iOS 6 maps is a failure. Steve Jobs would have never allowed such a terrible product to be released.
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Apple Turning to Select Retail Store Employees to Help Improve Maps for iOS 6
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*Apple store employee inspects Apple maps.*
"I'm sorry but we can't fix this, would you like to exchange it for Google Maps?"
"I'm sorry but we can't fix this, would you like to exchange it for Google Maps?"
So they can have someone driving around all day reporting mapping issues internally.
Does this mean we will now see select Apple retail employees wearing helmet-mounted cams in the vicinity of their Apple Store? Not likely. But still, this doesn't quite compete with Google's camera-equipped vehicles traversing the planet. I hope Apple also plans a substantially more comprehensive way to enhance the accuracy of their maps app.
I would imagine he would. But he wouldn't have responded the same way to the criticism
This.
I'm in little ole' England, pretty central too as it happens yet I'm still about an hour's drive from any Apple store, guess my maps won't be "fixed" by these Geniuses...
This is a combined effort, mostly for verification, rather than input.
Since millions of users are actively submitting data, verifying the changes is one huge task. For areas, where Apple Stores are located, the staff is usually hired locally, so they can not only input new data, but also verify whether submissions regarding local content are actually true, because it is possible that Google users will try to willfully submit false information to undermine new maps. Its called sabotage and we've already seen examples of such sabotage when Apple Maps were accused by droids of inability to show hundreds of Canadian townships when it turned out that most of these missing towns were actually farms and districts within cities (which were shown correctly).
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yo! Apple. Why don't you stop being cheapos and spend some of that billions to actually hire thousands of people who's job is dedicating to fixing your maps. Get those people out on the streets, on foot, in cars, anything. That's how Google Maps got to the level of quality it is today.
This is great for places with Apple Stores! Not-so-good for places without Apple Stores... It's been over a month since I reported a few fixes for my city (Recife, Brazil) and none of them have been applied. This crowdsourced thing isn't going so well for Apple Maps so far :\
They can't trust every error report they get.
Reports will need to be verified and checked before they update the maps.
If 120 people in an area flag an error they are more likely to act on it.
all in expectations...
it seems to me that people's disapproval of the new Apple Maps is only a testimony to how terrific their products are on average. Google maps was nowhere near what Apple Maps are now when it first launched... I, personally, expected that there would be errors/inaccuracies with this first roll-out, but i also expected/expect that 90% of that will get cleaned up pretty briskly. crowdsourcing the corrections will move things along quite well and all of this will be a thing of the past.
my personal experience with maps has been fabulous, actually. no problems at all. however, i did find my first major disappointment in the application a couple of days ago when i realized that exit numbers are not labeled on the map as you survey the interstate. Rand McNally has given us that since dirt and it seems a no-brainer... if you wanna blow my mind, Apple, let me see an indication of my current mile marker on a constant basis when i'm traveling on the interstate so that i can always know exactly what mile i am at instead of having to wait for one of those little green signs.
it seems to me that people's disapproval of the new Apple Maps is only a testimony to how terrific their products are on average. Google maps was nowhere near what Apple Maps are now when it first launched... I, personally, expected that there would be errors/inaccuracies with this first roll-out, but i also expected/expect that 90% of that will get cleaned up pretty briskly. crowdsourcing the corrections will move things along quite well and all of this will be a thing of the past.
my personal experience with maps has been fabulous, actually. no problems at all. however, i did find my first major disappointment in the application a couple of days ago when i realized that exit numbers are not labeled on the map as you survey the interstate. Rand McNally has given us that since dirt and it seems a no-brainer... if you wanna blow my mind, Apple, let me see an indication of my current mile marker on a constant basis when i'm traveling on the interstate so that i can always know exactly what mile i am at instead of having to wait for one of those little green signs.
Mapping data should be provided by the countrys' government or a single organization that manages this. The funding comes from those who license the map data (eg. Apple, Google, Tom Tom, MapQuest, etc).
This way, when a store closes and a new one opens, the government updates the database, and boom - all services now have the updated maps.
The differentiating factor of each service could be things like POI reviews, photo gallery of the place, store hours, etc.
With millions of users using smart phones or maps with POI info, stores should willingly have one point of contact to say, we updated our hours. Once changes made, it reflects to those who pull the data for users to access.
I know this will never happen, but I hate using different maps and having data be different on each.
This way, when a store closes and a new one opens, the government updates the database, and boom - all services now have the updated maps.
The differentiating factor of each service could be things like POI reviews, photo gallery of the place, store hours, etc.
With millions of users using smart phones or maps with POI info, stores should willingly have one point of contact to say, we updated our hours. Once changes made, it reflects to those who pull the data for users to access.
I know this will never happen, but I hate using different maps and having data be different on each.
Don't involve users, Engage them
Using Apple store employees won't make the coverage. I mean in Sweden there is only one as far as I know, and it just opened.
Many countries don't have an Apple store.
So here is an idea.
Apple should make a reward system, not a big money making sustem, but some kind of reward system.
Kind of like how Waze is doing it, but involve some real reward like winning iTunes gift cards.
For example, if I submit an update, depending on what type of update, if it is redrawing the map, or just adding, changing or removing a POI, it gives different amount of points.
Some kind of verification system should be in place, so for example adding a POI should have to be done by a certain amount of independent people, and perhaps verified by trusty people who check Yellow pages or similar.
When you get to a certain amount of points you get a status of some kind, perhaps a moderator status and perhaps you get the right to participate in a lottery or similar for iTunes or Apples store gift cards if you are participating.
Make it available for all countries, and you will see people doing this not by chance but to actually get rewards and recognition.
It would be a low cost for Apple, easy for users, and Apple would get a massive influx of data.
Using Apple store employees won't make the coverage. I mean in Sweden there is only one as far as I know, and it just opened.
Many countries don't have an Apple store.
So here is an idea.
Apple should make a reward system, not a big money making sustem, but some kind of reward system.
Kind of like how Waze is doing it, but involve some real reward like winning iTunes gift cards.
For example, if I submit an update, depending on what type of update, if it is redrawing the map, or just adding, changing or removing a POI, it gives different amount of points.
Some kind of verification system should be in place, so for example adding a POI should have to be done by a certain amount of independent people, and perhaps verified by trusty people who check Yellow pages or similar.
When you get to a certain amount of points you get a status of some kind, perhaps a moderator status and perhaps you get the right to participate in a lottery or similar for iTunes or Apples store gift cards if you are participating.
Make it available for all countries, and you will see people doing this not by chance but to actually get rewards and recognition.
It would be a low cost for Apple, easy for users, and Apple would get a massive influx of data.
...Final Cut "Pro" X?
So Apple Store Drones will roam the neighborhoods? Hope their editions get better priority over the user submissions, because those seem to be thrown in the trash or sent into outer space. When they're done we will all move near an Apple Store and all of our problems with Maps will be solved.
Make a ****ing tool Apple - how hard can it be?
I do like this idea.
However, the "fix the maps yourselves" attitude is not right for a company who have just charged you £529 for a phone.
Indeed. As well, it's not going to be every single employee. If it's saying "select employees" that could easily mean ones with a higher technical proficiency than others.