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Ads have landed in Apple Maps, and they are as bad as expected
Apple has begun inserting ads into its Maps app for US and Canadian users, reigniting debates over the erosion of its premium, ad-free brand identity.
What: The rollout places sponsored location results in Apple Maps search results, despite Apple's past insistence that its ecosystem remains focused on privacy over ad revenue.
Why it matters: Apple is likely seeking new high-margin revenue streams to offset slowing hardware growth, testing the limits of user tolerance for ads in core system apps.
Original article
Apple has begun rolling out ads in Apple Maps across the US and Canada, showing sponsored locations before and after searches. While Apple says the ads are privacy-focused and don't use personal tracking, critics argue they still risk undermining Apple's privacy reputation and make its premium products feel less premium by introducing advertising into built-in apps.
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