Apple today announced that ads are officially coming to Apple Maps later this summer. In addition to that, however, the company also teased a new feature that Apple Maps should’ve added years ago: Suggested Places.

In its press release announcing its new Apple Business platform and ads in Apple Maps, here’s what Apple said:

Beginning this summer in the U.S. and Canada, businesses will have a new way to be discovered by using Apple Business to create ads on Maps.

Ads on Maps will appear when users search in Maps, and can appear at the top of a user’s search results based on relevance, as well as at the top of a new Suggested Places experience in Maps, which will display recommendations based on what’s trending nearby, the user’s recent searches, and more. Ads will be clearly marked to ensure transparency for Maps users.

Putting aside the ads part of the news, Suggested Places sounds like a feature that will make it easier to find new places in Apple Maps. Apple, however, hasn’t shared any additional information on the methodology behind the feature.

9to5Mac’s Take

Suggested Places is clearly a feature that was added purely because it gives Apple an additional spot in which it can sell advertising. Still, if the underlying suggestions are helpful (once you scroll past the top ad), this is a feature that I think many will find useful, especially in new cities.

Google Maps, for example, has had similar features for years. It’s a good way to bring an element of real-time popularity to Apple Maps browsing.

Broadly speaking, though, I’m disappointed but not surprised that Apple has decided to ad advertising to Apple Maps. One of the reasons I use Apple Maps over Google Maps is because it’s a more premium, less cluttered experience. While Apple appears to have implemented its ads relatively tastefully, it’s undoubtedly going to make Apple Maps a less enjoyable platform.

Source: 9to5mac