Apple drove through the Netherlands with Apple Maps cars this spring to record all roads and areas with its own cameras. Apple is expected to roll out the new cards for the whole of the Netherlands sometime in 2022. But Apple has already rolled out one part of this new map material worldwide, including in all countries where Apple has not yet started capturing the environment. You notice that while navigating the maps are a lot greener. The change will be visible in iOS 14 immediately.
Greener Apple Maps while navigating
iCulture reader Bram noted that something ‘different’ is on Apple Maps while navigating. We also noticed last weekend that something has changed, without being able to specifically point out what has changed. Apple Maps expert Justin O'Beirne, who tracks changes to Apple's maps, now knows what's going on. He reports that Apple has added more detailed landscape display in all countries.
You can check it yourself by opening the Apple Maps app and starting a route to any location. Then open the bottom bar during navigation and tap Overview.
The regular map vs the new greener navigation map.
You notice this while navigating, which gives the environment much more color. Parts that were previously white are now green or soft yellow, to indicate that there is pasture or forest. You will only see this if a navigation is active. you can also tap Overview to view the map in normal view. You can see the difference clearly, as shown below.
The regular map the new greener navigation map.
Unrelated to the rollout of new maps for the Netherlands
The change has nothing to do with the new images Apple made this spring, O'Beirne also notes. Apple does use this greener display in countries where the new map material has already been rolled out, but now it is simply visible everywhere. So keep in mind that this view can only be seen in navigation mode. In the normal images of the map, the somewhat more white and gray display can still be seen. In countries where the new map material is already visible (such as Great Britain and Spain and Portugal), the greener landscape is also visible in the default view.
New design in iOS 15
Apple also gives Apple Maps in iOS 15 a new coat of paint. There is more color, which makes the landscape in the standard map in particular more green. The color in iOS 15 is also a bit brighter, especially in night mode. So for the navigation map in iOS 14, Apple has already added more color, but while retaining the style that Apple uses for iOS 14.