Apple Fixes Australian Map Error That Caused Police Warning, Issue Traced to Official Gazetteer

KnightWRX · Dec 11, 2012

apolloa said:
And you highlighted another example of how Apple's arrogance has ruined customer experience, remove one thing that works and has what you mention in place and has done for years, and replace it with something that is totally brocken and lacks everything you said above.

I don't think they did it out of arrogance. I mean putting the team in place and building the actual solution, not deciding to drop Google. I think they really thought they had what it took and understood what they were getting into, and probably didn't really know how broken it was until it was released to the world post-WWDC.

And when they did find out, it was too late to go back. Too much of iOS 6 depends on the new MapKit framework and going back to Google's version at that point was really a non-option unless they were willing to delay iOS 6 for a couple of weeks/months.

725032 · Dec 11, 2012

iChrist said:
ANYTHING can be life-threatening, depending on what kind of moron is using it.

So you're saying the people who used the life threatning apple maps are morons?

So could u use apple maps better in this case?

maroontiger2k9 · Dec 11, 2012

ncaissie said:
So that makes it right for Apple to remove a great app and replace it with a piece of crap on a device that cost me $950?

Ok

if you have $950, you have the budget to spend $20-40 on a MAPS alternative...

and xmas time is coming around... you'll get them all on a great sale price

i did.. and i spent $50 2-3 years ago for tomtom usa... problem solved

----------

KnightWRX said:
I don't think they did it out of arrogance. I mean putting the team in place and building the actual solution, not deciding to drop Google. I think they really thought they had what it took and understood what they were getting into, and probably didn't really know how broken it was until it was released to the world post-WWDC.

And when they did find out, it was too late to go back. Too much of iOS 6 depends on the new MapKit framework and going back to Google's version at that point was really a non-option unless they were willing to delay iOS 6 for a couple of weeks/months.

you're making good points but you cant be serious... Apple is a very arrogant company... mostly the output is good... their price model, their attempt at maps, their response to the antenna-gate... pure arrogance....

i love apple as a company b/c of the excellent detail in regard to customer experience and how all of their products and services are so robust and integrated..(with some exceptions)... but when apple drops the ball you can clearly see their arrogance..

software mistakes to this level were never committed under s.jobs... they took forever to unveil new functionality, but when they did, it worked...

i dont know the entire set of details with Apple/Google and the maps relationship fallout, but if apple spearheaded the divorce, that is very arrogant of them... they had a good thing going

i know people hate throwing shade @ apple on this forumn... but issues like these expose that Apple might be inferior in terms of software development compared to Google.. not saying that their products dont rock, or they Ace the overall customer experience, but software development isnt their strong suit amongst competitors

ncaissie · Dec 11, 2012

maroontiger2k9 said:
if you have $950, you have the budget to spend $20-40 on a MAPS alternative...

and xmas time is coming around... you'll get them all on a great sale price

i did.. and i spent $50 2-3 years ago for tomtom usa... problem solved

Yeah, and I should have to spend more when I expected it to be on the phone. Great logic there.

maroontiger2k9 · Dec 11, 2012

ncaissie said:
Yeah, and I should have to spend more when I expected it to be on the phone. Great logic there.

no, im just saying dont throw out big $$$ if you cant afford peripherals and maybe better alternatives..

apple should've gotten maps right but like i said, APPLE HAD GOOGLE FOR YEARS and i opted out for Tomtom... maybe you should do the same and have no worries like me

shurcooL · Dec 11, 2012

Yupper3D said:
I wish I could down-vote posts. I definitely think that having an accurate map is more important than turn-by-turn directions.

Did I say having turn-by-turn is more important than an accurate map?

I said there are advantages to the new Apple Maps that people don't notice. There are bigger disadvantages that everyone notices, clearly.

That said, map data can (hopefully) be fixed in time, whereas turn-by-turn and other improvements could not be added by Apple to someone else's app.

Apple should be using just the map data from Google, not an entire Maps app. Anyway, it sounds like Google will be releasing their Maps app on iOS soon.

KnightWRX · Dec 11, 2012

maroontiger2k9 said:
you're making good points but you cant be serious... Apple is a very arrogant company... mostly the output is good... their price model, their attempt at maps, their response to the antenna-gate... pure arrogance....

