iOS 14.5: Apple Maps Could Feature Real-Time Crowd Data for Points of Interest

With iOS and iPadOS 14.5 scheduled for an early spring release, Apple has begun testing a new feature that could provide Apple Maps users with real-time crowd data for points of interest, similar to Google Maps.

ios 14
In the iOS and iPadOS 14.5 beta, an updated section in the "Location Services" menu of Apple's Privacy settings states that Apple will collect data from users, such as when a specific app is opened near a point of interest, to determine how crowded the location is, and whether that specific business is open:

Routing and Traffic: While you are in transit (for example, walking or driving), your iPhone will periodically send GPS data, travel speed and barometric pressure information in an anonymous and encrypted form to Apple, to be used for augmenting crowd-sourced road traffic and atmospheric correction databases. Additionally, when you open an app near a point of interest (for example, a business or park), your iPhone will send location data in an anonymous and encrypted form to Apple, which Apple may aggregate and use to let users know if that point of interest is open and how busy it is.

The wording suggests that if a user opens an app for a specific business or service near a related point of interest on ‌Apple Maps‌, Apple may aggregate that data to possibly inform other users of how crowded that location is and whether the business/service is operating. Notably, Apple says it will only collect anonymized and encrypted data from users when the "Routing and Traffic" setting is turned on within Location Services -> System Services.

Currently, ‌Apple Maps‌ offers no front-facing interface for displaying this data to users. The lack of the feature on the visual front and Apple's wording implies that Apple is testing and collecting data to potentially launch a related feature in the official public release of iOS 14.5, or perhaps in a release subsequent to it.

IMG 0743

Google Maps Live Crowd Data

Google Maps already offers a similar real-time feature called Live Visit Data that informs users of how busy a specific store or business is at a particular time. Google provides this data by gathering aggregated and anonymized data from users who have opted in to Google Location History.

Already present in iOS 14.5 beta is the ability for users to crowdsource car accidents, speed traps, and hazards within ‌Apple Maps‌. The new addition to ‌Apple Maps‌ joins an already extensive list of features in iOS and iPadOS 14.5, including App Tracking Transparency, the ability to unlock your iPhone with a mask, and more. Apple says the update will roll out to all users in the "early spring."

(Thanks, Stijn!)

Related Forum: iOS 14

Popular Stories

New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

20 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Monday December 16, 2024 8:55 am PST by
Apple released iOS 18.2 in the second week of December, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. Apple has added a handful of new non-AI related feature controls as...
iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Drops Plans for iPhone Hardware Subscription Service

Wednesday December 18, 2024 11:39 am PST by
Apple is no longer planning to launch a hardware subscription service that would let customers "subscribe" to get a new iPhone each year, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman first shared rumors about Apple's work on a hardware subscription service back in 2022, and at the time, he said that Apple wanted to develop a simple system that would allow customers to pay a monthly fee to gain...
blackmagic vision pro

Blackmagic Debuts $30K 3D Camera for Capturing Video for Vision Pro

Monday December 16, 2024 4:17 pm PST by
Blackmagic today announced that its URSA Cine Immersive camera is now available for pre-order, with deliveries set to start late in the first quarter of 2025. Blackmagic says that this is the world's first commercial camera system designed to capture 3D content for the Vision Pro. The URSA Cine Immersive camera was first introduced in June, but it has not been available for purchase until...
mac pro creativity

Apple Launched the Controversial 'Trashcan' Mac Pro 11 Years Ago Today

Thursday December 19, 2024 7:00 pm PST by
Apple launched the controversial "trashcan" Mac Pro eleven years ago today, introducing one of its most criticized designs that persisted through a period of widespread discontentment with the Mac lineup. The redesign took the Mac Pro in an entirely new direction, spearheaded by a polished aluminum cylindrical design that became unofficially dubbed the "trashcan" in the Mac community. All of ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2 Redux

Top 5 Apple Products to Look Forward to in 2025

Friday December 20, 2024 2:22 pm PST by
It's looking like 2025 is going to be an important year for Apple, with the company planning to revamp the iPhone, push further into smart home products, and improve Apple Intelligence. There are tons of new products rumored for 2025, including new iPhones, M4 Macs, a smart home command center, and much more. We've highlighted the top five Apple products that will have the biggest impact in...
apple tv 4k yellow bg feature

New Apple TV Rumored to Launch Next Year With These Features

Tuesday December 17, 2024 9:02 am PST by
The current Apple TV 4K was released more than two years ago, so the streaming device is becoming due for a hardware upgrade soon. Fortunately, it was recently rumored that a new Apple TV will launch at some point next year. Below, we recap rumors about the next-generation Apple TV. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last week reported that Apple has been working on its own combined Wi-Fi and...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Rumored to Stick With 'Triangular' Camera Design

Wednesday December 18, 2024 2:36 am PST by
Contrary to recent reports, the iPhone 17 Pro will not feature a horizontal camera layout, according to the leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post on Weibo, the leaker said that a source has confirmed that while the appearance of the back of the iPhone 17 Pro has indeed changed, the layout of the three cameras is "still triangular," rather than the "horizontal bar spread on the...
elevation lab airtag battery

Your AirTag's Battery Will Last for Up to 10 Years With Elevation Lab's New TimeCapsule Enclosure

Wednesday December 18, 2024 10:05 am PST by
Elevation Lab today announced the launch of TimeCapsule, an innovative and simple solution for increasing the battery life of Apple's AirTag. Priced at $20, TimeCapsule is an AirTag enclosure that houses two AA batteries that offer 14x more battery capacity than the CR2032 battery that the AirTag runs on. It works by attaching the AirTag's upper housing to the built-in custom contact in the...

Top Rated Comments

RedTheReader Avatar
49 months ago
It’s been nice seeing Apple Maps go from what it was back in 2012 to a legitimate Google Maps competitor. Unfortunately, the stigma seems to be buried in deep: most people I see talking about it still don’t think it’s dependable.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
matrix07 Avatar
49 months ago

Nothing to do with stigma IMO. It simply isn't anything like as mature or functional a product as Google Maps.
Have never used Google Map since Apple Map launched and so far I haven't been lost once.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dan98 Avatar
49 months ago

It’s been nice seeing Apple Maps go from what it was back in 2012 to a legitimate Google Maps competitor. Unfortunately, the stigma seems to be buried in deep: most people I see talking about it still don’t think it’s dependable.
Nothing to do with stigma IMO. It simply isn't anything like as mature or functional a product as Google Maps.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brian Y Avatar
49 months ago
Given how hard Apple are playing the privacy card, this needs to be opt-in. Even Google have this as an opt-in feature.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
matrix07 Avatar
49 months ago

The only real-time point of interest I'd like to be aware of are speed traps like Waze provides.
Right there in the article
"Already present in iOS 14.5 beta is the ability for users to crowdsource car accidents, speed traps, and hazards within Apple Maps."
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
uptownnyc Avatar
49 months ago
The only real-time point of interest I'd like to be aware of are speed traps like Waze provides.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)