Apple Maps: Firefox support now available - and more functions
Apple has extended the beta version of the web version of its map service to other browsers. Functions previously only available in the app were also integrated.
Apple Maps in Firefox: No longer locked out.
(Image: Screenshot Apple.com)
Good news for users of alternative browsers on Mac and PC: if you want to take a look at the recently released web beta of Apple Maps, you are no longer forced to use Chrome, Safari or Edge. As of this week, it is now also possible to use another popular modern browser, namely Firefox. In future, Apple will no longer display an error message when you call up beta.maps.apple.com if you arrive with the Mozilla browser.
Gradually becoming a better maps app on the web
Previously, however, there were strict browser guidelines: Only Safari, Chrome or Edge (although the latter occasionally caused problems on the Mac) could be used on Mac and iPad, and only Edge or Chrome on Windows PCs. Firefox now also works on both platforms. This increases the potential target group for the Google Maps competitor, although it is still missing some functions. Apple is apparently planning to gradually add these so that the functions are similar to the official Apple Maps clients on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
Videos by heise
Along with Firefox support, other functions have also been added to the beta. These include the ability to order from restaurants and discover new places - but only in certain regions. The popular "Look Around" function, which initially included significantly more locations than Google's Streetview service, has not yet been implemented.
New locations discovered for "Look Around"
Apple seems to want to add more locations for Look Around, as a leak expert claims on X. This is based on information in the code of the Maps beta for the web. The new countries include Slovakia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, China, Mexico and, surprisingly, Syria and Belarus. However, it remains to be seen whether this will really happen or whether it is just code leftovers.
Apple still has some work to do anyway: Apple Maps on the web currently lacks the ability to navigate using public transport, and "Directions" are only supported by car or on foot - features that have been available in the client version for ages. Developers have been able to integrate Apple Maps data into their web apps for some time now, and this is set to become even easier in the future.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (heise Preisvergleich) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
(bsc)
