Episode 488
Phone maps broken? I break out a Rand McNally atlas
Apple Maps now shows Lake Ontario as "Lake America" for U.S. users, and yeah, I’m still giggling about it. I’m trying to be a mature adult, but renaming a shared Great Lake feels like some divorced dad slapping a Sharpie label on leftovers. Google already did this for U.S. users, Canadians still see Lake Ontario, and folks elsewhere might even get both names — so basically our maps are now a joint custody agreement. I mean, we gave you hockey and maple syrup and Ryan Reynolds, and this is how you repay us? If you’re tired of the chaos, I joked about busting out a Rand McNally vintage atlas and time-traveling back to simpler map drama.
Takeaways:
- I laughed when Apple Maps renamed Lake Ontario "Lake America" for US users — feels like phone petty vandalism.
- I point out Lake Ontario is a Great Lake bordering New York and Canada, with more than half of it on Canada’s side.
- We note Google Maps already made the US label change earlier, while Canadians will still see the lake called Ontario.
- I joke it’s less a map update and more a joint-custody agreement for geography — like who gets the water now?
- I pitch vintage Rand McNally atlases as my hilarious side hustle — trusty paper maps that won’t rename your road trip.
Transcript
Good morning.
Speaker A:Haystack with you.
Speaker A:Apple Maps has now changed Lake Ontario to Lake America for users inside the United States.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:And look, I'm.
Speaker A:I'm trying to be a mature adult about this, but this is pretty funny.
Speaker A:I mean, to be fair, nothing says world power like opening your phone and renaming a shared lake like some divorced dad labeling leftovers in the fridge.
Speaker A:Yeah, this is going to be like America.
Speaker A:Now, Lake Ontario is one of the Great Lakes.
Speaker A:It borders New York and Canada, and more than half of it is on the Canadian side.
Speaker A:So calling it Lake America feels less like geography and more like someone getting mad during a trade meeting and grabbing a Sharpie and just scribbling.
Speaker A:Now, Google Maps has already made the change for users in the US Apple has now followed.
Speaker A:Canadians will still see it labeled as Lake Ontario.
Speaker A:People outside of Canada and the U.S. may actually see both names, which means the lake now has different branding depending on where your phone thinks you are.
Speaker A:It's no longer a map.
Speaker A:It's a joint custody agreement.
Speaker A:And poor Canada is just sitting here going, we.
Speaker A:We're mostly polite.
Speaker A:We.
Speaker A:We gave you hockey and maple syrup and Ryan Reynolds.
Speaker A:And why are you changing the name of our water?
Speaker A:This is where politics gets so silly.
Speaker A:It ends up being so very comical.
Speaker A:I mean, we have real problems.
Speaker A:But sure, let's start a fight with Canada over a lake that's had the same name for longer than Apple has had.
Speaker A:Chargers that don't match.
Speaker A:Although, as always, I think I have found a way to profit off of this stuff.
Speaker A:Tired of the confusing name changes on your map apps?
Speaker A:Then use vintage atlases from Rand McNally.
Speaker B:Oh, my God, that thing's huge.
Speaker A:Actually, it fits conveniently sticking out of the passenger side seat pocket or rolled up under your seat.
Speaker B:Sweet.
Speaker B:I can drive from Lake Ontario to the Gulf of Mexico again and visit.
Speaker A:Wherever the Chicago White Sox play.
Speaker A:Now on the way, Comiskey Park.
Speaker A: If you're using a map between: Speaker A:Yeah, plus you'll save gas visiting three different mountains on one trip.
Speaker B: I used my: Speaker A:See McKinley again and plan your trip to our nation's capital.
Speaker B:I can see the Department of Defense on my way to the Kennedy Center.
Speaker A:Rand McNally Vintage atlases where travelers travel back in time.
