Apple has adopted Google’s lead and formally modified the title of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” on its Apple Maps service lower than every week after President Trump ordered the change.
Apple Maps customers in the US will start to see Lake America, not Lake Ontario — one of many 5 Nice Lakes in North America — when utilizing the web site or cellular app. The change will solely be proven to customers in the US. Apple Maps customers in Canada will proceed to see Lake Ontario, whereas these outdoors the 2 nations will see each names.
The change is in response to an executive order signed by Trump on August 27 that gave the Inside Division 30 days to replace the lake’s title within the U.S. geographic naming service and different federal databases.
“In recognition of this flourishing financial useful resource and its crucial significance to our Nation’s financial system and its folks, I’m directing that the Lake formally be renamed as Lake America,” the order reads.
Trump’s directive — and Apple’s and Google’s compliance — has escalated an already strained relationship with Canada after commerce talks between the 2 nations broke down.
Apple didn’t reply to a request for remark. Google Maps defined its reasoning for the change, noting in its announcement final week that it updates names to replicate adjustments in official authorities sources such because the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
Nevertheless, not each map service has adopted that very same coverage. MapQuest stated that it might not change the title of Lake Ontario on its maps, selecting to proceed utilizing the title that persons are acquainted with. (It additionally didn’t change the title of Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America final yr.)
Apple’s and Google’s actions over the title of this lake have pushed a big enhance in customers to MapQuest. Downloads of the so-called OG of mapping companies have skyrocketed, pushing the iOS app to the No. 1 place within the U.S. App Store’s Top charts. That even put MapQuest forward of perennial chart-topper ChatGPT as of September 1.
MapQuest additionally reached the No. 6 place general in Google’s Play Retailer throughout each apps and video games. And the corporate doesn’t seem like budging. It posted on X a GIF of an apple, with the road “Them Too.” In one other put up exhibiting a screenshot of MapQuest because the No. 1 downloaded app, the corporate wrote. “The folks have spoken. We’re working.”
There’s precedent to Apple’s and Google’s deference to Trump. Final yr, each of those tech corporations modified the title of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America after that name-changing order by Trump.
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