Report: iOS 8 to include improvements to Apple Maps, public transit directions service

Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) annual Worldwide Developers Conference is still around three months away, but already rumors are leaking out about what the next version of iOS will include. According to a report from 9to5Mac, the new software version will include an array of enhancements and improvements to Apple Maps, the company's native mapping service.

The report, citing unnamed sources, said Apple's database for iOS Maps will be upgraded with enhanced data so it is more reliable. In addition to making it easier to find locations such as airports, parks, train stations and highways, the new mapping software will also reportedly deeply integrate transit directions to bring it up to par with other mapping services like Google Maps and Nokia's (NYSE:NOK) HERE platform.

Apple Maps infamously got off to a very rocky start when it launched in 2012 as the replacement for the previous default iOS mapping service, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Maps. The software was filled with bugs and unreliable data, and Apple CEO Tim Cook was forced to apologize for the poor user experience. Since then, Apple has been steadily improving Maps. Article