So....shall we talk Maps? [Archive]

LastLine

Jun 11, 2012, 04:33 PM

I'm intrigued how everyone else is finding Maps on the new iOS.

I've got it on my 4S and find the satellite image quality shockingly bad, this isn't a slow connection, a funny zoom - this is what it can do for me right now. I hope it gets better :)

I've also tried using Siri to navigate here to a known good address (one that if I tap on the address, shows up spot on in Maps) and it often complains that it can't find the address - now I'm in the UK so this feature is still new to me, but is this normal?

Nevzorus

Jun 11, 2012, 04:46 PM

You know, this is the FIRST beta. You are the one who are supposed to find new bugs and bad things and help them make it better.

nfl46

Jun 11, 2012, 04:47 PM

Its Beta 1.

Everyone is not going to work properly.

Report it to Apple, so they can fix it.

WordMasterRice

Jun 11, 2012, 04:53 PM

basesloaded190

Jun 11, 2012, 04:54 PM

chrf097

Jun 11, 2012, 04:55 PM

This isn't a bug, this is the problem when you go to your own mapping solution. Google has decades of satellite maps, not something Apple is fortunate to have.

It will be years for the Maps data to get up to par with what we use to have with Google.

They're using C3 Technologies's Maps, which has A LOT of mapping data. About as much as Google. (Google does not havr a decade of mapping data).

This is an issue with the beta.

Jordan921

Jun 11, 2012, 04:58 PM

LastLine

Jun 11, 2012, 04:59 PM

They're using C3 Technologies's Maps, which has A LOT of mapping data. About as much as Google. (Google does not havr a decade of mapping data).

This is an issue with the beta.

Actually, really not trying to troll, and apologise if that's how it comes out, I'm planning to report it to Apple but wasn't sure if this was a bug affecting just me (I updated software rather than restoring) or if it was more general.

Simply trying to see if others are having similar experiences.

steveza

Jun 11, 2012, 05:00 PM

If you click "other" in the map app to get all of the copyright holders, the list runs for a few pages. This appears to be an amalgamation of multiple sources of data so there will be a few bugs until those bits are ironed out.

LastLine

Jun 11, 2012, 05:01 PM

basesloaded190

Jun 11, 2012, 05:01 PM

While we are talking maps, can you please see if you need to have a cell connection to use turn-by-turn or is there an option to pre-download maps?

chrf097

Jun 11, 2012, 05:01 PM

Actually, really not trying to troll, and apologise if that's how it comes out, I'm planning to report it to Apple but wasn't sure if this was a bug affecting just me (I updated software rather than restoring) or if it was more general.

Simply trying to see if others are having similar experiences.

I wasn't calling you a troll, I was calling the person I quoted a troll. You're fine. :)

vertigo235

Jun 11, 2012, 05:02 PM

The satellite data isn't owned by google, they purchase and license it from other companies.

Apple can do the same...

WordMasterRice

Jun 11, 2012, 05:02 PM

They're using C3 Technologies's Maps, which has A LOT of mapping data. About as much as Google. (Google does not havr a decade of mapping data).

This is an issue with the beta.

And they have high res satellite images? The routing is correct, but the sat images aren't.

It says right in the release notes that they have an extremely limited supply of high quality satellite images. That is from the mouth of Apple themselves.

steveza

Jun 11, 2012, 05:02 PM

But yours appears similar?Yes, all kinds of craziness. I would say its barely functional in the current state - I'm sure many updates will follow.

GingerPrince

Jun 11, 2012, 05:03 PM

chrono1081

Jun 11, 2012, 05:04 PM

This isn't a bug, this is the problem when you go to your own mapping solution. Google has decades of satellite maps, not something Apple is fortunate to have.

It will be years for the Maps data to get up to par with what we use to have with Google.

Yes it is a bug. Its right there in the developer documentation, specifically this part:

"Map data will continue to evolve—only a limited amount of high resolution satellite imagery is currently available."

Not to mention iOS 6 was not released. This is the first beta, meaning 99% of the people on the forum shouldn't be downloading it as its for developers only. There is plenty of documentation covering known bugs and if anyone finds bugs not listed they should report them to Apple.

LastLine

Jun 11, 2012, 05:04 PM

And they have high res satellite images? The routing is correct, but the sat images aren't.

