With the Google Maps update, I asked myself if it was time to switch to Google Maps as my primary service. I put in directions to a Wal Mart I had never been to. The app showed me which lane to be in and updated my route when traffic conditions changed. Great, I thought. Then I wasted 15 minutes because Google thought the location was a half mile off from where it actually is. Back to Apple Maps it is.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Continues to Boost Maps Efforts with New Business Data Providers
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
why Apple doesn't notice basic things like those you mentioned? here it is an answer for you, magically delivered before your post
medium Apple user attitude
I use Apple Maps and deleted Google from my phone. It pissed me off that it took Apple to create a Map app before Google updated their Apple solution to something that worked. Now I am usd to Maps and find it to work for my needs. I also like the integration that is just simply not available through other apps. I have also downloaded other Mapping apps but at this point, the convinience of Apple kind of rules the day.
I live in a major city where I d not have connectivity issues and where the maps are well covered. I am sure that in more rural areas, as has been commented in this thread, or in other countries, the story is different. But for me, I am sticking with Apple.
I live in a major city where I d not have connectivity issues and where the maps are well covered. I am sure that in more rural areas, as has been commented in this thread, or in other countries, the story is different. But for me, I am sticking with Apple.
So, you would rather see Apple let Google track you 24/7?
Why do you think Google suddenly brought free vector maps to iOS as soon as Apple dumped them? Is it a coincidence that they used to offer iOS users a terrible product before Apple forced them out?
If you are able to use your favorite maps app without being treated as a product or a second class citizen, it's because of their "pointless" decision of being in this line of business.
are you serious? most all of your wish-list features (exit services, multi-part routes, offline, etc) exist today on dedicated GPS apps, like Garmin USA. apples Maps is very plainly a generalist app. i use it for getting from here to there, in my own town or a new one. if I'm planning a long-range road trip i use a specialized app like Garmin USA for advanced features like those.
----------
yes, because how in the hell would they know who you are on MR?
Apple maps is still way behind vs google maps.
When is apple maps gonna have 1 finger zoom feature like google?
When is apple maps gonna have 1 finger zoom feature like google?
It's clear Google Maps is and always has been a superior solution for maps that Apple. Apple has been gobbling up devs for a while now and STILL has yet to bring new features to the product. They don't even bother hyping the app at Keynotes. Apple is way behind Google in this area. Sorry to hurt your feelings.
I live in Scotland. I asked Apple maps to plot a route to the hotel I was staying in last week, a Travelodge at Glasgow Airport. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, about 120 miles from my house.
Apple maps got it exactly right - I did in fact want to drive 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to go to Glasgow Airport in Montana. Unfortunately I ran out of fuel, and it took me a week to swim home. When are they going to sort out their POIs and show me where the petrol stations are?!
Apple maps got it exactly right - I did in fact want to drive 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to go to Glasgow Airport in Montana. Unfortunately I ran out of fuel, and it took me a week to swim home. When are they going to sort out their POIs and show me where the petrol stations are?!
Until Apple changes the UI so I can interact and scroll the map (ie to see how far up my turn is, to see what route it is taking me or to see what alternate streets I can jump,on if one is blocoked) I'll contine to use Google.
Right now, all Apple maps will do is some strange, useless rotation of the map, unless I hit overview, suffer through an animation, then zoom back in, then resume.
Right now, all Apple maps will do is some strange, useless rotation of the map, unless I hit overview, suffer through an animation, then zoom back in, then resume.
Apple maps is still way behind vs google maps.
When is apple maps gonna have 1 finger zoom feature like google?
You mean double tap? It does.
What it lacks for me is Transit, more detailed data (shopping sprees, national parks, etc.) and a better UI. iOS6' Maps' UI is truly missing me, it was amazing with the official signs and fonts and icons that we have here in Quebec, now it feels so generic
You do realize its your phone gathering and providing location to the app right?
Are you serious? Do you really think that your iPhone decides on the locations of the POIs on the Google Maps?
In case you didn't get it, he clearly meant the location of the Wal Mart, not his own location.
It's clear Google Maps is and always has been a superior solution for maps that Apple. Apple has been gobbling up devs for a while now and STILL has yet to bring new features to the product. They don't even bother hyping the app at Keynotes. Apple is way behind Google in this area. Sorry to hurt your feelings.
No hurt feelings, but still having a hard time understanding the rant about Apple Maps.
