Apple Begins Testing Revamped Maps App in UK and Ireland

[graclarkey]

Although here in the UK Apple Maps is my default - mainly due to a dislike of Google’s advertising-driven business model - I do leave Google Maps installed on my phone to occasionally compare routes. In real-world experience over the past six years, both services have their pluses and minuses: sometimes only Google Maps has a listing for the business I need; and sometimes only Apple Maps shows the tiny village I’m looking for whilst on holiday exploring Fuerteventura.

 

[adrianlondon]

I try Apple Maps once or twice a year, but it lacks so much compared to Google's I always revert back.

Close to where I live is a public transport stop that has two trams and a bus. The bus goes between the main station and the airport and is the only public transport which serves the airport and hence is very popular. Apple Maps doesn't believe it exists at all. Google Maps shows the stops and gives a timetable.

I cycle very regularly, and Apple Maps doesn't understand cycle routes; Google does a pretty good job.

 

[LV426]

It‘s not about warning lamps for fuel, it‘s about the fact that it suggests refueling before it gets to that point to ensure a smooth trip (e.g. it also usually prompts me to refuel when the attention assist hits and tells me to pull over at gas station X).

I value the tight integration my MBUX offers over the CarPlay integration with dated maps for my european country and lackluster POI.
Maybe once they roll out new maps and their own POI DB I consider switching.
Also: Maybe Toyotas system is crap, I have only praise for mine though and I‘ve used it a lot over the past few months.

A fuel warning light won't really affect your trip. They typically light up while there is still a good bit of fuel in reserve. Mine gives me a 40 mile warning, for example, which is basically the best part of an hour's driving. As for POI on Apple Maps, they are sufficiently good in the UK, although I tend to rely on a much better solution (far better than Mercedes') for touring: OS Maps.

 

[LV426]

The Google Maps numbers quoted by the previous poster are correct.

The previous poster did not confine his praise of Google to Maps.

 

[iSimon]

For me it just looks like the very occasional building is slightly 3D but that’s about it. I’ve looked all around and can’t really spot much 3D! From what you’re saying, it sounds like for you it’s much more than that?

Bear in mind Glasgow isn’t a particularly tall city for the most part, but yes every individual building and even trees etc should be appearing in 3D when you zoom in far enough. Remember you must be in satellite view and have toggled 3D in the top right. It is most obvious when you start panning around and see things moving behind each other.

 

[yurc]

Not necessarily. You can use Google Maps anonymously, without linking your search/navigation to your email account, etc.

Yes, quite ironic, many people bashing Google for privacy but I often found photos posted on this forum contained precise EXIF data including precise GPS locations from their iPhone camera. They are easily doxxed.

Just use who excel best. Using Google tools doesn't meant losing privacy, everything still can be performed without being linked, thus not tracked by targeted ads.

 

[Bustycat]

Will I get all features of Apple Maps for my city... in 2030?

 

[hagar]

Well, if you feel free to make wild generalisations, I am at liberty to comment on my specific personal experiences.

In any case, I can't let your lies stand. Google Pay, for example, is available in 30 countries, not 220, slightly less than the Apple Pay tally.

We’re talking Maps. MAPS! Don’t drag unrelated stuff in your argument to cover up I’m right: lane guidance, speed limits, public transit, realtime public transit, look around, ... They are all missing in large chunks of the world.

And even the features that are available are half baked. The numbers of POI in Google and Apple Maps are not even comparable. And if they’re there in Apple Maps, they’re often not in the right location and business details including opening hours are missing.

Apple Maps is fine if you type in the exact Street address of your destination and navigate to it. But if you don’t have the exact address, you’re often stuck as search just sucks.

We went on a road trip last week and we used Apple Maps instead of Waze. When looking for gas stations along the route, Apple Maps failed and showed results up to 45min out of our way (While there were gas stations along the highway we were driving on). And when looking for rest stops, we didn’t get any at all (Yes, I filed a bug report).

