Google Maps for iOS Updated With Spoken Traffic Alerts - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Google Maps for iOS Updated With Spoken Traffic Alerts

by

Google today updated its Google Maps app to version 4.12, adding spoken traffic alerts in navigation mode as well as the ability to easily add new or missing businesses from the app's sidebar.

googlemapsspoken
Spoken traffic alerts will tell users about traffic congestion and incidents on a user's route. Additionally, users will get traffic descriptions summarizing traffic conditions before they set off on their journey. The feature is similar to Google-owned Waze's notifications, which also verbally points out traffic congestion, incidents and the location of police in the area.

Google Maps is a universal app available for free in the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

139 months ago
Great to see Google is catching up on this feature. Apple already had this earlier this year at the start of iOS 9 beta.

Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mejsric Avatar
139 months ago
If there is no Apple Map then iPhone users probably won't receive this update...

Thanks Apple for creating Apple Map.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
139 months ago
It’s such a shame that Google owns these two applications, they are simply the best in their class. Pity, I don’t want to have anything to do with Google.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
139 months ago
shame you are missing some of the best iOS apps due to what reason?
Google’s business model and attitude towards user privacy for a start. They are ruthless in their collection of data and I’m not going to hand over a steady supply of GPS data along with persistent identifiers for them to store forever and analyse. This data is too sensitive and Apple promises not to do this. Google Maps is a carrot and stick for what they are really after and for me it isn’t a relationship I want to have.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spink10 Avatar
139 months ago
If there is no Apple Map then iPhone users probably won't receive this update...

Thanks Apple for creating Apple Map.
Very good point
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
shamino Avatar
139 months ago
You do realise that obeying the speed limits would even be more of lifesaver ;-)
Not necessarily. Many cities (well, at least Washington DC, which I'm personally familiar with) sets up countless photo speed traps. Like when they decide stick a 35MPH sign on an interstate highway in order to issue several thousand $100+ tickets a day to everybody who is (safely) driving 55-65 on that road.

Slamming on your brakes to obey that limit would be far more dangerous than going through at 55 and getting the ticket.

Of course, avoiding Washington DC altogether is an even bigger lifesaver, but that's not always an option.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Thursday July 2, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
If you pay for certain iCloud+ storage plans beyond the 5GB that Apple offers for free, you will receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. A summary of the two new iCloud+ perks on iOS 27:Increased daily usage limits for some new Apple Intelligence features, including image generation in the revamped Image Playground app. HomeKit Secure Video cameras receive generated video...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Product

Thursday July 2, 2026 8:04 am PDT by
Apple's first product release of summer 2026 occurred this week, but do not get too excited, as it is merely the Beats Solo Buds in a new color. Beats Solo Buds are now offered in orange through Best Buy in the U.S., with availability set to expand to 7-Eleven stores in Japan on July 4. Apple already offered orange Solo Buds in India for free with the purchase of an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 ...
iphone 17 ceramic shield

iPhone 18 With 9GB RAM Still Won't Support Two New iOS 27 Features

Friday July 3, 2026 12:10 pm PDT by
The lower-end iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will be equipped with 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a social media post, Kuo said the 1GB increase in RAM will ensure that Apple Intelligence features continue to run smoothly on the pair of devices. The higher-end iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable "iPhone Ultra...