New Google Maps Looks A Lot Like Apple Maps

Unofficial Google blog Google Operating System published photos of the rumored Google Maps redesign on Tuesday. And the tech world couldn't help but instantly notice that the new look was strikingly familiar.

Apple Maps anyone?

As The Atlantic points out, the bigger, bolder names and labels, as well as the white streets and cleaner look give the new Google Maps a very Apple Maps look. They weren't the only ones to note the resemblance. 9to5 Google's Mark Gurman called it
"Apple Maps with good data!"

The problem, of course, with Apple's map app when it launched in 2012 wasn't its looks, however. The issue was: the maps didn't always provide accurate information. And isn't that all we want from our maps?

Let's hope Google hasn't sacrificed beauty for smarts.

It isn't just the look of Google Maps that is rumored to change, Google Operating System also says that "one of the new features lets you restrict local search results to places recommended by top reviews or your Google+ circles." This is lines up directly with Google's recent push to integrate Google+ into every facet of users' Internet lives.

If the change is actually happening, we should know by next week, when Google is having its annual I/O conference in San Francisco.

Here's more reaction to the new look: