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Google Releases Updated Maps for iOS SDK, Opens API Keys to All Developers

Thursday February 21, 2013 7:30 PM PST by Husain Sumra

When Google released Google Maps for iOS in December, it also announced an SDK that iOS developers could use to implement Google Maps in their apps rather than Apple's mapping solution.

Tonight, Google announced an updated Maps SDK that adds ground overlay support and makes API keys available to all developers via the Google API Console. Previously, developers had to register and wait to be granted access to keys.

Now that keys are freely available, it's likely that more developers will use Google Maps in their apps. Some developers may decide to allow users to choose between Google and Apple's maps, much like the recently released Sunrise calendar app.

Google has also included a sample app in the SDK that developers can use to learn how to use Google Maps in their apps and released a video (above) demonstrating some of the SDK's features.

Top Rated Comments

pacohaas

170 months ago

Maybe Apple should think about using this API in their Maps app :D.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

PantherCreek

170 months ago

Am I the only one that actually likes Apple Maps? :P

I like them too, but I live in an area where I have had no issues with Apple maps.

I do think that choices help foster competition, and competition between Google and Apple, albeit outside of the courtrooms, really will benifit the consumers the most.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

APlotdevice

170 months ago

Am I the only one that actually likes Apple Maps? :P

It's alright. I don't have a big problem with the inaccuracies, as Google's own maps are hardly flawless.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

samcraig

170 months ago

Why do you need Google maps for iPad? Do you need 8-10" GPS display in your car? Plug in 40" Plasma then, and get over with it.

Or perhaps you can consider that someone has a use case different from yours and instead of being snarky - just choose to not comment?

Since Apple was paying Google major amounts of money every year for Google Maps (high eight or low nine digits), and stopped paying a penny to Google for map data since, I doubt that Google didn't know about this.

Were they? Or was it a revenue split? And are we sure Google didn't pay Apple for placement on their iOS?

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

lamina

170 months ago

Where is Google Maps for iPad? Apple Maps is cool too, but COME ON.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

BvizioN

170 months ago

This thread is about Google Maps, it is you Apple Maps apologists that insist on spoons your 'Apple Maps works for me so it must work for everyone' in every Google Maps related thread.

This thread is about Google Maps in MacRumors forum which happen to be a forum about Apple discussions! Get it? You do? Good for you!

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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