I wish Apple spent more time and resources on it before the initial release and not came up with a beta product. Google Maps were terrible too when they were first released. It took them years to create and refine their product. Streetview was such a novelty that no one really noticed the huge shortcomings of the actual product. After all, no one ever cares, or even notices if Google releases a half baked product.
People like you don't remember that until Apple came up with its own product, we had old image maps on our iPhones. No vector maps, no turn-by-turn navigation, no Google Streetview, no 3D, no night-mode, just plain old image maps that Google used to let us use. Now we have Apple maps which is a much better product than what we had 3 years ago, and your favorite Google Maps with all the features that Android users had been enjoying all that time. This happened because Apple didn't want to choose between an inferior product and compromising the privacy of its users.
That wasn't Google's fault. That was Apple's fault. Apple wouldn't let Google update the app, plain and simple. Same with Youtube. After they unbundled those apps from iOS, Google had coveted features ready to go.
I will also chime in that lately…. I've reported (to Apple) several Maps inaccuracies (e.g. the local Subway restaurant was incorrectly placed at the opposite street corner). And Apple has been sending me quick notices that the corrections have been made, usually a couple of days after I submitted it. Apple even sends me these alerts via (Mac and iOS) Notification Center messages.
There is definitely an uptick of Apple trying to improve Maps data accuracy.
However, I will admit that Google Maps will always have the advantage because of ONE factor…. and that's the Google Street Cars. The street cars roaming the 4 corners of the Earth are the reason there is Google Street View, and also the reason why they can also verify with deadly accuracy the locations of businesses and landmarks. They basically had hundreds of paid lackeys (mappers) roaming the planet spying on where everything is.
Unless Apple also does something similar…. no amount of enlisting other maps data companies will put them on par with Google.
There is definitely an uptick of Apple trying to improve Maps data accuracy.
However, I will admit that Google Maps will always have the advantage because of ONE factor…. and that's the Google Street Cars. The street cars roaming the 4 corners of the Earth are the reason there is Google Street View, and also the reason why they can also verify with deadly accuracy the locations of businesses and landmarks. They basically had hundreds of paid lackeys (mappers) roaming the planet spying on where everything is.
Unless Apple also does something similar…. no amount of enlisting other maps data companies will put them on par with Google.
Last edited:
Wrong. It's one of Apple's best decisions, albeit an expensive one. Google purposely gimped and crippled the iPhone Google Maps ability prior to Apple stepping up. Features that were on Android had been purposely left out on iPhone (e.g.turn-by-turn).
Only AFTER Apple did its own Maps app did Google finally feel obliged to improve its Google maps app for iOS.
But you are free to dispute well-known facts.
Oh Apple. How about updating Yelp POIs, either with a newer database version or make it live to match Yelp. POIs must be 3-4 year out of date and the reviews a couple of years.
Plain wrong. Apple asked Google to update the Maps. In return, Google requested access to iOS user data, leaving no other option to Apple. Apple stopped using the crippled product even though they had the rights to use it for several more years. All these were on the news back then.
What Apple did still makes sense. They secured the privacy of their users and prevented their biggest competitor from making profit using Apple customers. As a result iOS users got access to two competing products. Now tell me why it was a mistake on Apple's part?
In my use, nothing hasn't changed. I still use Google Maps over Apple's solution any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Apple Maps is clearly inferior and will be so for another few years.
Useless as anything but a map viewer
If you go to midtown Manhattan (of of the most data-heavy locations in the US) and search for "gas station", you will get a gift shop, Hess corporate offices, and a dozen other POIs that don't even resemble a gas station. Ironically it fails to find the one that actually exists on 61st and York.
This has been the case since Apple Maps inception and virtually no improvements were made despite mass otcries, desperate marketing moves and cheap talk.
Apple Maps is only useful as a map viewer, I would never trust it for directions or POI searches.
If you go to midtown Manhattan (of of the most data-heavy locations in the US) and search for "gas station", you will get a gift shop, Hess corporate offices, and a dozen other POIs that don't even resemble a gas station. Ironically it fails to find the one that actually exists on 61st and York.
This has been the case since Apple Maps inception and virtually no improvements were made despite mass otcries, desperate marketing moves and cheap talk.
Apple Maps is only useful as a map viewer, I would never trust it for directions or POI searches.
Yes, this would make a Huge improvement.
Also, how many people care more about the exit number off a freeway than the actual road name? Truckers perhaps, but it is distracting trying to listen for the name after the exit number. Isn't this obvious Apple?