Apple Actively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Employees

[Macist]

Anyone else feeling they should have held off updating to iOS 6 until Google get out their own maps app? I used it every single day, didn't realise the Apple version would be quite so ****.

I was vaguely aware that 'beta testers' didn't think much of it. However, while I was prepared for something that might not have been as information rich as Google's offering I fully expected it would do the job in day to day use 9/10 times i.e. I could use it as my day-to-day mapping solution.

I had no idea it was genuinely useless - completely useless. 100% non functional for real world use.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

I think Apple had no choice except to develop its own maps app. It is one of the ultimate killer apps for a portable computer device, and the gateway to a number of potential revenue streams. Contracting it to a competitor is not a great option in the long term. It may take some time but AAPL will have a first class maps app soon enough.

Actually I don't find it all that bad for what and where I use it.

Well, for one thing, where you live is rurally in the northern kingdom of that state and it's obvious that the map would show less POIs in there and more on the roads. The same thing happened in the central VT area (Middlebury) and it showed no buildings, except with restaurants and gas stations.

That's it. Now on the Google Maps version, it showed literally everything in this town ranging from restaurants, to stores, a coffeehouse, and amazingly the ENTIRE college campus with a name or tag on each building/dorm/hall, etc. It was that accurate and detailed. Excellent use for getting around to find the actual building.

On Apple Maps, the college is'nt even on it. THAT is a huge problem. Even way up in Burlington, I see more stores and gas stations on there, even though they have some gray-ish blocks to represent the buildings on Church Street. Even University of Vermont is not on it. Nor the hospital.

On Google, it was far more detailed than that.

 

[uknowimright]

it's almost as if they completely miscalculated the importance of maps to people

 

[Pilgrim1099]

The Apple Maps will get better but a) will it cost them customers in the short term and b) will it ever have street view like Google. One of the reason I'm waiting for a stand alone Google Maps App.

Street view?! THAT will take Apple YEARS to compile. And that requires people to do a drive by scan, exactly what Google did.

They should dump street view and 3D maps and focus on 2-D cartography with some 3-D tomography to show elevation levels from the lowest valley to the highest peaks of the mountain or hill, all on vector.

In fact, I think that 3D Flyover should be an optional add on and not included. It is only an entertaining gimmick and only those who are professional surveyors.

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it's almost as if they completely miscalculated the importance of maps to people

I think they focused too much on the 'lust factor' of the phone's form factor when they should've beefed up what's under the hood FIRST.

 

[cvaldes]

Street view?! THAT will take Apple YEARS to compile. And that requires people to do a drive by scan, exactly what Google did.

What's your point?

So, it'll take Apple years to do. Big deal.

It took Google years to do, and they stilll have to drive around. New roads and buildings are built, businesses change, someone uses a different color of paint. In Google's hometown of Mountain View, there's a new fire station right by the headquarters. If they stopped driving around a couple of years ago, it wouldn't be on Street View.

So Apple has some work to do to catch up? So what? So does everyone else who isn't the first at doing something. Apple didn't invent the MP3 player, tablet computer or the cellphone. Does that mean they should have just given up and not tried?

 

[chrisbru]

Same for me. In fact, I actually quite like it.

I do as well - I guess it depends on where you live. I've used it several times to get to different parts of Iowa, including a park in a small town here, and it was flawless. I've even been using it for routes I drive regularly to see if it gives me the quickest and most direct route, and it always has so far.

 

[satkin2]

Awesome, great to hear.....meanwhile, what the hell are the rest of us supposed to do?

You genuinely have my sympathy, I'd be lost if my maps had screwed up.

I really don't know what those affected are to do, Apple really need to act fast on this one to get things usable for the many. I'm very fortunate how it's worked for me so far. I just wanted to put across the experiences of someone who's got lucky.

 

[b33g33]

Is there something more to the story as to why this was prematurely rushed to market?

Maybe Larry Page called Cook and said, "we're pulling the plug on maps for iOS by the end of 2012"

Otherwise, there is no excuse for putting a half-baked solution into your flagship device.

At least it's working ok where I live, but i don't really depend that much on my phone for directions.

 

[whooleytoo]

it's almost as if they completely miscalculated the importance of maps to people

Maybe. Or maybe they correctly calculate that many iPhone users are a relatively captive market who aren't likely to switch to Android/Windows Mobile etc. unless there's a massive screw-up. As awkward as the Maps problem is for some, I can't see Apple losing much market share over it.

 

[b33g33]

What's your point?

So, it'll take Apple years to do. Big deal.

It took Google years to do, and they stilll have to drive around. New roads and buildings are built, businesses change, someone uses a different color of paint. In Google's hometown of Mountain View, there's a new fire station right by the headquarters. If they stopped driving around a couple of years ago, it wouldn't be on Street View.

