It already has ads. Those businesses it highlights for no reason at all when you’re scrolling around.
Apple Reportedly Moving Ahead With Ads in Maps App
Submitted 3 months ago by ardi60@reddthat.com to technology@lemmy.world
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/10/26/apple-moving-ahead-with-ads-in-maps/
Comments
DireTech@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
yeah google doing this made me stop using it as much. still need to find a permanent alternative
DireTech@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
Google does it so much I’ve had trouble finding favorite places because they’d rather show an ad that overlaps it.
bluesheep@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
I’m still using Google for looking up places but I stopped using it for car navigation because holy shit it sucks ass. Using waze now and it’s so much better. No idea of they’re FOSS tho
1984@lemmy.today 3 months ago
I thought if people pay for things, like extreamly expensive Apple hardware, no ads can exist there? Must be confused or hearing things.
muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
The business majors are about to learn an important lesson about open source.
Blackmist@feddit.uk 3 months ago
Are they though? The top valued companies in the world are balls-deep in advertising and data collection.
Passerby6497@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Lol, lmao even.
You have unrealistic views of the common person’s technical acumen if you think this is going to have an impact of more than fraction of a percent, if that.
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
If you’re not paying, you’re the product. If you’re paying, you may still be the product.
TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Open source is the exception, and it’s important to note that.
Now you may be thinking “well duh”, but I’ve seen plenty of people, even fairly techy people, refuse to use good FOSS software because they think they’re being monetised somehow and that because there’s no ads, it must be from secret data theft.
Blisterexe@lemmy.zip 3 months ago
and sometimes you don’t pay and aren’t the product, yay open source!
Jason2357@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
Enshitification isn’t a problem of people being bad at buying stuff.
theoriginalcows@lemmings.world 3 months ago
If you’re paying, you
mayare still be the product.Can we stop being stupid for once
IndridCold@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
Oh fuck dude. You made coffee come out my nose.
FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au 3 months ago
Who said that?
1984@lemmy.today 3 months ago
It was generally believed about a year ago that ads would only show up in free products, like Google search, or whatever.
Now we see them in cars, Apple software and all sorts of very expensive products.
Because its never enough ads.
clot27@lemmy.zip 3 months ago
Use OpenStreetMaps
Yeah I know it could be incomplete at times but its our job as a community to improve it if we want “free” software
hayvan@feddit.nl 3 months ago
But, but I want my stuff to work perfectly without me putting any effort or paying monies 😭
CuriousCrusher36@feddit.org 3 months ago
Try CoMaps, it works great (as long as the area is mapped in OSM)
buttnugget@lemmy.world 3 months ago
That’s the dumb thing. I’m always willing to concede that you need to make things as smooth and seamless for your users as possible, but let’s get away from this culture of no stakes investment. Let’s work together to buy in.
cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 months ago
remember when apple didn’t have ads because they were premium?
kokesh@lemmy.world 3 months ago
So you overpay them for crappy iPhone and have to pay them again by watching ads?
Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Don’t forget web users. Duck duck go uses Apple Maps.
kokesh@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I guess DuckDuck pays them, so Duck users would be spared of the ads?
Zen_Shinobi@lemmy.world 3 months ago
CoMaps is a nice offline alternitive. Not perfect,but it respects privacy
acosmichippo@lemmy.world 3 months ago
to be clear this isn’t a privacy issue. they are allowing companies to pay to be featured more prominently in the app.
theoriginalcows@lemmings.world 3 months ago
The only way to get neo-liberals to care about being taken advantage of by businesses is to make it not about money.
Zen_Shinobi@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Sure, but one can argue that data is being exchanged for ads.
Regardless, CoMaps is still a solid offline app that is being worked on. I wish we had a better version of Google or Apple maps without the bloat
HyonoKo@lemmy.ml 3 months ago
Might give it a spin, currently using Organic Maps.
voytrekk@sopuli.xyz 3 months ago
It was forked off if Organic Maps because if a difference of philosophy. Organic Maps wanted to add more proprietary components to their app.
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 3 months ago
I love how everyone is calling Apple users dumb here when Google has been doing the same thing for longer and both platforms let you install other map apps.
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
Yes, but apple has been charging double the price for their products on the basis of ‘privacy’ and ‘premiumness’
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 3 months ago
So I’m actually a moderately tech-savvy individual. Software engineer, been using Linux since Karmic Koala (of course I’ve used many other distros since then, including Gentoo for a few years and now I’m using TumbleWeed on one computer and NixOS on another). I can even figure out how a printer works, believe it or not.
I just hate this whole “only stupid people who don’t know about tech buy iPhones” rhetoric.
Samsung and Google have caught up in prices. I guess only Google is a tiny bit cheaper, Samsung is definitely right up there with Apple.
OnePlus was a good option if you wanted a cheaper flagship, but they both 1) ruined their OS and 2) went more expensive.
