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Roundup of Features in Google Maps for iOS: Better Design than Android Version, iPad Version Coming
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Ah, but Google has an SDK that allows developers to link to Google Maps for locations and directions.
All Apple has to do is allow Address Book to link to Google Maps via this SDK.
Like that's going to happen!?!
LOL, yes, those billionaires over at Google are noble gentlemen. It has nothing to do with the fact that IOS is the most widely used OS and they need the advertising dollars. Don't OD on the Kool-aid
Nice Work!
Nice Work Google!
Just keep updating the Street Views. I don't want to have to look at my house being worked on forever.
Nice Work Google!
Just keep updating the Street Views. I don't want to have to look at my house being worked on forever.
Not really sure I buy into the google maps is better, but for me Apple maps is great and I guess it is nice to have a back up.
Best app in the AppStore
Hands down.
This app really shows what Google has to offer in terms of software capabilities. The interface is absolutely beautiful and highly intuitive. It's much smoother than iOS Maps on my 4S.
The only grip I have is that everything done within iOS still defaults to one of Apple's apps, so clicking on an address will open up iOS Maps instead of Google Maps.
The amount of fanboyism going on in this forum is laughable. No one really knows how the deal with Apple and Google went down...so stop speculating. Don't be mad how things ended up. Be thankful that we now have the best Maps App ever, and another formative backup (iOS maps).
Hands down.
This app really shows what Google has to offer in terms of software capabilities. The interface is absolutely beautiful and highly intuitive. It's much smoother than iOS Maps on my 4S.
The only grip I have is that everything done within iOS still defaults to one of Apple's apps, so clicking on an address will open up iOS Maps instead of Google Maps.
The amount of fanboyism going on in this forum is laughable. No one really knows how the deal with Apple and Google went down...so stop speculating. Don't be mad how things ended up. Be thankful that we now have the best Maps App ever, and another formative backup (iOS maps).
Personal Preference
It is all going to boil down to personal preference. Personally, I've never had any issues with Apple Maps as far as location accuracy and points of interest. After playing around with the new Google Maps app, I still like the Apple Maps interface more, especially when it comes to turn by turn navigation. I find it kind of aggravating that while using turn by turn in the Google Maps app, the map wont display in the background of the lock screen. It's annoying having to swipe to unlock the iPhone in order to view the map while using turn by navigation. But if you rely on public transportation heavily, the Google Maps app will more than satisfy you in that regard. At the end of the day, having competition and options are good things.
It is all going to boil down to personal preference. Personally, I've never had any issues with Apple Maps as far as location accuracy and points of interest. After playing around with the new Google Maps app, I still like the Apple Maps interface more, especially when it comes to turn by turn navigation. I find it kind of aggravating that while using turn by turn in the Google Maps app, the map wont display in the background of the lock screen. It's annoying having to swipe to unlock the iPhone in order to view the map while using turn by navigation. But if you rely on public transportation heavily, the Google Maps app will more than satisfy you in that regard. At the end of the day, having competition and options are good things.
Agreed. I sure like the apple UI much better, and since I haven't had any bad mapping experiences, i don't have any reason to change.
Nice to have a back up - I guess.
Just downloaded it on my 5. Runs quite nicely I must say. I don't see the stuttering others mentioned (and I'm pretty picky about that). It's not AS smooth as Apple Maps, but close enough. Loving the street view and POI data. Traffic is great.
Frankly I like Apple Maps for a lot of reasons too. So now I will have two options. Choice is great. Hats off to Google for sticking this out and making it happen. Hats off to Apple for having the balls to do their own maps (and making Google step up their iOS game), the humility to admit that Apple Maps had faults, and the willingness to allow native Google Maps back into the App Store, even though it competes directly with Apple Maps in that it has navigation and a way to link from other apps, because it's best for the customer.
And on top of that, I still believe Apple Maps will do well in the long run as it is improved. By letting Google back in, Apple is saying "we will compete for users on the merits of the software itself, not by locking out the competition". Bravo!
Frankly I like Apple Maps for a lot of reasons too. So now I will have two options. Choice is great. Hats off to Google for sticking this out and making it happen. Hats off to Apple for having the balls to do their own maps (and making Google step up their iOS game), the humility to admit that Apple Maps had faults, and the willingness to allow native Google Maps back into the App Store, even though it competes directly with Apple Maps in that it has navigation and a way to link from other apps, because it's best for the customer.
And on top of that, I still believe Apple Maps will do well in the long run as it is improved. By letting Google back in, Apple is saying "we will compete for users on the merits of the software itself, not by locking out the competition". Bravo!
So if Microsoft brings office to the iPad, Apple isn't getting anything there either. Because it is only the App developer that wins?
