Don’t know if it’s true, but I can believe it—I don’t rely on transit daily, but if I did, Google’s web version was “just OK.” I’m sure a lot of people wanted a real transit app before going to iOS 6. Add in those people swayed by the media overhype.
Notice that Apple’s iOS 6 Maps app ALREADY links directly to the Google Maps app for transit. You’d almost think Apple wants the best experience for users, and that they’re not the lone bad guy in all this...
Just hit the L-shaped route button (not the car button) when viewing a location, and you get the same 3 choices of routing as always: car, walking, and transit. Of course, transit is no longer internal, so it suggests external apps to you. If you have Google Maps installed, it will be displayed with a big “Route” button. Tap it, and Apple’s Maps app passes the request seamlessly off to Google’s Maps app (or whatever transit app you prefer). Very nice.
Plus, this works around a key limit of Google’s maps: they want you giving your contacts to THEM, and they do not seem to use your iPhone’s own contacts as destinations. Want to get to a friend’s house (one in your device's contacts) by bus? Google’s app won’t do it—but find your friend in Apple’s Maps app and it will pass the destination off to Google. Problem solved.
Notice that Apple’s iOS 6 Maps app ALREADY links directly to the Google Maps app for transit. You’d almost think Apple wants the best experience for users, and that they’re not the lone bad guy in all this...
Just hit the L-shaped route button (not the car button) when viewing a location, and you get the same 3 choices of routing as always: car, walking, and transit. Of course, transit is no longer internal, so it suggests external apps to you. If you have Google Maps installed, it will be displayed with a big “Route” button. Tap it, and Apple’s Maps app passes the request seamlessly off to Google’s Maps app (or whatever transit app you prefer). Very nice.
Plus, this works around a key limit of Google’s maps: they want you giving your contacts to THEM, and they do not seem to use your iPhone’s own contacts as destinations. Want to get to a friend’s house (one in your device's contacts) by bus? Google’s app won’t do it—but find your friend in Apple’s Maps app and it will pass the destination off to Google. Problem solved.