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Apple Acquires Transit Service HopStop to Further Improve its Maps App

Sadly maps had us lost around Brisbane airport tonight while trying to get to the Pink concert at Brisbane entertainment centre. Google maps got us there (latest app, using turn by turn), I wish it wasn't so, but that's how the evening rolled.

Second time I've been lost around that area in the last 6 months using maps.. improvements are needed.
 
theBB said:
Did you report it? (Not that users should be in the reporting of errors business, but I am curious how quickly Apple responds to corrections suggested by users. So far, I have seen only one person reporting a correction and that is on this thread.)
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Yes, I've reported it at least once... tapped where the city should be, etc. Just like everything else I've reported (POI's in wrong spot, POI's closed/outdated/name changed, wrong name of lake or recreation area) NOTHING has ever gotten updated. It's been over a year.
 
This is awesome news! We use Hop Stop all the time. When you live in an urban area, a tool like HopStop is pretty essential- because the shortest route from A to B will always be a blend of subways, buses, and walking. And if not, you know you need to cab it.
 
viacavour said:
I don't live there. Is it possible that "Wilkes-Barre" is also the name of a county or other geographical region ?

...coz I tried "Wilkes-Barre city, PA", it gives me the location you want.

If so, Apple should definitely prioritize their duplicated entries in their database better.
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Nope. I've lived in this area for my entire life, and I've never heard of that area been referred to as "Wilkes-Barre". The closed thing to that is "Wilkes-Barre Township", but that is directly next to the city, certainly not in the middle of a forest like Apple maps has it.

----------
When would people familiar with the area ever have the need to type in "Wilkes Barre"? They would type in an address or the name of a point of interest. The only time you would ever type in the name of a significant town is if you were driving long distance from another region. It's an interesting bug, but not remote related to being "user friendly." That phrase only applies to realistic use cases.
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I live in this area. Scranton, actually. But Wilkes-Barre is 20 minutes away. If I'm somewhere unfamiliar and I would get directions to "Wilkes-Barre", just to get me back in the general area and then I could take it from there, it would give me directions to the middle of a forest.
 
BklynKid said:
Right direction I suppose but HopStop is terrible.
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I think this is a good move on Apple's part, and don't worry.. It won't take long for Apple to whip these applications into shape and bring them up to Apple standard of quality and user experience. They'll be buffed out before they're integrated.
 
Apple has acquired transit service HopStop.com to improve its mapping service
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No need to improve Maps to me , it is just perfect !
I wish Apple would leave it like it was on the first day: even better !
 
I stopped using HopStop as soon as Google implemented public transit directions into their maps. I wish Google & Apple would work together like they used to instead of constantly fighting with each other. Imagine how powerful our phones could be...
 
AppleScruff1 said:
Android caught up because they made improvements and changes much faster than Apple. And do you think that while Apple is trying to catch up on maps that Google is just going to stop and rest on their laurels? My guess is Google is going to keep moving along as they have been.
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Maybe that's what these talks between Google and Apple are. You know - Tim and Eddy are all "Hey Google - could you slow down or stop updating your apps and service for awhile. This way - we could catch up and even pass you? Please?"

And Google, being evil is all "Muahahahah - you can't catch me - I'm the gingerbread (errr Key Lime Pie) man!
 
gnasher729 said:
What ignorance. Apple isn't throwing away any money. They have already saved tons of money in license fees that don't get paid to Google anymore. Google still wants to sell its customers to the advertisers, so they have to make their own Google Maps available for free.

And maps don't stand still. The maps that Google has today will be worthless in four years time. Over the next four years, Google will have to pay out as much as Apple does to keep up with Apple. Worse for Google, they haven't only lost the platform already that makes the most money (iOS), they will lose the Macintosh market when Mavericks is released, and I bet Apple will make their maps available on Windows and Android as well.
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how long are you gonna spout this nonsense?

i said a similar thing (although not in your zealous apple loving way) that apple has make these solutions cross platform if they want them to really suceed. as of today there is nothing to indicate that they will so maybe i will take you up on that bet.

since you are the dev why do a standalone map and not just an online version? its not like itunes and quicktime on windows are the most praised windows apps.
 
gnasher729 said:
...they will lose the Macintosh market when Mavericks is released, and I bet Apple will make their maps available on Windows and Android as well.
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Question is, why would I want to use Apple's offerings over Google's? Because of this thread, I decided to go through Apple Maps and the new Google Maps iPad app to compare them side by side. This is what I found...

As far as streets go, Apple and Google are about even. Apple has made huge strides here, and has fixed quite a few of their previous mistakes.

But what about points of interest? Here, Google has a huge, HUGE advantage. Almost every single POI in my little town was correct. Apple? I think there were three that were in the correct location. I'll check out Atlanta and Chattanooga later, but from what I've seen so far, I'm not impressed with Apple.

And what about satellite data? No contest whatsoever. Apple's satellite view is at least 2 years behind. This might not seem like a huge deal because, hey, how often do buildings and topography change around, right? Well, two years ago my little town got hit by an EF4 tornado, and...yeah...since then, quite a few buildings have been torn down, and new ones put in their place. The town has changed considerably since then. Apple's well behind the curve here.

