Apple Maps web beta doesn't support FireFox but you can still use it

It's been a long time in the making, but Apple Maps finally has a web version. This is significant as Apple, for years, has allowed iOS app devs to use MapKit for free. For those unaware, Google charges for its Google Maps API, meaning for larger web apps or more complex ones, developers are on the hook for footing the bill for maps behaviors, generally to the tune of $5 per 1000 requests. However, depending on the interactions this can be more.

I don't think I need to explain why this is a big deal. The downside has always been that there isn't a web analog for Apple Maps, meaning apps that extend to web versions would require entirely different ecosystems. Apple hasn't said if or when it'll offer web integrations or at what price point, but any competition is healthy.... except when it doesn't support the open web.

Perhaps this will change but according to Apple, the only supported browsers are Chromium or Webkit. If you visit it, you'll see the above message. The bigger irony is that Apple Maps works in Firefox. Simply faking the User-Agent to Safari and Firefox can access Apple Maps.

I'm guessing this will certainly change in the future, but it's still strange to see Firefox blacklisted. The irony is that because of the release channels for FireFox and Chrome not being tied to the operating system updates, generally they remain more up-to-date than Safari.