Google Maps (application) facts for kids
| Original author(s) | |
|---|---|
| Initial release | December 13, 2012 |
| Stable release |
2.0 / July 16, 2013
|
| Operating system | iOS 6.0 and later |
| Size | 11.6 MB |
| Available in | English, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese |
Google Maps is a very popular mobile app that helps you find places and get directions. It was first created by Google for Android phones in 2008. Later, on December 13, 2012, a version for iOS (Apple's iPhones and iPads) was also released. This new app gave people an alternative to the map application that Apple had built into its iOS 6 system.
Contents
Why Google Maps for iOS Was Made
Before iOS 6, Apple's iPhones used Google Maps as their main map app. But in June 2012, Apple announced they were making their own map service. When iOS 6 came out on September 19, 2012, it had Apple's new map app. Many people found problems with Apple's new maps. Because of these issues, Google decided to create its own Google Maps app for iPhones and iPads.
When the App Was Released
Google Maps became available on the iOS App Store on December 13, 2012. It was a huge hit! In just two days, the app was downloaded more than 10 million times. At first, some thought this app made many people update their iPhones to iOS 6. However, later reports suggested that the increase in updates was actually because the iPhone 5 had just been released in China.
Cool Things Google Maps Can Do
The Google Maps app for iOS has many of the same great features as the Android version.
- Turn-by-turn navigation: This helps you get directions step-by-step, telling you exactly where to turn.
- Street View: You can see actual pictures of streets and places, almost like you're walking there.
- Public transit information: It tells you how to get around using buses, trains, and subways.
The app's look and feel, called its user interface, was completely redesigned for iOS. When it first came out, it didn't work on the iPad. But Google quickly added iPad support with version 2.0, making it even more useful for everyone.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A screenshot of Google Maps running on an iPhone with iOS 7.