Simple Siri queries to navigate to restaurants or stores often lead to results located in other countries or on the other side of the ocean (why???). We have big supermarket chains over here I simply cannot navigate to with Siri. Let alone smaller stores or places.

Also, Siri only recognises big cities in my area, not smaller towns or communities around big cities. So asking Siri to navigate to a POI in those areas is simply impossible. If I ask, she just makes up some random completely irrelevant destination thousands of km away.

I made it a hobby to report issues to Apple Maps in my area, and they get fixed quite fast. But it’s an endless job.
Also, they only fix POI. Issues with one way streets, blocked roads, non existing highway entrances, etc... don’t get fixed. I assume they won’t until the new improved maps are coming to my area. Let’s hope it doesn’t take years.

 

[alanrb]

In my opinion the Ordnance Survey maps are still the best in the UK.

Ordnance Survey | Great Britain's national mapping service

Discover trusted geospatial data and maps, and unlock location insight and intelligence.

ordnancesurvey.co.uk

They have a nice iOS/iPadOS app also.

 

[daved2424]

Why would anyone choose to go to Milton Keynes? I thought people only went there because their company was sending them on some dull course.

 

[bigchrisfgb]

Google is rubbish for navigating.
I used it to comeback from a long journey (having to use an alternative route) and it was telling me which exit to take off the roundabout as I was leaving or had left the roundabout.

Apple maps in comparison gives you plenty of notice ahead of the roundabout and junctions.

 

[bobob]

usurious map update charges

userious?

 

[aleksander]

Google maps seems more detailed.
But if you compare them closely, you will notice that Apple sometimes has partly overtaken Google...
After all, Apple is investing a lot of money, because these maps will be the new basis for some of their future projects.

Someone who has no idea how much effort it takes to create maps will always complain about the slowness of the creation process. Out of naivety and attitude to life. You're different there, dear Theyayarealivin.

Google Maps is more detailed. Here in on Earth, outside the US.

 

[twistedpixel8]

Bear in mind Glasgow isn’t a particularly tall city for the most part, but yes every individual building and even trees etc should be appearing in 3D when you zoom in far enough. Remember you must be in satellite view and have toggled 3D in the top right. It is most obvious when you start panning around and see things moving behind each other.

Aha, I was in “map” mode, not “satellite”. I would have expected that the 3D buildings would carry over to map mode in very basic shapes but it seems only a very, very small number do - pointlessly so.

You’re right though, nearly the whole city is 3D and it’s quite impressive. Even my car in my driveway is 3D!

 

[McScooby]

For me it just looks like the very occasional building is slightly 3D but that’s about it. I’ve looked all around and can’t really spot much 3D! From what you’re saying, it sounds like for you it’s much more than that?

I was going to chip in about Glasgow being 3D for ages with flyover etc. but now I know what you mean - it doesn't have 3D buildings in map view (not satellite). Others may get the wrong end of the stick, it doesn't have to be tall to have 3D building view as the building size is mapped out which it doesn't have apart from Queen St and Central Stations in transport view.

 

[one more]

Google is rubbish for navigating.
I used it to comeback from a long journey (having to use an alternative route) and it was telling me which exit to take off the roundabout as I was leaving or had left the roundabout.

Apple maps in comparison gives you plenty of notice ahead of the roundabout and junctions.

In my experience Google Maps excels in data handling (POIs & actual traffic conditions), while Apple Maps have a much more pleasing UI (this is subjective, of course) and tend to come up with simpler routes. Both have things to improve and develop, it is a big and fast-changing world.

 

[LV426]

We’re talking Maps. MAPS! Don’t drag unrelated stuff in your argument to cover up I’m right: lane guidance, speed limits, public transit, realtime public transit, look around, ... They are all missing in large chunks of the world.