It says right in the release notes that they have an extremely limited supply of high quality satellite images. That is from the mouth of Apple themselves.

Ohh I must have missed the release notes :rolleyes::o

Thank you to the people who aren't ripping me apart, I missed that - was a genuine question :)

leadfeather89

Jun 11, 2012, 05:05 PM

It'll get better.

chrf097

Jun 11, 2012, 05:05 PM

it says in the release notes that only a limited amount of high resolution satellite imagery is currently available

I'm in the UK too and I've held off installing ios6 for this exact reason - you can bet your ass apple don't give a **** about getting anyones maps working apart from those in the US. we've still not got a working Siri almost a year after it launched!

Woah dude, calm down. This is a BETA. Not the final version. Obviously when the final version comes along, Apple will have gotten much more Hi Res imagery. Remember, THIS IS A BETA, not the FINAL.

leadfeather89

Jun 11, 2012, 05:05 PM

The satellite data isn't owned by google, they purchase and license it from other companies.

Apple can do the same...

Ohhhh.

haekki

Jun 11, 2012, 05:06 PM

Can you enter a search? for me its crashing all time and btw no satelite pics in Germany

steveza

Jun 11, 2012, 05:09 PM

Can you enter a search? for me its crashing all time and btw no satelite pics in GermanySearch works for me and I've just checked Berlin and there are satellite images. Perhaps they haven't covered everywhere just yet.

LastLine

Jun 11, 2012, 05:10 PM

LastLine

Jun 11, 2012, 05:55 PM

I wasn't calling you a troll, I was calling the person I quoted a troll. You're fine. :)

Haha I wasn't sure :-)

mavis

Jun 11, 2012, 06:08 PM

Search works for me and I've just checked Berlin and there are satellite images. Perhaps they haven't covered everywhere just yet.

Would you mind checking something for me, too? :)

I live in Tokyo, and really like that Google Maps offer transliteration when the iPhone is set to English. If you zoom in on Tokyo, do you see kanji in addition to English names for places like train stations, etc? Or is it all English (or all Japanese)?

If you could check that out, I'd really appreciate it. It's the one thing I'm worried about with the new map app ... :(

shandyman

Jun 11, 2012, 06:21 PM

The satellite images for where i am are within the last 6 months, google maps is about 6 years old, as it only shows a quarter of my estate built. i can tell apple's is within 6 months as we had our roundabouts painted red within the last 6 months (5 months is my best guess actually). so woot! :)

guessing 3D will take its time, like street view did back in the day. i remember everyone bitching about streetview not being great as it doesn't cover everything, yada yada yada, this is no different.

WeegieMac

Jun 11, 2012, 06:26 PM

So Apple has partnered with TomTom for their turn by turn navigation?

Just as well I own the TomTom app then, which works perfectly on my iPhone 4 yet Apples own turn by turn, aided by TomTom, doesn't ...

MassiveAttack

Jun 11, 2012, 06:36 PM

The new iOS maps is the poor mans Google Maps, better luck next time Apple.

OzyOly

Jun 11, 2012, 06:36 PM

I tried the turn by turn directions and it gave me distances in yards. I could ave cried. :(

(UK user)

DopeyFish

Jun 11, 2012, 06:58 PM

I think what a lot of people will run into problems with is transit directions and times

RocksterX

Jun 11, 2012, 08:21 PM

The new iOS maps is the poor mans Google Maps, better luck next time Apple.

What really bothers me, is that it is so obvious that Apple is doing it not as a customer advocate. There is significant functional loss.

Ayemerica

Jun 11, 2012, 08:31 PM

As others have said if you expect beta one to be as good as Final Release. Don't.

vistadude

Jun 12, 2012, 01:04 AM

I really won't want to give up transit times and go through a different app for each city. I'll stick with google maps and dare I say BING maps.

GingerPrince

Jun 12, 2012, 05:15 AM

Woah dude, calm down. This is a BETA. Not the final version. Obviously when the final version comes along, Apple will have gotten much more Hi Res imagery. Remember, THIS IS A BETA, not the FINAL.

I'm fully aware of what BETA means. I'm also aware that I upgraded my 4 to a 4s largely to take advantage of Siri and here I am almost a year later waiting for 50% of the functionality advertised.

