Apple Patent Applications Reveal Maps Transit Directions
Apple has been steadily improving its Maps app with each new version of iOS, but the software still can't help you catch the next train home from work. That could change soon, as two newly published Apple patent applications hint at a future version of Maps that can provide accurate mass-transit directions.
Both published today (Dec. 4), the two applications are titled "User Interface Tools for Commute Assistant" and "Location-Based Features for Commute Assistant." The former's mock images give a glimpse of how Maps could help you plan your commute; an initial "Routes" screen displays a list of train lines, and tapping one of those lines will display a list of stops and estimated arrival times.
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The included pictures suggest that you'll be able to save specific routes to your phone, and, as any New York City commuter will appreciate, get alerts when a transit line is experiencing delays.
The latter patent application contains much of the same language, but describes how Apple's future "commute application" would be able to find nearby transit lines based on your current location or a location specified on a map. Both patents cite buses, shuttles, trains, metros and subways (and, more strangely, helicopters and boats) as some of the major forms of mass transit that you'll be able to look up in a future app.
Considering some of Apple's recent acquisitions, it wouldn't be a surprise to see transit directions become fully integrated with Maps. Last year, the Cupertino company scooped up Embark and HopStop, two apps that provide public-transportation routes for a growing number of cities.
The current version of Maps will point you towards those aforementioned apps (and a few others) if you need train directions, but having that type of functionality built-in will go a long way towards catching up with Google's far more popular Google Maps.
Mike Andronico is an Associate Editor at Tom's Guide. Follow Mike @MikeAndronico. Follow us @TomsGuide, on Facebook and on Google+.
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