Macotakara reports that Apple has quietly rolled out major improvements for the Maps app for Japanese users.

This comes as a surprise as we were expecting the improvements to be rolled as part of iOS 6.1.3.

Apple is yet to release iOS 6.1.3 update. It has only seeded one beta version, iOS 6.1.3 beta 2 to developers of its iOS Developer Program so far.

Here’s the list of improvements rolled out for the Maps app for Japanese users:

  • Improved pronunciation of roads during turn-by-turn navigation
  • Optimized directions to more strongly prefer highways over narrower roads
  • Now indicates upcoming toll roads during turn-by-turn navigation
  • Added labels for junctions, interchanges, on-ramps, off-ramps, and intersections
  • Added indicators for transit station buildings, subway lines, and traffic lights
  • Updated freeway color to green
  • Updated icons for some location categories including fire stations, hospitals, and post offices
  • Added 3D buildings including Tokyo Station, Japan Imperial Palace, and Tokyo Tower

japan-maps-ios

It looks like the improvements were included in iOS 6.1.2 update, which was released on February 19th and Apple has just enabled it today.

Evad3rs dev team has confirmed that evasi0n won’t work with iOS 6.1.3 as Apple has fixed two vulnerabilities used by the jailbreak. So it looks like Apple is planning to release the iOS 6.1.3 software update just to patch the vulnerabilities.

Macotakara via 9to5Mac