iPhone 2.2 software to add walking/transit directions

Apple is testing new iPhone software features that bring Street Views, public transit options, and location sharing features, according to a new report on a beta version of the software. According to iPhoneYap, a site dedicated to the iPhone, a beta of the next iPhone Software was released to developers on Friday. Screenshots of the release, version 2.2 beta 2, show that the Maps application now offers an additional feature: public transit directions. According to the screenshots and report, users can choose from one of three icons while in directions mode: car, public transit, and walking (from right to left) -- all of which are centered at the top of screen.

The transit icon offers users a choice of transit options, including subways, buses, or both. Users also have options to choose the departure time and a custom schedule from a list of the related departure and arrival times (as well as total travel time for each option).

Using the transit option, the software guides the user to the nearest bus or subway stop via walking directions, then provides information on the bus/subway route (including route number) along with the scheduled departure & arrival time and information about the final stop and displays projected arrival time. Finally, it also provides walking directions from the final stop to the destination.

The new street views feature allows users to to view Google's street-level photographs -- much the same as those shown on Google Map's web service. The report notes that once street view is clicked on a pin, the screen "animates sideways & transforms into Street View of that location where the pin was dropped," and displays handy map reference inside a navigation circle in the lower right corner.

Users can activate the street-lvel feature by dropping a pin or clicking a searched location to get the tooltip to popup from the pin, the report claims. The beta software also displays an orange face-like button next to a dropped pin when Street-level views are available. Users can "Report" an issue or click done with each street-level view.


iPhoneYap also reports that the beta software build, distributed to a limited number of developers, offers a new look for Entries / Lookups / Locations. The updated software now allows users to Share Location with others: when clicking "Share Location," users can send an email with a specific link to that exact location. On an iPhone, the link will launch the Maps application and display the specific location, the report claims.



Screen caps credit to iPhoneYap.com

Filed under: iPhone
Other story tags: Google Maps, iPhone 2.2, Street View