Google could've released a mapping App before this that could've done all you said, including turn-by-turn. But they wanted their own Android products to have an improved capability. Not bring Tunr-by-Turn to the iPhone was a deliberate choice to hobble capabilities of the iPhone. Now iPhone users are elated with the capability that they have (on their iPhone), that Google refused to provide until Apple pulled them. The iPhone now has a capability that Google earlier would not provide. Users don't care if it says "Google" in small font on the map. Now the iPhone has the same capability that the Android does, and no users will switch phones as a result of that absence. Hard to see how this is hurting Apple. The want to sell phones. They are selling them in record numbers.
You are misinformed. Google was perfectly willing to provide turn-by-turn direction for an Apple-created Maps app that uses Google's data. However, there was a disagreement over which company would benefit from the USER DATA created by using that feature (as well as general mapping user data) going forward.
So, here we are... two competing Maps apps. The Google app will prove to be the most popular (by a HUGE margin) and Apple STILL won't be getting the amount of user data it needs. And Apple has a big black eye over the whole mess to boot.
Sometimes, it's ridiculous to try to reinvent the wheel. Particularly when the existing wheel is a really really good wheel!
Mark
It is the other way around for me (Apple Maps primary with Google Maps as backup), but I agree we have 2 map apps to choose from.
This has to be a bad day for the paid voice-guidance navigation apps like MotionX. I love MotionX; but sadly for them, I don't see any need to keep my voice guidance subscription active any longer. It was easy to justify since MotionX's POI database is huge and accurate compared to Apple Maps's database; but Google just spanked both of them with this release.
Your convenient omission is in the fact that Google always could've provided a stand-alone Map and Nav App that complied with the same rules every other developer uses. They deliberately did not chose that option. Now they have brought the same, and even better capability (by their admission) to the iPhone. The best Google mapping is on the iPhone now, not an Android. That press is certainly not negative for Apple.
Try to search for directions to someone in your contact list and let me know how that goes. Pretty is nice, but if it can't even perform basic functions it's useless.
In the case of Maps, the competition (and disagreement) was all about user data collection. Which company got control of the user data generated by Maps usage. I agree that it's a bit of a no-win situation for Apple.
But the LAST thing you do is make your product the laughing stock of forums, blogs, Facebook and late-night television shows. And that's EXACTLY what Apple did by releasing its crappy Maps app. The loss of Street View alone should have been enough to tell any Apple executive (that was paying any attention at all) that it was a big mistake.
If Apple could somehow, magically, release a Maps App that is equivalent to the product offered by Google, I'd be onboard with that. I'm an Apple fan and I love Apple products. But Maps is what Google does. THEY are the experts at it. And every iOS users deserves the BEST tool for the job. PERIOD.
Mark
It even has traffic info for surface streets. It is very detailed with every intersection,entry/exit ramps properly color coded.
BTW who is the traffic source for Apple Maps. It has limited coverage and also wrong. Everything is yellow.
BTW who is the traffic source for Apple Maps. It has limited coverage and also wrong. Everything is yellow.
Nice try? Huh?
I was clearly saying that it is fair to want branding; there is nothing to read between the lines, if that is what you are doing. How much branding, I am not sure. The "old" maps had a small watermark in the corner of the map. I can only assume Google wanted more than this. How much more? We will likely never know.The people who depend on a solid GPS program DO have a problem with Apple Maps. I'd say most people in the US don't even use iPhone so you are right on with your point.
I live in Houston, the fourth largest city in the US. I've used Apple maps seven times. One time I got where I needed, and that was by luck (Apple maps said that Frys electronics was on a block caddy corner to where it actually was). Two of the times it took me to business locations that don't exist. Two other times it put me on the freeway and as I passed by the location it said I was there. The other times I don't recall specifically but it wasn't good. If Apple maps hasn't figured out the fourth biggest city in the US, I can combine my experience with the overwhelming sentiment of other Apple maps users to conclude that it is one of the largest blunders Apple ever made, and probably the worst GPS system ever devised. In one month's time I had more problems with Apple maps than three years of Google maps (in Texas, California, Oregon, and a cross country trip or two).
And if your wife sleeps with your best friend, hey, that's embarrassing too. Doesn't mean you pretend it didn't happen.
Apple cannot rely on Google for critical services now that Google has become a direct competitor. No, Apple Maps weren't ready, and that's embarrassing. That said, it's something that must be done. You can't just let Google remain a house guest now that it's slept with your wife. And that's exactly what Google is doing. Providing a "free" way for Asian hardware manufacturers to be competitive with Apple, while wanting to stay in Apple's good graces. Ain't gonna happen.
Apple has to divest itself of Google services as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. Same with search. Google has search. Microsoft has search. Apple needs search.
The Google Boys started this particular war.
They said they found McAfees location through the GPS location embedded in his iPhone photo. I’m guessing he forgot to upgrade to iOS 6!
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2413188,00.asp
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2413188,00.asp