And even the features that are available are half baked. The numbers of POI in Google and Apple Maps are not even comparable. And if they’re there in Apple Maps, they’re often not in the right location and business details including opening hours are missing.

Apple Maps is fine if you type in the exact Street address of your destination and navigate to it. But if you don’t have the exact address, you’re often stuck as search just sucks.

We went on a road trip last week and we used Apple Maps instead of Waze. When looking for gas stations along the route, Apple Maps failed and showed results up to 45min out of our way (While there were gas stations along the highway we were driving on). And when looking for rest stops, we didn’t get any at all (Yes, I filed a bug report).

Simple Siri queries to navigate to restaurants or stores often lead to results located in other countries or on the other side of the ocean (why???). We have big supermarket chains over here I simply cannot navigate to with Siri. Let alone smaller stores or places.

Also, Siri only recognises big cities in my area, not smaller towns or communities around big cities. So asking Siri to navigate to a POI in those areas is simply impossible. If I ask, she just makes up some random completely irrelevant destination thousands of km away.

I made it a hobby to report issues to Apple Maps in my area, and they get fixed quite fast. But it’s an endless job.
Also, they only fix POI. Issues with one way streets, blocked roads, non existing highway entrances, etc... don’t get fixed. I assume they won’t until the new improved maps are coming to my area. Let’s hope it doesn’t take years.

You were talking Apple. APPLE! Please write more carefully in future when you slander features that a company produces if you do not wish to be misunderstood.

I wonder why you use Apple Maps so much if you are so easily angered. Perhaps on your next trip to a fist fight in Taco Bell, just stick to Google.

Of course there are parts of the world where Apple Maps / Siri has less information than others. But there are large parts of the world where Apple Maps' information and presentation betters that of Google. Take public travel transit information in London. Vastly superior to Google. Look Around: vastly superior to Street View.

Apple / Siri Search is absolutely useless in the UK...

IF you speak with a broad Glaswegian accent. But most people don't. Does that mean Maps is bad? Or that for some people it's bad?

 

[justperry]

We are talking about “Revamped Apple Maps”, remember? 😉 I also prefer Apple Maps UI and routing algorithms over those of competitors. However, Apple could speed up rolling out their more detailed maps to more countries.

Sorry, seemed to have misinterpreted your post.

 

[magicMac]

Why would anyone choose to go to Milton Keynes? I thought people only went there because their company was sending them on some dull course.

you mean like "sent to coventry" ? there are a lot of companies in MK; many USA "europe offices" are in MK too.

 

[turbo79]

Apple Maps tried to get me to do a left turn onto a road reserved for buses, taxis and bicycles whilst navigating through the city centre of Bristol today. I had to quickly fumble with Google Maps to continue my journey. In today's world, why does Apple Maps still have errors like that? Would they pay my traffic fine if I had taken the route?

 

[MacBH928]

The privacy policy on Apple Maps is listed here, a couple of screens down. No need for you to spend any money.

Yea..I am tired of the privacy policies. Each company gets caught breaching their privacy policy and all they do is say "Ooops...it was a bug" . Why would Apple give out a free map service?

 

[LV426]

Yea..I am tired of the privacy policies. Each company gets caught breaching their privacy policy and all they do is say "Ooops...it was a bug" . Why would Apple give out a free map service?

It’s not free. Apple Maps only works on Apple devices. Said devices cost a lot of money. Google Maps, by contrast, works on any browser. Under Google’s business model, you are the product.

 

[phamilyphriend]

Is there an iPhone faster than my 11 pro max? Always a serious delay using Apple maps. By the time it tells me to turn right/left I have already passed the street 100% of the time. With Google maps mining everything I do in the background they are at least quick on the turning directions.

Surprised more people don't complain about that?

 

[macplay]

apart from the occasional need for bike directions.

So you missed somthing after all

 

[jameswilby]

Apparently I'm in on the public beta as of today... I didn't realise how much better the new maps were until it happened in the country I live in and am so familiar with!