On my 24" M1 iMac, Apple Maps, roads, streets etc. are displayed in the same colour as the background, or with very faint outlines. This makes them functionally useless! I have been unable to find any useful information on correcting the situation. The situation is made all the worse since Google Maps is not compatible with this iMac. Can anyone suggest a usable map app for my barely 4 years old machine?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iMac 24″, macOS 15.3
You can always use Google Maps online.
Dialabrain. I just tried Google Maps on my iMac and really, it's only marginally better than Apple Maps. Streets, roads, etc. are very lightly lined-in … not much good for making a copy (e.g. with Screenshot app), printing, then marking a route by hand, as I had intended to do. It's ok, because the maps were much clearer on my iPad. But I was disappointed to find that such a late model machine running the latest software does such a poor job. In the end I got out my 'hard-copy' street map book and will use that … just that it's somewhat 'clunkier' than a single sheet of paper. Thanks once again.
It's done on purpose by all the map apps. Google Maps doesn't show street names unless you are zoomed in to the max for the same reason. None of the map makers want you printing maps or browsing them like you do conventional maps. They want you to use the map features they get paid advertising for. If you just browse a map for, say, pubs then the map maker gets nothing compared to the ad revenue they can make when you search and see the venues that have paid more to appear at the top and they can also aggregate your data to sell to advertisers. Similarly, they don't want you navigating from the station to the pub using a paper map, they want you to use the app on a device so they can collect your data and show you advertising. It's how they make money. I still print maps - using screen capture to get round the limitations the apps put on printing - then write in the detail that's missing.
FWIW, it has nothing to do with a "late model machine running the latest software". It does have something to do with Apple and Google's design esthetics. I don't have a problem with either. You could take the images into Preview and adjust them more to your liking. Or use your street map book.
dialabrain wrote:
Zurarczurx wrote:
Google Maps doesn't show street names unless you are zoomed in to the max for the same reason.
I have no idea what you are talking about?
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/a430c1ab-59b6-43da-b938-1910875e6843
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/c37b9be5-f253-4af2-a879-4fbc5f2c9a6a
The only way to find out what the B119, A1209 and A107 are called is to zoom in to just about max level. I just picked a random spot in central London, but it's like that all over the place in the UK.
I have Apple maps installed on my 2013 iMac (27")
and there are 3 choices you can make, Map, Public Transport or Satellite.
Here's a screenshot of part of my home city of Nottingham UK.
I'm wondering what system you use to take a screenshot. The method I use to take a selective shot is cmd, upper case upward pointing arrow then 4. If I type in a 3, it takes a full screenshot, but a 5 shows a camera icon which you position using a mouse or trackpad. The method I used above was the one then number 4, but to use that one, you have to drag the cursor from top left corner to bottom right corner. I don't have a screenshot app in my list, but my iMac is a bit 'old school'.
The lettering is quite readable as are the various symbols. Hope you find that usable
Zurarczurx wrote:
The only way to find out what the B119, A1209 and A107 are called is to zoom in to just about max level. I just picked a random spot in central London, but it's like that all over the place in the UK.
That may be but it's certainly not true in the U.S., as shown.
A1209 isn't a street name, it's a street number. On the ground the street name, as written on street signs, is "Bethnal Green Road" Google doesn't show this street name unless you zoom in to the max. Ditto B119, A107, B120. I'm sorry you don't understand this, but I don't know how to explain it much more clearly.
Zurarczurx wrote:
A1209 isn't a street name, it's a street number. On the ground the street name, as written on street signs, is "Bethnal Green Road" Google doesn't show this street name unless you zoom in to the max. Ditto B119, A107, B120. I'm sorry you don't understand this, but I don't know how to explain it much more clearly.
You seem to have changed horses in mid-stream. You first said, "you can't see street names." When it was demonstrated that yes, you could, you switched to, "you can't see street numbers" (what I think we would call route numbers in the U.S.).
Of course, the OP didn't ask about either.
No - I said you couldn't see street names unless you zoomed in. Then I showed a map that had street numbers, not names to demonstrate this - you can't see the street names of those numbered roads and I've seen no demonstration that Google shows the street names of those numbered roads without being zoomed in.
I've never said that "you can't see street numbers".
I've never said "you can't see any street names", but, of course, you both know that.
Zurarczurx wrote:
I've seen no demonstration that Google shows the street names of those numbered roads without being zoomed in.
Screenshots were posted. But then, we all know that.
And again, the OP never asked about street names or street numbers.
Darn! I do have a tendency to miss the obvious. Thank you.
You're welcome. Me too some times. 😎
Zurarczurx wrote:
Google Maps doesn't show street names unless you are zoomed in to the max for the same reason.
I have no idea what you are talking about?
Just to add, you said "Google Maps doesn't show street names unless you are zoomed in to the max for the same reason". I see plenty of street names…
Unable to view streets in Apple Maps on iMac