So Apple has some work to do to catch up? So what? So does everyone else who isn't the first at doing something. Apple didn't invent the MP3 player, tablet computer or the cellphone. Does that mean they should have just given up and not tried?

The big deal is that there is already a nearly-perfect maps solution proven to work with iOS. If you're going to replace that with a half-baked, immature solution, you're not doing right by your customers.

I know I'd be pretty pissed off if I took my car to get it serviced and was told that the Navigation unit was replaced with an Atlas and a compass.

 

[Woodcrest64]

It will be interesting to see if Apple lets Google Maps on the App store. Ideally I would like to see Google Maps and Navigation on iOS for consumers. That way in the short run Apple can have an alternative choice for us while they improve their own Maps app.

 

[a0me]

So Apple has some work to do to catch up? So what? So does everyone else who isn't the first at doing something. Apple didn't invent the MP3 player, tablet computer or the cellphone. Does that mean they should have just given up and not tried?

But when Apple released their first music player, their first tablet and their first smartphone, their product were years ahead of the competition.

Their first Maps app is 10 years BEHIND the competition. And I'm not talking about "fancy" features such as "3D," "Street View" or "satellite imagery." Apple's 2D maps are mostly terribly inaccurate and completely fail at basic mapping.

 

[kdarling]

Google App rumors?

So what's the latest rumor about Google submitting their own Maps app? I've read both yes and no.

And if Google has submitted one, then the question becomes: will Apple allow it in, or block it as duplication of a core functionality?

Some people already have no patience

Had a large conference call this morning, and before it started, the topic turned to Apple.

Several iPhone users on the call commented that they or their spouses had already been badly misled by following an iOS 6 map. Up here in the Northeast US, that can really mess up your day. Missed appointments. Lost in bad neighborhoods. Just plain wasted time.

Some said they'd already had enough, were passing their older iPhone down to their kid, and using their upgrade to get a Galaxy for themselves. They didn't want to wait the years it will take for Apple to come up to Google's current level (and who knows where Google will be by then).

I wonder if they would jump ship so easily if they didn't have an upgrade waiting. Makes me think that Apple should've put out their new Maps midway between iPhone upgrades, as there'd be fewer people with an incentive to switch. Oh well, hindsight is 20-20.

 

[a0me]

Maybe. Or maybe they correctly calculate that many iPhone users are a relatively captive market who aren't likely to switch to Android/Windows Mobile etc. unless there's a massive screw-up. As awkward as the Maps problem is for some, I can't see Apple losing much market share over it.

Depends on how fast they allow 3rd party maps in the App Store.
I've been using Apple products for almost 10 years and was planning on getting 2 64GB iPhone 5 later this year to replace the iPhones 4 we have.
Now I'm looking into jailbreaking hoping that we could still get iPhones AND a functioning app (Google Maps) and avoid having to switch to some random Android or Windows handset.

I wonder if people who have only owned an iPhone for a couple of years would think twice about ditching Apple for something that works as expected.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Hmm… you'd think they would have done the bulk of their hiring before they released the app?

 

[whooleytoo]

Depends on how fast they allow 3rd party maps in the App Store.
I've been using Apple products for almost 10 years and was planning on getting 2 64GB iPhone 5 later this year to replace the iPhones 4 we have.
Now I'm looking into jailbreaking hoping that we could still get iPhones AND a functioning app (Google Maps) and avoid having to switch to some random Android or Windows handset.

I wonder if people who have only owned an iPhone for a couple of years would think twice about ditching Apple for something that works as expected.

Likewise, I'd find it really annoying if they removed a working maps app, replaced it with a buggy one and then stopped/slowed the release of competing apps for business/political reasons.

But, I'd still find it very hard to switch. Firstly, because I really like the iPhone and would rather not have to switch. But also - I have over a hundred apps that'd be useless unless I buy an iOS device again.

This might be a bit of a PR embarrassment, but I can't see it having a huge impact on them. Which, for us customers, might be a pity!

 

[bearcatrp]

So apple wants to recruit past and present Google map employees. For what? Copy Google's ideas? What happened to designing your own to be different than the rest? Sounds like apple is using a page from samsung's play book, "can't beat them, copy them".

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Some said they'd already had enough, were passing their older iPhone down to their kid, and using their upgrade to get a Galaxy for themselves. They didn't want to wait the years it will take for Apple to come up to Google's current level (and who knows where Google will be by then).

I wonder if they would jump ship so easily if they didn't have an upgrade waiting. Makes me think that Apple should've put out their new Maps midway between iPhone upgrades, as there'd be fewer people with an incentive to switch. Oh well, hindsight is 20-20.