I mean the team responsible for Maps. I'm pretty sure those guys didn't say they could deliver out of arrogance, they probably genuinely thought they had what it took, they probably took all the steps they could foresee to hire the missing people, get the proper tools, etc..

The problem is their lack of expertise didn't enable them to get all the outside help they needed or all the tools required because they simply did not know about it until it was too late.

Hanlon's razor if you will, but replace "stupidity" with simple "lack of expertise/knowledge".

ncaissie · Dec 11, 2012

maroontiger2k9 said:
no, im just saying dont throw out big $$$ if you cant afford peripherals and maybe better alternatives..

apple should've gotten maps right but like i said, APPLE HAD GOOGLE FOR YEARS and i opted out for Tomtom... maybe you should do the same and have no worries like me

For your info I did purchase an alternative. It cost me $46 at the time. Only because I wanted the Turn by turn. I purchased an iPhone five hoping I wouldn't have to use so much of my phones memory on a third party app. It is one of Apples big selling points on the iOS 6 devices.

Edit: And one more thing. Every time I go to Purchases my App store crashes. Nice Apple.

drditty · Dec 11, 2012

Maps is fine for where I live

Here in the Northeast, maps is fine. I don't live in an area where there is public transport, so that lack of feature isn't a big deal. I think the current app is much faster and just as accurate as google maps was. I'm sure it will get better as time goes on. Find my friends is great for keeping track of my teen driver by the way.

zioxide · Dec 11, 2012

apolloa said:
Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong!

If you peel back the Apple app map view the app proudly states it's data is provided by TomTom, yet in my nearest town of around 20 thousand homes, my TomTom satnav (Not the built in Apple maps app) app on my iPhone can find a LOT and I mean a LOT of VERY well known and long standing businesses like PC World, and Esso petrol stations that APPLE'S map app doesn't think exist, in fact the Apple maps app thinks the nearest PC World store is about 90 miles away from myself, not the 12 miles it actually is!!

So Sorry, in the UK at least, to blame Apple's cock up on the map data supplied is totally incorrect.

Nice job failing at reading comprehension. It's still the implementation of the mapping data that's the problem, not the actual map on your phone.

ncaissie said:
So that makes it right for Apple to remove a great app and replace it with a piece of crap on a device that cost me $950?

Ok

A great app? The google maps app was garbage and 5 years behind all of the competing products. It was slow as molasses, ugly, and there was no way for Apple to integrate Siri or any turn by turn navigation. It's quite nice to be driving down the highway and just have to hit the home button and say "I need directions to X" and it automatically gets the directions and starts your route without having to even touch the phone.

There are still major growing pains with the mapping data but in a few years people will look back and see that Apple made the right decision.

If the mapping data doesn't cut it in your area yet, then download another maps app (mapquest mobile is quite good and has free turn by turn), point your browser to maps.google.com, or wait for Google's own maps app which is coming soon.

Otherwise, you can keep crying all you want, but Apple maps are here to stay. And the mapping data will continue to improve. Instead of whining non-stop on here about first world problems, be realistic and have some patience.

Or you could always take $5 out of that $950 and go down to your local AAA and pick up a paper map. People survived for decades with them before smart phones came out in the past 10 years.

Mr.damien · Dec 11, 2012

Oletros said:
Apart that the post uou have quoted is sarcasm, where is the invention with Fly By when it has been shown first with Nokia and Google?

Anyway, I never saw anything as close as Apple's fly by quality.

Navdakilla · Dec 11, 2012

I understand that apple wants to do their own thing with maps, and not have google provide that

but mannn.. they should have at least released a couple of beta's first. I personally have not had a problem with the maps app, however this is catastrophic..

Apple needs to get their act together ASAP

NedBookPro · Dec 11, 2012

gmanist1000 said:
Well that was fast.

Yes, it seems the only way to get apple's attention is to have bad press about an issue.

Ordinary folk like me can ask like crazy without any response at all. Any response would be better than nothing.

.

Blackey · Dec 11, 2012

I'm not sure what all the hoopla is about. I've been using the mapping app and haven't had any problems. I like the 3d view.

Oletros · Dec 11, 2012

Mr.damien said:
Second common point of haters: shown first vs public availability.

Ejem, the were publicly available BEFORE Apple released iOS 6

And please, stop insulting, how the hell is a hater?

