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Google Maps on iOS6

So, you have updated your Apple device to the latest iOS. Things seem to be working alright and you are slowly getting used to the new features and nuisances that the update involves. Then you remember that Apple has ditched Google Maps for their very own service, you prepare yourself and open the new application. It looks alright, but… hang on, that’s now where you are and why does the app think that London is in the middle of the ocean? Something is not right, you know it and you are not alone.

For the time being there is no native Google Maps app that you can download, but there are a couple of things that you can do to improve your experience. Follow these simple steps:

  1. Google Maps iOSIn your Apple device, go to maps.google.com which will take you to the web app. This will have the functionality that you were used to and a couple of other things such as bike routes for instance.
  2. When you open the web app for the first time, you will see a banner that invites you to install the app on your phone. This is not an installation per se, what it will do is create a shortcut to the web app that you can start directly from your screen. Tap the share button the banner points to.
  3. Now select Add to Home Screen from the grid that appears in the screen (see image on the right) and give the shortcut a name.
  4. And voilà, you now have access to Google Maps.

Please note that this solution requires you to have access to the web, so you will be using your data if  you are not connected to WiFi. If you have any other solutions, please let me know.

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