Good News for Users Tired of Google Maps: This Alternative App Gets Weather Features

Google Maps is typically one of the first choices for navigation apps that are supposed to get you from where you are to where you want to go, but it’s not a secret that Google’s software isn’t everybody’s cup of tea.

Fortunately, finding a worthy alternative in the navigation space is not as difficult as it sounds, especially because other big names have joined the battle, including tech giant Apple and navigation specialists like TomTom and HERE.

Magic Earth is one of the underdogs whose popularity keeps increasing, particularly thanks to a privacy-oriented approach. The app says it won’t track and profile you, so it doesn’t collect any data about the user.

The latest Magic Earth updates made the app more intriguing for users in the market for a Google Maps alternative. The newest version, now available on the App Store, is 8.0.9, and it includes two important weather features.

First, the application now displays the weather temperature and the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the top-right corner when exploring a location. Google Maps, Apple Maps, and other similar apps also display the current temperature and the AQI score for a loaded location, so Magic Earth is now aligning with its main rivals.

The same update also includes a second feature that allows the app to show the weather at the destination. You can see details in the navigation info bar, and users can enable the feature from the navigation settings menu.

This isn’t the first big update received by Magic Earth lately. The previous update re-enabled the app on the Apple Watch, allowing users to get navigation instructions without unlocking the mobile phone.

Meanwhile, the battle in the navigation space keeps getting more interesting. Apple has become more committed to improving Apple Maps – mainly after the demise of the Apple Car, which gives the company no option but to focus on software – and alternatives like Magic Earth keep evolving. Google is also committed to improving Google Maps in the long term, and the navigation app is getting more features in the car, including on Android Automotive.

Earlier this year, Google announced new Google Maps features for cars with Google built-in. The application can monitor the battery level and automatically suggest nearby charging stations based on the vehicle profile. Google Maps already offers advanced functionality on Android Automotive, including custom routes with suggested charging stops when the battery level doesn’t allow a driver to arrive at a defined destination.

The new Magic Earth update is now available on the App Store, and if you run the app on CarPlay, you only need to install the new version on your iPhone. Magic Earth also supports the Dashboard view, running side-by-side with other apps on CarPlay.