SomeDudeAsking · Dec 11, 2012

gnasher729 said:
You are wrong. Apple did not process this data. Apple gets its data from various companies, one of which took the original data from the Australian Gazetteer and messed it up.

No you are wrong. As other posters in this thread have wrote, the Gazetteer lists many places that contain Mildura as part of the name, not just 2 like TheRegister article says. Apple uses TomTom data but TomTom devices and apps show Mildura correctly. Google shows Mildura correctly. It is entirely the fault of Apple.

AppleInTheMud · Dec 11, 2012

gmanist1000 said:
Well that was fast.

Now they just need the rest of the world... The Maps App is useless and must be thrown in the garbage.

Even where flyover and 3D works it looks crapy.

Back to Google Maps. They even have pavements and small forrest routes on there maps in the smallest cities.

kaniSS · Dec 11, 2012

Even without apple maps those idiot Aussies would of ended up in the middle of no where. Australians in general are bad drivers, I'm surprised they didn't even notice they where on the wrong goat track.

doelcm82 · Dec 11, 2012

camnchar said:
Ouch. Has an app ever been labeled as "life-threatening" before?

The messaging app is so dangerous that in many places it is illegal to use it while driving.

marksman · Dec 11, 2012

Why did these lost people not just backtrack the way they came?

Plus do kangaroos have built in GPS?

Tech198 · Dec 11, 2012

wow.. that was quick one day

I hope the rest of Maps get fixed in a short time frame.. (not overnight, but would be good if Apple worked round the clock).

Just shows you what the police are capable of.

marksman said:
Why did these lost people not just backtrack the way they came?

That would have made more sense.

maskman said:
Plus do kangaroos have built in GPS?

I dunno, i'll ask one next time they jump out in front of a car.

shigzeo · Dec 11, 2012

gri said:
Nah:
Beijing Population (2011): 20,180,000
Tokyo Population (2012): 13,216,221

Though, milage may vary for individual web pages as info source.

Yes, the Tokyo city itself is that way. The GTA (Greater Tokyo area) is over 32 million people and is the largest metropolitan area in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_Metropolitan_Area

apolloa · Dec 11, 2012

KnightWRX said:
I don't think they did it out of arrogance. I mean putting the team in place and building the actual solution, not deciding to drop Google. I think they really thought they had what it took and understood what they were getting into, and probably didn't really know how broken it was until it was released to the world post-WWDC.

And when they did find out, it was too late to go back. Too much of iOS 6 depends on the new MapKit framework and going back to Google's version at that point was really a non-option unless they were willing to delay iOS 6 for a couple of weeks/months.

I think they knew how bad it was well in advance, I mean it can show roads fine but in this day and age the whole point of a map app is to let you search for somewhere, and then use the app to direct you there. I think they just didn't bother testing it before release.

dca100 · Dec 11, 2012

I doubt buying Garmin would have done anything. They already use TomTom's data and apparently it's not very good

Wrong I'm afraid. Garmin do not use TomTom maps. they use NAVTEQ/Nokia/'Here' maps. In fact they are probably NAVTEQ's largest customer.

They're more easily being compared to Google Maps which has better data than any dedicated GPS company

Google Maps have done a fine job with their maps for pedestrian and general orientation use. However their maps are certainly not the best for in-car use. Many of the best dedicated or in-car navigation products (built-in or otherwise) use NAVTEQ maps, as these are compiled and measured specifically and exhaustively for automotive-standard quality, consistency and reliable navigation.

However, premium-quality automotive-grade maps may be great in-car but they do not automatically lend themselves well to aesthetically-great maps, as seen with Nokia's rather weak Here app and of course Apple's TomTom-based maps. That said, it seems that the primary issue for Apple in this instance is a data processing one. TomTom's own apps and devices apparently have the town correctly located.

apolloa · Dec 11, 2012

zioxide said:
Nice job failing at reading comprehension. It's still the implementation of the mapping data that's the problem, not the actual map on your phone.

You said:

But yeah, there are still many problems with the mapping data,

-----

And on that front you are wrong, plain and simple. How can TomTom use the same data in it's own app fine, then Apple use this data from TomTom and totally screw it up huh? The problem is Apple and the way it used the data, well didn't use it..

It's a joke of an app, it seriously is.

Apple Fixes Australian Map Error That Caused Police Warning, Issue Traced to Official Gazetteer

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