How To Report a Problem With iOS 6 Maps Data

[RawBert]

I used this to report a problem the day iOS 6 came out. I typed my work address in Glendale, CA and it pinned it in Sylmar, CA (15 miles away).

That's in L.A. - just think of all the small towns all over the globe. They have a lot of work ahead of them.

[btcutter]

f I were Apple I would put an Ad out asking Apple user to help make the Map better. How? Use the map app and by identifying unique locations. Each unique location is worth $.01. User do not have to keep track. Apple will. Once you reach $10 worth of unique locations, Apple with give you iTune credits.

Given number of Apple users out there, this is much faster way of encourage users to keep using Apple Map app and buff up data quickly.

[Uln4321]

Originally Posted by Small White Car

Just yesterday I reported the fact that the Lincoln, Nebraska airport actually, um, existed.

This could take awhile.

Seriously, though, I think this map thing will be like how "Flash on the iPhone" went. Annoying the 1st year, better the 2nd, and by the 3rd year only nerds will still be complaining about it while everyone else is just fine.

Lol I've been looking all over Lincoln for mistakes and cant believe I missed this one! Seriously where is it?!

[kdarling]

What could really make a difference is if Apple had a web based map version, just like Google.

A few years ago I remember correcting various nearby address locations on Google Maps online, because it was so easy to do on a laptop.

[731729]

Has anyone figured out how to submit information about a business that's not already listed for inclusion in Apple's database?

[nikomakhos]

This is really not going to be an effective way to fix the problem at some places. Where I live, pretty much all of the POI data is wrong as it's probably coming from YELP, a service with no users around here. Also there are not enough iPhone users here to make it work.

Also, didn't we already pay for Apple for this service? Now we have to work for it too? I would be willing to contribute if this was an open system, but why should I start working for Apple for free? They have the money, they can buy the data.

[musio]

Originally Posted by dashiel

In 2010, when Google was suffering similar, though not as widespread problems, they were receiving 10,000 user submitted corrections a day; just over 3.5 million a year. Maps has been “in the wild” for less than a week.

Exactly the perspective the public should have. If it's done the Apple way, it WILL be brilliant. If Steve were around, it would be done quicker!

[caligomez]

Ha! i'm sure they'll just be cross referencing with Google Maps!

[Schmitty11]

Is there a "The entire app is incorrect" option?

[Porco]

"Suggestion corrections below"

name: Google

address: The Googleplex, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043

Send the license contract lawyers!

P.S. I haven't used iOS 6 yet, this is only meant in fun.

[Radio]

But apple sold 5 million iPhones ?!

Doesn't that mean there isn't a map problem?

Lol

[Macist]

Oh, I'm doing Apple's work for them because they bought trash data, am I?

Well, that's pretty cool - I guess Apple Maps is now open source and the whole world will benefit from my voluntary work?

And when they'd fixed the data how are they going to make the search function work better? It's near impossible to find stuff you KNOW is on their dreadful maps using their search.

[elppa]

Originally Posted by kdarling

What could really make a difference is if Apple had a web based map version, just like Google.

A few years ago I remember correcting various nearby address locations on Google Maps online, because it was so easy to do on a laptop.

Good point.

For now I guess you could always report problems to the The Amazing iOS 6 Maps.

I bet Apple are watching.

[fig]

Originally Posted by dashiel

In 2010, when Google was suffering similar, though not as widespread problems, they were receiving 10,000 user submitted corrections a day; just over 3.5 million a year. Maps has been “in the wild” for less than a week.

That's great, but the simple fact is they released a product that wasn't ready. Whether it's had enough development or user feedback isn't an acceptable excuse.

[jrswizzle]

Originally Posted by nikomakhos

This is really not going to be an effective way to fix the problem at some places. Where I live, pretty much all of the POI data is wrong as it's probably coming from YELP, a service with no users around here. Also there are not enough iPhone users here to make it work.

Also, didn't we already pay for Apple for this service? Now we have to work for it too? I would be willing to contribute if this was an open system, but why should I start working for Apple for free? They have the money, they can buy the data.

The problem with that (and why others like Google use crowd-sourced information) is the world's landscape - POIs and literal landscape - are changing all the time. And it obviously takes mapping companies a LONG time to map the entire planet.

So instead they let their hundreds of millions of users actively and passively submit data to keep the maps as up to date as possible. This is why Google is so much better than GPS companies like TomTom, Garmin and others. You'd get map updates every year or so with them. With Google (and now Apple) the maps are constantly being updated by their users.

It'll take time, but the only way for it to REALLY grow and mature is to have it out "in the wild."

[Manzzle]

So your doing work for Apple for free.

Looks like they'll beat the 7k+ workers that google has working on maps alone.

[MarcelEdward]

I am confident apple will sort the map thing out.

Luckely my current navi is working perfect, it tells me the route to the place I want to go flawless in dutch. (It even shows the route in 3d when I am a town, but I rarely look at it.)

[Naaaaak]

Too bad my retina display doesn't burn in "Report this problem" every time it does that.

[Wateroksnmud]

How do we go about submitting information that's not yet been added? I.e. public restrooms in a street mall, or public road that's not listed as a road yet.

[brutedawg]

Originally Posted by btcutter

Use the map app and by identifying unique locations. Each unique location is worth $.01. User do not have to keep track. Apple will. Once you reach $10 worth of unique locations, Apple with give you iTune credits.

Given number of Apple users out there, this is much faster way of encourage users to keep using Apple Map app and buff up data quickly.

The RIAA/MPAA would have a field day with this.

[DOWNSIDEUP]

LOL

[eyebye]

Originally Posted by musio

Exactly the perspective the public should have. If it's done the Apple way, it WILL be brilliant. If Steve were around, it would be done quicker!

Hmmm...so the bugs in the map software wouldn't be as bad if users adopted a different "perspective". That's a unique take on things.

[lwapps]

Oh god there really is no hope. Hopefully google will submit maps on the app store so we can all upgrade to ios 6 soon.

[duaneu]

I spent part of the day Saturday submitting errors and adding locations around my area.

[smithrh]

...and just like forums, I'm sure Apple will be faced with a lot of trolling input that they'll have to filter out.

It will be interesting to see how quickly they incorporate input. If they're quick about it, they could take a bad situation and make it a good one in a relatively short time.