Siri is still officially in beta - will maps be for the rest of the world in a years time? I wouldn't be surprised.

steveza

Jun 12, 2012, 05:20 AM

Would you mind checking something for me, too? :)

I live in Tokyo, and really like that Google Maps offer transliteration when the iPhone is set to English. If you zoom in on Tokyo, do you see kanji in addition to English names for places like train stations, etc? Or is it all English (or all Japanese)?

If you could check that out, I'd really appreciate it. It's the one thing I'm worried about with the new map app ... :(As far as I can see the place (like train stations) names are in Japanese only - the area and town names are in English only.

amorya

Jun 12, 2012, 05:27 AM

I tried the turn by turn directions and it gave me distances in yards. I could ave cried. :(

(UK user)

We do officially use yards and miles for distance on the roads here though. If Apple made it give distances in kilometres or speed in kph in the UK there'd be outcry. And it doesn't make sense to have metres for short distances and miles for long…

bugout

Jun 12, 2012, 05:56 AM

There are no street level maps in Brazil.. This is an epic fail.. (yes I know it's a beta...)

Cod3rror

Jun 12, 2012, 06:08 AM

What really bothers me, is that it is so obvious that Apple is doing it not as a customer advocate. There is significant functional loss.

That's very true, in fact the whole update has a "for corporations" feel to it, it's like a platform to sell you things, instead of a user oriented OS.

Also, while this is beta and all, the problem is that things like Streetview, satellite imagery and other things of that sort aren't going to be fixed quickly, that takes years! That's why Google Maps is so far ahead of everyone.

Djs621

Jun 12, 2012, 06:16 AM

What about the various settings?? Can you avoid tolls, can it alert you to red light cameras?? Also, what about taking phone calls and using the iPod during navigation?

af123

Jun 12, 2012, 06:18 AM

We do officially use yards and miles for distance on the roads here though. If Apple made it give distances in kilometres or speed in kph in the UK there'd be outcry. And it doesn't make sense to have metres for short distances and miles for long…

Mine gave me distances in miles and feet.. would prefer yards over feet!

The worst thing in turn-by-turn this morning was when I came to a T junction and it said "Head South on Main Street"... not helpful to those of us outside the US who don't navigate by compass points!

Djs621

Jun 12, 2012, 06:22 AM

So I take it their is no more street view?

cjmillsnun

Jun 12, 2012, 06:28 AM

To those yelling back at the OP that it's a beta. I think this is nothing to do with it being a beta. It is the fact that whomever Apple is using for imagery does not have high res images of everywhere.

For example. Petersfield in Hampshire has low res images, however Portsmouth is high res.

shandyman

Jun 12, 2012, 06:28 AM

So I take it their is no more street view?

Nope. That's googles proprietary tech. 3D view, once it's fully populated, will be just as good. Street view was very limited when it started, this is the same.

ixodes

Jun 12, 2012, 06:33 AM

This isn't a bug, this is the problem when you go to your own mapping solution. Google has decades of satellite maps, not something Apple is fortunate to have.

It will be years for the Maps data to get up to par with what we use to have with Google.
Apple bought more airplanes to ramp up it's data gathering. I don't know how many due to their extreme secrecy. But given the massive cash reserves, Apple could have a sizable number in the air.

MythicFrost

Jun 12, 2012, 06:33 AM

The image quality in my area isn't great, but if I go and look at the Sydney Opera House then the quality is brilliant.

amorya

Jun 12, 2012, 06:38 AM

Mine gave me distances in miles and feet.. would prefer yards over feet!

The worst thing in turn-by-turn this morning was when I came to a T junction and it said "Head South on Main Street"... not helpful to those of us outside the US who don't navigate by compass points!

I haven't actually tried the new maps yet (all our modern enough test devices are currently in use, and I'm not putting it on my primary phone), so I'll reserve judgement until I do. I agree that "head south" is not helpful!

illuminous

Jun 12, 2012, 06:41 AM

Apple bought more airplanes to ramp up it's data gathering. I don't know how many due to their extreme secrecy. But given the massive cash reserves, Apple could have a sizable number in the air.

I highly doubt Apple is buying aircraft for imagery

cfc

Jun 12, 2012, 07:34 AM

For me the worst thing about the app is just how unreadable the maps actually are. I can understand the lack of data, and hopefully that will improve before the proper release, but I am worried that Apple seem to think that the colour schemes are ok.

