Apple Follows Google in Renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America
Apple Follows Google in Renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America
Key Highlights
- Apple Maps users in the US will begin seeing Lake America instead of Lake Ontario
- MapQuest refused to change its name for Lake Ontario, sparking a debate over Canadian identity
- The move comes after US President Donald Trump ordered the change
Apple has taken a cue from Google's recent name change, officially rebranding Lake Ontario as "Lake America" on its Apple Maps service in the United States, just days after President Trump signed an executive order to make the alteration.
The move is part of a broader effort to align with federal databases and geographic naming services, such as the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). However, not all map services have followed suit. MapQuest has chosen to stick with the traditional name, citing user familiarity as a key factor in its decision.
Despite this, apple's change appears
Despite this, Apple's change appears to have had an impact on the company's app downloads. According to recent data, MapQuest has seen a significant surge in users since refusing to alter the lake's name. The iOS app has shot up to the No.
1 position in the US App Store's Top charts, even surpassing perennial chart-topper ChatGPT.
MapQuest's success can be attributed to its commitment to using familiar names on its maps. The company recently posted a GIF of an apple with the line "Them Too," implying that it is standing Another post showed a screenshot of MapQuest as the No. 1 downloaded app, with the caption "The people have spoken.
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We are working."
This move has also sparked controversy between Apple and Google on one hand, and Canada on the other. Trade talks between the two countries broke down after Trump's directive, which has led to a strained relationship.
However, it's worth noting that this is not the first time Apple and Google have complied with a presidential order. Last year, both companies changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America in response to a similar executive order.
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Lake Ontario
Lake America
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Tech journalist and AI enthusiast who enjoys keeping up with the latest in hardware, processors, emerging AI tools, and software. I like digging into new technology, understanding how things actually work, and following the developments that could shape the way we use technology in the future.
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