After being a believer in Google Maps, I’m now an Apple Maps convert. All this thanks to a feature that has been of great help to me whether I am traveling longer distances or simply going to the grocery store.
The feature in question is the ability to quickly and easily share my current ETA with other people. It’s a feature that many people aren’t aware of, but I think it’s essential.
In short, the “Share ETA” feature allows me to keep other people informed of when I will arrive at my destination. They will also receive a Maps notification allowing them to track my progress as I drive.
The ability to share an ETA with someone is also not specific to Apple Maps. It’s been available to Google Maps users for a while now, but with friends and family all using iPhones, Apple’s solution is best for me.
It also helps that Apple Maps has made great strides in recent years. This comes after a disastrous 2012 launch that saw the ouster of an Apple executive and years of recovery by the company.
With improvements made in recent years, Apple’s solution is just as good as Google’s, or Waze, for that matter. At least in the parts of the UK where I drive, the maps are detailed and the directions precise.
But it’s the ETA feature that I couldn’t do without. Let me explain how I use it.
I keep my wife informed
As someone who works from home, I don’t need to drive that often. And when I do, it’s usually not for particularly long distances.
However, when I travel, it’s usually to take one of my kids somewhere. Whether it’s the oldest’s weekly guitar lesson or the youngest’s visit to the trampoline park, we drive to get there.
Like all families, we tend to worry about things, no matter how unlikely they may be. Being involved in a car accident is one of those things and my wife likes to know when we have arrived safely at our destination. Unfortunately, my memory doesn’t always keep up with the times.
To avoid forgetting to send a message and worrying my wife, I started letting Apple Maps take the load. Now my wife knows when we should arrive at our destination and can see where we are on the map if the trip takes longer than expected.
It’s a small thing, but it’s something that happens multiple times every week. And Apple Maps has my back.
Pick up friends along the way
The same feature is a huge plus when I’m going somewhere but need to pick up someone along the way. It is especially useful when someone seems to be particularly incapable of preparing on time.
By sharing my estimated arrival time and location, that person knows exactly how much time they will have to prepare and exactly when I will be waiting outside. It takes the guesswork out of the whole thing.
Now I leave from home and set their house as the destination, sharing my ETA and location as I pull out of the driveway. I don’t even have to take my hands off the wheel, thanks to Siri.
A small feature with a big impact
The option to share an ETA with someone isn’t going to win you any innovation awards. Nor will it find its way into the most important features of any new iOS software update.
It’s an easy feature to overlook. But it’s also a tool that can make a huge difference in specific situations.
These smaller features are the ones that can often be overlooked. But they’re also the ones that, overall, can make the biggest difference to our enjoyment of using the iPhone and the apps that run on it.
Try sharing your ETA. You might be surprised at how useful it can be.