I find it almost impossible to see minor roads unless you zoom in enough. They need to increase the contrast between the road, road edge and background colours, or widen smaller roads (especially when they are the only roads around). When you compare the old Google maps app next to the new Apple one showing the same area it is very worrying just how poor the new maps look IMHO. Maybe it's subjective and I'm in the minority but the four or five people that I've shown it to have all said the same thing.

The good thing is that this should be very easy to change, but the worrying thing is that it is so easy that I wonder why they haven't done it already. Hopefully it is because they are using temporary colours until they regionalise it (Motorways in blue in the UK for example).

Another problem in urban areas is not having different colours for built-up areas. They have green areas but not urbanised areas, which makes the sizes of towns difficult to identify. I don't know if this is a data or style issue.

As a developer writing a map app that uses the Apple maps extensively I am pretty annoyed at how much worse my app now looks, so I really hope they sort this out prior to the proper release.

musio

Jun 12, 2012, 07:52 AM

Is there lane assistance? (showing what lane to be in for turns with warnings to get in lane, etc)

udayrulz

Jun 12, 2012, 07:54 AM

On mine maps aren't loading at all. Tried all views :confused:

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8990/photoot.png

BrennerM

Jun 12, 2012, 08:00 AM

Nope. That's googles proprietary tech. 3D view, once it's fully populated, will be just as good. Street view was very limited when it started, this is the same.

No way will airplanes with cameras be able to match the resolution of cars with cameras. With Street View you can see house numbers on houses and see what is sitting on the front porch (sometimes even see into windows). Unless Apple duplicates this by launching their own fleet of cars, they will never be able to match this detail level. And even if they do the car thing, it will be years before they hit every small town around the globe like Google already has.

Really hope that Google makes a separate app which includes Street View because I use that ALL THE TIME on the current Maps app to check out where I am going before I go.

Playgear

Jun 12, 2012, 08:02 AM

If anyone has a spare moment, can you check and see if the University of Sydney in Australia is rendered in 3D? Particularly the Main Quadrangle.

Thanks!

OzyOly

Jun 15, 2012, 12:31 PM

We do officially use yards and miles for distance on the roads here though. If Apple made it give distances in kilometres or speed in kph in the UK there'd be outcry. And it doesn't make sense to have metres for short distances and miles for long…

I'd like a choice. I don't know what a yard is, at uni, high school and even primary school we used metric because they are used for all scientific formula.

If you asked me how much a lb was, I couldn't tell you.

amorya

Jun 17, 2012, 03:39 PM

I'd like a choice. I don't know what a yard is, at uni, high school and even primary school we used metric because they are used for all scientific formula.

If you asked me how much a lb was, I couldn't tell you.

So would you want long distances in kilometres too?

Playgear

Jun 17, 2012, 05:58 PM

So would you want long distances in kilometres too?

As an Australian, I would. I've been raised with the metric system and have no concept of what a mile is.
Nor an ounce, pound, foot, yard, quart, gallon, or even temperatures in fahrenheit.

chiefpavvy

Jun 17, 2012, 06:02 PM

As an Australian, I would. I've been raised with the metric system and have no concept of what a mile is.
Nor an ounce, pound, foot, yard, quart, gallon, or even temperatures in fahrenheit.

Well some of us are well-versed in both so I really don't care. The option I suppose would be fine for those who want it.

MikeBRich

Jun 20, 2012, 04:35 AM

Did you know that apple bought the C3 technology to put the 3D maps to iOS 6. Did you also know that Nokia uses the same maps for a hundred years already: proof (http://www.letsunlockiphone.com/ios-6-3d-maps-without-ios-6/) Nice revolution, Apple!

newagemac

Jun 20, 2012, 10:06 AM

What really bothers me, is that it is so obvious that Apple is doing it not as a customer advocate. There is significant functional loss.

So Apple adding voiced turn by turn directions is a significant functional loss and not being a customer advocate? If Apple had turn by turn directions in iOS5 and then stripped it away in iOS6 I believe people would then be more likely to claim a significant functional loss. And they added other functionality to the iOS6 maps as well that was not there in iOS5. Not to mention it is just in Beta 1 now and hasn't even been released yet.

mncmoore

Jun 22, 2012, 06:27 PM

Do your bookmarks convert over from google maps or do I have to start all over?

