites’.
 

Real-time transit information gives detailed transit schedules, live departure times, arrival times, the current location of a bus or train en route, and system connections to help plan a journey.
 

Share ETA sends an estimated time of arrival to family, friends or coworkers with a simple tap. The receiver can follow along on the journey, and Maps will even update them with a revised estimate for when the traveler is arriving if a significant delay occurs.

Flight status uses on-device Siri intelligence to scan for information stored in Mail, Calendar or Wallet and proactively serves flight information for terminals, gate locations and departure times, as well as flight changes or cancellations for upcoming travel.
 

By using Indoor Maps for airports and malls users can see what level they’re on, restroom locations and even which stores and restaurants are open.
 

Siri Natural Language Guidance provides more natural-sounding directions that are even easier to follow, such as “At the next traffic light, turn left.”
 

Flyover offers a way to see select major metro areas with photo-realistic, immersive 3D views.

Maps it the best, we get it.

Cinema Mode in iOS 10.3

According to reports, Apple will shortly release iOS 10.3 on iPads and iPhones around the globe. Features of the update are supposed to include ‘Cinema Mode’ or possibly ‘Theater mode’ which will appear on the control center.

It’l be shaped like popcorn and will allow users to put their phone into a dimmed mode, whilst also muting sound and preventing notifications.

Let’s hope there’s a little more to this update, huh?

Can’t save all the good bits for the iPhone 8, Apple. We have a whole year of iPhoning before that guy comes along (with his wacky flip-body and rad teleportation features).

You read that right. Predictions 101, yo.

New MacBook Airs released!

Apple just launched updated MacBook Airs! The good news? The main gist is that they’re faster and cheaper. Sweet deal, right?

All new standard MacBook Airs will feature faster 1.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processors and will come at a price $100 less than previously. The battery is also said to last up to 1 hour longer on the 11 -inch and 2 hours on the 13-inch.

Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice president of WorldWide marketing has said this about the updated Airs:

“With MacBook Air starting at $899, there’s no reason to settle for anything less than a Mac. Macs have never been more popular, and today we’ve boosted the performance and lowered the price of MacBook Air so even more people can experience the perfect everyday notebook.”

Here are the new specs:

You can get your hot little hands on an updated MacBook Air RIGHT NOW through Apple’s retail or online stores.

A hot tip courtesy of the good guys over at Macrumors.com – Refurbished MacBook Air computers have dropped to incredibly low prices, with an 11-inch 2012 model available starting at $599 and 2013 models available starting at $719.

And from the guys at Slickdeals –  People are picking up some great deals. Like this one: “Just picked up the mid-2013 macbook for $705 Open box. It’s $750 New w/ student discount ( if you have a .edu email address). ”

Super awesome deals to be had!

Images courtesy of Apple & 9to5mac