Google? They updated sometime earlier this summer. Google's satellite data has never been more than a year behind from my experiences with it. Plus it provides a higher res image, so it retains more detail at lower levels.

Of course I could be lying, so here are unedited, straight from my iPad shots of the exact same location in...

Apple Maps

And...

Google Maps.

Pretty huge difference, right? Admittedly, Google Maps has a POI misplaced. On the other hand, Apple Maps is woefully behind on its satellite data, and shows a street that doesn't exist.

So tell me again, why would anyone choose Apple's maps over Google's on their Mac or PC?
 
macsrcool1234 said:
You seem to miss out on what important feature - Google didn't completely and utterly fail like Apple did.

Looks like you're the one that didn't do his research.
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That isn't the case at all. In fact I have had zero issues with Apple Maps since the day it was released in my area. Then when I was in Australia visiting family I remembered people saying it sucked ass in Oz so I didn't use it to find my way to a bike shop to have my bike serviced. I ended up 3 blocks away and had to call the shop! Fired up Apple maps and it took me right to the place I should have gone to in the first place, only 30+ minutes later....
 
Isn't competition supposed to be good?

Whenever we hear about an upcoming Android phone, people like to say, "I'm glad Apple getting some competition because Apple will be motivated to stay on top of their game."

Why aren't we hearing any of that here? Apple is trying to build a competing mapping solution. If we go by the "competition is good" idea, then Apple's actions should be a good thing because it will force Google to stay on top of their game.

Yet, we're seeing post after post ridiculing Apple's efforts. According to these posts, Apple should just let the Maps project die and just pay whatever Google demands.

It is rumored that Google did not permit Apple to implement features like turn-by-turn and vector-based mapping without significant concessions and/or licensing fees. If this is true, then as an Apple consumer, it is not in my best interests for Apple to rely on a competitor to provide mapping services.
 
vvswarup said:
It is rumored that Google did not permit Apple to implement features like turn-by-turn and vector-based mapping without significant concessions and/or licensing fees. If this is true, then as an Apple consumer, it is not in my best interests for Apple to rely on a competitor to provide mapping services.
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And look at where we are with "iOS7 in the car". With this level of integration you will use Apple Maps and have turn by turn directions. You might not see it until you buy your next car but these are baby steps for the future.
 
vvswarup said:
Whenever we hear about an upcoming Android phone, people like to say, "I'm glad Apple getting some competition because Apple will be motivated to stay on top of their game."

Why aren't we hearing any of that here? Apple is trying to build a competing mapping solution. If we go by the "competition is good" idea, then Apple's actions should be a good thing because it will force Google to stay on top of their game.

Yet, we're seeing post after post ridiculing Apple's efforts. According to these posts, Apple should just let the Maps project die and just pay whatever Google demands.

It is rumored that Google did not permit Apple to implement features like turn-by-turn and vector-based mapping without significant concessions and/or licensing fees. If this is true, then as an Apple consumer, it is not in my best interests for Apple to rely on a competitor to provide mapping services.
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I think competition is great.

I'm being selfish - so to speak - when I wrote earlier that I wished they had partnered instead of bought HopStop. Being in NYC - I've been a HopStop user since it was first launched in Beta. I would hate to see their app and their website killed off just to absorb their data/resources into Apple's map department.
 
vvswarup said:
Why aren't we hearing any of that here? Apple is trying to build a competing mapping solution. If we go by the "competition is good" idea, then Apple's actions should be a good thing because it will force Google to stay on top of their game.
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I love Apple Maps for the 3D and topography options alone. If you add the fact that it is an easier to navigate app that does the same job quicker than Google's offerings, you can see that it has a lot of potential. I welcome another option.

I just think all this pointless "Google Maps suck olol it's never right" e-peen wagging bash fest that's been going on around here since Apple Maps came out is a giant waste of time, and makes me question just how actually, honestly intelligent some people around here are.

Listen. Apple Maps is good. There's no doubt about. Google Maps, at least right now, is better. Yes. Apple Maps might work for one guy, but Google Maps works for more. At the very least, it gives you tons more raw data than Apple does, and it tends to be more up to date.

Right now, Apple Maps is better as a secondary option for most people than it is a primary one. This might not be true a year or two from now, but at this moment, it's an undeniable fact.
 
Options to repeat the last spoken direction and to play the next direction (swipe left / right) without having to go into overview and check the route, would be welcomed additions.
 
they're headed in the right direction but they need to work fast or google will further strengthen it's lead.
 
macsrcool1234 said:
You seem to miss out on what important feature - Google didn't completely and utterly fail like Apple did.

Looks like you're the one that didn't do his research.
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MapQuest was lightyears ahead of GoogleMaps when Google first launched it. Look where there at, now. No reason to think that Apple can't do the same thing.

And Apple didn't fail. Their Maps has worked perfectly for many people.
 
it'd be really great if they introduce a new and accurate apple maps app on the day they introduce the iphone 5s.
 
iChrist said:
By buying a bunch of small companies and trying to piece their software together into some sort of cohesive experience, to make up for major shortcomings of their 1st party software?

:apple:
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Exactly what google did
Until a few years ago they were buying dozens of small companies every year
 
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