I actually bought an iPhone for 4 primary reasons:
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Lightning port is easier to clean out than USB-C and I get a LOT of pocket lint for some reason.
-
Carplay used the entire screen in my S205 whereas Android Auto had the Android Auto logo on like 1/3 of the screen.
-
Back when I did it, Apple was the only one giving 5-6 years of major OS upgrades to their old phones and OnePlus only gave me 3, lagging far behind AOSP and the whole OxygenOS to ColorOS switch RUINED the phone for me. I did use a custom ROM for a while before that, but my bank app stopped working with that regardless of whatever I did, so I switched to stock ROM and then upgraded to ColorOS and the phone became nearly unusable. It was 3 years old (the model, anyway; the phone in question was 2 years old). Every single one of my iPhone using friends said that never has a major OS upgrade inconvenienced them in any way.
-
I just felt like I don’t have time to play with custom ROMs and stuff anymore and since I don’t, I might as well go with the option that works great out of the box, rather than the one that I can infinitely customize to my liking.
Now, this whole issue: It’s not actually using user data AFAIK, so there are no privacy implications in this specific instance IMO. They just allow companies to pay to show up near the top in Maps. Not a move I’m a fan of, but I’m assuming Google has been doing this for a decade or 2 at least.
Does that mean I trust Apple? Fuck no. They’re still a for-profit corporation. They still want to make as much profit as possible.
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piyuv@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I don’t think Apple is “premium” since 5-10 years. Google pixel and Samsung galaxy series caught up
EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 3 months ago
Both sides of the duopoly are shit
slaacaa@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Credibly_Human@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Apple has really lost its identity.
Apple Silicon is really all that seperate them.
Pulptastic@midwest.social 3 months ago
Eh. Even mediatek chips are getting to the point where they’re enough. Chip doesn’t really matter anymore.
1985MustangCobra@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
mediatek chips are garbage compared to qualcomm and apple. anytime i had to use a phone with a mediatek chip in it, or a chromebook, it was so bad.
hayvan@feddit.nl 3 months ago
Qualcomm is getting close with Elite series, but Apple still has the lead. Others are pretty behind in performance. Mediatek is fine if your only use case is watching YouTube.
VampirePenguin@lemmy.world 3 months ago
All of these Big Tech companies are slimy fucks actively working to enslave humanity. There are no good guys. I puked in my mouth watching Tim Cook fawn over Trump. None of these people have a shred of decency. Fuck Apple. Fuck Google. Buy a paper map.
MoogleMaestro@lemmy.zip 3 months ago
Better yet, help support open data initiatives like OpenStreetMaps or alternatives. No reason why maps can’t be digital without ads.
Electricd@lemmybefree.net 3 months ago
Tried to, but they block some vpn IPs and ne some mail domains, notably mail aliases
Plus they basically stopped replying to me. Are mail aliases really used as spam? I believe it’s a made up thing
And anyways, when contacting them manually, it should be enough to understand that it’s not automated. It would be so easy to spam register using non flagged IPs and non flagged domains but they’re still rigid about these rules. I hate when services do that.
Sightline@lemmy.world 3 months ago
support open data initiatives like OpenStreetMaps
Yes!, continue supporting OpenStreetMaps so Apple, Mapbox, Microsoft, Uber and Lyft can continue turning your free work into millions of dollars.
1985MustangCobra@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
buy a paper map…no man we went away from that for a reason.
carotte@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 months ago
i just wish OSM was more complete… it’s fine for big cities, but when you live in small rural areas it’s practically useless. my village only has it’s roads mapped, nothing else.
(and yes i know you can edit the map. and that it’s the entire point of OSM. i know that. but it takes a ton of effort, and it’s an ongoing effort because cities change!)
OSM contributors, you are amazing and cherished and your work does not go unappreciated. i just wish there was more of us…
Jason2357@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
I know of a few rural places that have far more information on OSM than Google. Especially if those areas have a lot of hiking trails. Looking at the logs, it’s typically a small handful of people adding things over significant time. It’s worth keeping both on your device, and making edits on occasion. Rural areas change pretty slowly typically.
umbraroze@slrpnk.net 3 months ago
Funny thing, over here, OSM actually got weird rural stuff for a couple of rural towns I visited frequently about a year before Google Maps (and other proprietary services) was usable there. I think it had to do with some open-data drop from the government.
And seeing the services grow side by side also kind of gave away what their priorities were. Google: putting the local businesses and services on the map. OSM: document every single cool and convenient foot and bike trail.
simplejack@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Once you create a monetization team that puts ads in shit, they’re going to want to keep putting more ads in stuff. They’re all judged on how much better they do year over year.
Apple should’ve never created a team that sold ads on their platforms.
theoriginalcows@lemmings.world 3 months ago
Apple should’ve never created a team that sold ads on their platforms.
Why not? If stupid users are willing to accept it, the business is obligated to do it.
It’s the world we’ve built for ourselves.
Passerby6497@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Mmmmm, corpo defense via victim blaming. You love to see it.