Your above comments struck a chord with me. I have had every iPhone since the 3GS, and they have all been essentially the same thing. Yes the designs have changed, yes the processor has gotten faster, yes the RAM has increased, but that's not what I'm talking about. Apple has not been keeping up the pace of innovation on the OS side of things. We're still looking at a chicklet app grid, a second-rate implementation of notifications and multi-tasking, and all we're getting from Apple is a thinner, lighter, faster version of something we've had for 3-5 years.

According to most unbiased critics, the iPhone 5 was a "yawn" of a release. Apple's next iPhone release, based on its predictable release schedule, will be the iPhone 5s at this time next year. Apple is sitting on its laurels while the competition has leapfrogged iOS. Windows 8 is refreshingly different, and Android continues evolving and adding very productive, desirable features.

I went to my local Apple Store to look at the iPhone 5. There were about 5 people in line waiting to buy one - and this is at a pretty crowded mall. After playing with the iPhone 5, I couldn't find any reason to get one. The screen is taller by one row of apps and the phone itself is thin and gorgeous. Other than that, there is very little about this phone that is interesting. Remember, Apple is not targeting those who obsess over what's under the hood, so it's what's outside and visible on the screen that counts for the vast majority of consumers.

My personal prediction is that if we don't see a big shift towards innovation in iOS in the next year, we will start to see the decline of Apple. The shine is off the Apple already. Since Cook took over, we've seen more missteps than we have in the prior five years under Jobs. We have seen nothing innovative come out of Apple in the last few years, just tweaks to the OS and playing catch-up on features that others already have.

Apple, through its own inertia, has created a perfect storm for Windows 8 to crack this market wide open.

 

[zaphon]

Apple, through its own inertia, has created a perfect storm for Windows 8 to crack this market wide open.

I was right there with you most of the way AZREOSpecialist, but than I got to this. I do not see Windows 8 being the mobile OS to disrupt anything (well other than Nokia's stock price).

 

[charlesdayton]

I don't get why the maps are so crappy. Apple is not making their own maps from scratch, they are using TomTom maps. But if you use a tomtom GPS or the App the maps are excellent and on par with Google.

Why is Apple's TomTom's data different

 

[mikefla]

That's nice but Google Maps sucks. They need to recruit TomTom employees instead or just buy part of the company.

-Mike

 

[dv8r]

Maybe. Or maybe they correctly calculate that many iPhone users are a relatively captive market who aren't likely to switch to Android/Windows Mobile etc. unless there's a massive screw-up. As awkward as the Maps problem is for some, I can't see Apple losing much market share over it.

I think this is an accumulating thing - I've been through the FCX experience also, so my patience with Apple is wearing thin. If maps is the first hick-up you experience then no, won't make an impact. But Apple seems to be screwing up more and more, so they day might be closer that some people think.

My guess is that within the next one or two years, one of the Android/Windows 8 makers will nail the design thing down and people (iPhone users) will start to notice - this tied with a Apple experience that seems to degrade.

 

[AgingGeek]

I was talking to my Grandad today, in a busy shopping centre. He looked at me wistfully: "You know, son," he whispered: "When I was a lad, all this were fields."

Sure enough, I checked Apple maps, and he was right!

Completely annectodal, of course (and fabricated). Here's another anecdotal example:

When I "google map" my address, it shows a dirt building pad with nothing but a concrete foundation and my truck sitting next to a pile of lumber which eventually became my house.


.... I finished the house 3 years ago, and it took over 2 to build.

At least the Apple maps now show a house there....

 

[nevermind50]

It will take more than hiring Google's leftovers to get the job done. Why even bother instead of adopting the far superior Google maps?

Why bother? What do you think would happen if Google refused to grant a licence to Apple for their map data? Clearly, Apple and Google couldn't negotiate a deal to allow turn-by-turn navigation to come to iOS thus making iOS 5 maps inferior to the Android offering. Vector based maps were also missing from iOS due to the same licensing issues, no doubt. In any event, for the future, Apple needs to be in control of their own destiny when it comes to key technology, and maps is really important!

As for the "far superior" google maps, you must be joking! Google maps is far from infallible. In fact, in some cases I've found that the new maps in iOS 6 have better information than Google Maps.

Some observations:

Turn-by-turn is really good here in the UK, as good as Navigon, for example, but minor roads need much better coverage.

Apple Maps also look fantastic, much better than the old app. And they're really, really fast! Satellite views need improving, however.

Long way to go on POI, but this data is mostly crowd sourced so should improve over time.

I for one am pleased that Apple, with the help of its partners, are taking on the huge task of providing mapping data for its customers. I wish them well.

Nevermind.

 

[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.