Bensalama21

Jun 22, 2012, 06:44 PM

This isn't a bug, this is the problem when you go to your own mapping solution. Google has decades of satellite maps, not something Apple is fortunate to have.

It will be years for the Maps data to get up to par with what we use to have with Google.
You mean TomTom, that has been doing it longer than Google, which is what Apple is using?

Spigen SGP

Jun 22, 2012, 07:54 PM

Since it's a beta version, it doesn't look as we all expected. Still excited about the new map.

iPhoneApple

Jun 22, 2012, 07:58 PM

Why are there so many bugs/issues with Apple maps if they are getting them from TomTom?

twigman08

Jun 22, 2012, 10:35 PM

Why are there so many bugs/issues with Apple maps if they are getting them from TomTom?

I don't know how many times this will need to be repeated.

Because it is a beta.

iPhoneApple

Jun 22, 2012, 10:45 PM

I don't know how many times this will need to be repeated.

Because it is a beta.

I know it's a beta, but still. You can't just say "it's a beta, we can have everything messed up!"

twigman08

Jun 22, 2012, 11:14 PM

I know it's a beta, but still. You can't just say "it's a beta, we can have everything messed up!"

Everything isn't messed up? It is working perfectly for some people (maybe some minor bugs) and some others it isn't. That is what a beta is.

Plus most of the stuff it seems like is just the map data. Apple can update the map data and I am 99% sure will update the map data before the final release. They even talk about it in the release notes.

Just about every software company doesn't have the final data in at an early beta stage. When we are programming something and letting our beta testers test it out a lot of our data isn't final, is wrong, is not high quality, and is just there to test things out.

shandyman

Jun 23, 2012, 01:40 AM

Do your bookmarks convert over from google maps or do I have to start all over?

They carry over.

Cybbe

Jun 23, 2012, 03:22 AM

Well some of us are well-versed in both so I really don't care. The option I suppose would be fine for those who want it.

United States is the only developed country without the superior metric system as the official system of unit (although imperial is used informally in some countries, like the UK). I don't think Apple has must choice in implementing the metric system, although its absence highlights its US-centric efforts, not boding well for international users (the quality of maps is also pretty appalling outside of North America).

Adoption of the metric system
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Metrication_by_year_map.svg

shandyman

Jun 23, 2012, 03:31 AM

the quality of maps is also pretty appalling outside of North America

actually the satellite maps are better for where I am in the sticks of berkshire, uk, than googles...

The beta release notes do say alot of high res satellite images are not included in the beta. Will most likely see this change by launch in oct (approx)

steve-p

Jun 23, 2012, 04:06 AM

actually the satellite maps are better for where I am in the sticks of berkshire, uk, than googles...
Google seem to have a bug at the moment with their imagery, but they do have very up to date images. I'm not far from you and I've noticed the same. The image on maps.google.com is several years old. However... in Google Earth on the Mac the same is true, until you enable view historical imagery, then all of a sudden the image is only a few months old. They seem to have a bug where the one they show by default is one of the oldest they have, not the newest.

steve-p

Jun 23, 2012, 04:27 AM

United States is the only developed country without the superior metric system as the official system of unit (although imperial is used informally in some countries, like the UK).
The UK has a somewhat quirky mix though. For example, for cars we all talk about miles per gallon which is something we know how to compare between cars. Yet most people don't even know what a gallon is, since we have been buying fuel by the litre for decades. In an ideal world we would maybe want miles for long distances and metres for distances less than a quarter of a mile. That corresponds with the marker posts approaching motorway junctions which are metres for example, and metres is all most people use for describing distance. Yards is better than feet though. 250 feet means absolutely nothing to most people without some mental arithmetic. At least yards is a bit closer to metres.

Car systems often get round these issues by having a master country code in the onboard software with customised units for a number of things for each country, rather than just a simple metric/imperial switch. Maybe by the time of the release, the Map app will be doing something similar.

Cybbe

Jun 23, 2012, 04:46 AM

Yeah, road signs are still in imperial in the UK, but we'll see how long that lasts. Most countries except the US have moved to metric signs, including Ireland. The worst is all the inconsistency; on the tube you'll see signs denoting distance in yards, in metres, and sometimes even in minutes.

Anyways, I don't think Apple would be stupid enough to release a final version without a metric option.