Next up, Microsoft is obligated to install 24/7 spyware on all ststems because tech incompetent users don’t know how to use anything else.
melfie@lemy.lol 3 months ago
ABetterTomorrow@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
Is CoMaps the only alternative besides google maps?
jbaber@lemmy.sdf.org 3 months ago
OSMAnd
pika@lemmy.today 3 months ago
Magic Earth
mbirth@lemmy.ml 3 months ago
They’ll probably make “Maps+” soon after.
73QjabParc34Vebq@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 months ago
Only until they rename it the week later: Apple Maps Pro Max 4K (2026 gen 2)
echodot@feddit.uk 3 months ago
That will inconvenience the Apple map user. I’m sure they’re devastated by this news.
BanMe@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Mac user for over 30 years, no problem - they make it easier and easier to say goodbye, which it’s now time for, thanks to Apple adding on to Trump’s mansion with a huge donation after the gold award earlier this year.
Steve Jobs wasn’t sure Tim was right for the creative side of the Mac, but he knew the business side would keep humming. And now here we are, Apple the IBM of 90 years ago, so happy to help out the fascists.
theoriginalcows@lemmings.world 3 months ago
Yep.
We can shit on Jobs all we want, but he had visionary ideals and Timmy is just another business cuck.
No sympathy for modern apple users. They all have more money than sense and deserve to be taken advantage of accordingly.
EncryptKeeper@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Can’t say I’m surprised but it’s such a shame. I’m guessing this ties inter their newly launched timeline feature. Maps was at least up to this point a better alternative to Google Maps.
wowwoweowza@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I’m done.
biofaust@lemmy.world 3 months ago
We need a jingle for Enshittification.
MashedTech@lemmy.world 3 months ago
biofaust@lemmy.world 3 months ago
This is good! They dont deserve it.
Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 3 months ago
Magic Earth has been great to use 🙂
Lanske@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Aye, its a great app!
Mattr@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I don’t use Apple, but honestly Apple is ruining everything, while Organic Maps and others are winning.
buttnugget@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I love Apple Maps. I’ve been using it since it came out and it’s been great. This bums me out.
MehBlah@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Something organic will replace it.
Electricd@lemmybefree.net 3 months ago
Stop dreaming
MehBlah@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Organic maps has already replaced everything else on my mobile devices.
woelkchen@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Something organic will replace it.
Unless there is beef among developers and they fork their own CoMaps with blackjack and hookers
ordnance_qf_17_pounder@reddthat.com 3 months ago
Issues that don’t affect me
chwilson@lemmy.world 3 months ago
thanks for your input
theoriginalcows@lemmings.world 3 months ago
I’m genuinely surprised they don’t put ads on things like hospital bills.
It’s all about maximizing profits off of people’s low standards.
ArchAengelus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 months ago
As long as they are tasteful, that’s fine. Like little Dunkin Donuts indicators or whatever if they’re in the normal driving view and take up a very small amount of visual space, great. Waze has done this for years. No bother, no forced waits, no delays in navigation.
If you put banner, UI-blocking, and/or full-screen ads in my maps app, go fuck yourselves.
J52@lemmy.nz 3 months ago
, just What I needed - another good reason never to touch Apple. (But hey, there’s money to be made - Google advertising revenue 230+billion USD… remind me again of all the good that these companies are doing in the world with their wealth???).
Brkdncr@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Well shit.
FinishingDutch@lemmy.world 3 months ago
There’s people who use that? That’s news to me.
shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 3 months ago
The next headline will read, OpenStreetMaps gains users as Apple adds ads to maps.
jabjoe@feddit.uk 3 months ago
After that, Apple would ban OSM apps from their store.
Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I could totally see this happen.
Not in a direct manner, but something about “OSM not living up to Apple’s high standards of privacy” or similar strategy.
acosmichippo@lemmy.world 3 months ago
why would they do that when Google Maps and Waze are already bigger competitors?
empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 months ago
Be realistic, not many people using apple devices (or any mobile devices tbh) are going to care or be intelligent enough to pull an open source alternative
natecox@programming.dev 3 months ago
Xylight@lemdro.id 3 months ago
won’t care? yeah probably. aren’t intelligent enough? that’s an insane generalization, knowledgeable about technology != smart
JumpyWombat@lemmy.ml 3 months ago
Luci@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
What the heck did I (an iOS user) do to hurt you???
QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I wish it were good enough to be a viable alternative but it really isn’t.
AmbiguousProps@lemmy.today 3 months ago
If it’s missing data (such as locations) that is the issue, then you can update the map yourself and help others migrate at the same time. Every little bit helps, even if you don’t plan on fully moving over. I’ve done over a thousand changes to my local area and it’s actually more accurate than Google Maps in a lot of the commercial areas. You don’t have to do a thousand things though, like I said, every little bit helps.
cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 months ago
i recommend people get streetcomplete too so you can help build out osm! :)