Apple Maps is a lost cause. Pointless to be in this line of business. One of Apple's worst decisions.
Not really, just last on in on this...the newbie. Comparing to Google maps, in a way, isn't fair...Google did maps online for years before iPhone came around. I used to use google maps over map quest online, print my maps, take them with me. This was years before Apple made iPhone or any smart phone that could do mapping. Google has many years of mapping experience, thus the advantage. But, I dumped them when Apple dropped them, I installed it, but, in attempting to accesss my bookmarks and such, with google maps, I had to "log in" to use them, and I'm not willing to do this, didn't need to before and don't need to with Apple Maps. I have many other reasons now for not using google maps, the app has not been on my iPhone since this (this was when iOS 6 first came out).
• Apple Maps is superior in one basic way though: vector based, not bitmapped, thus, uses much less data, and can be a lot faster. This especially effects zooming and such.
Does Apple maps have offline maps and or real GPS?
Offline maps: No, but, I like ThunderSkunk's post (quoted below) for a way to do this!
"real GPS"? All iPhones have GPS built in, but, not iPod Touch nor all iPads. What do you mean? If you have iPhone 4s or 5 (not sure which) or newer, you can get turn by turn directions, is that what you mean? Or do you mean where new dedicated GPS units now have feature to show you which lane you need to be in? No, no update for this yet, would be helpful, I've missed turns because Apple Maps misses the fact I need to turn or take a Y to stay on the road before the next turn it's showing me.
You do realize its your phone gathering and providing location to the app right?
But, it's what the app does with that information that matters.
Apple Maps still does not allow users to select "no toll", "no highway" route.
agree, much needed!
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 POIs must be 3-4 year out of date and the reviews a couple of years.
don't even get me started, Yelp sucks, can't believe Apple went with Yelp. Another issue with Yelp: sometimes it depends on if I am using Maps or switch to Yelp for the same business, one will locate it correctly, the other puts it down the street...one time Yelp app wanted me to find this business on the overpass! It didn't matter that I first searched in Maps app, then click for more info on Yelp, then got directions, Maps app got it right (wow, somehow, not sure how), Yelp put me on the overpass. ...Yelp still to this day does not make changes I requested 2 years ago, thinks their info. is correct when my blue GPS dot proves they are wrong.
More data in an app that still barely useful in use all these years and high-profile firings later. Every time I take another trip, I get the feeling that no one at Apple actually uses their own Maps app, or never travels beyond urban neighborhoods.
If they did, they would immediately discover these basic things sorely missing from Apple Maps and address them:
1. Planning a route of more than one destination. ie: I have 5 errands to run, and I need to do three of them in a certain order, what are some routes? Fastest, shortest distance, bonus points for the least gas guzzling based on speeds, stops & distance?
2. Load and STORE the maps. Out on the road, you cannot count on a steady, stable, high speed cellular connection at your disposal. When a user initially asks for directions, they should have a "Save route" option, whereupon the app begins downloading the maps along that route to LOCAL STORAGE, including the fine detail maps illustrating turns, areas off route to the nearest gas station, and ask the user how long they'd like to store them, a day, week, month, year. Upon completing a route, the app should ask if it's ok to delete that route & maps, or if you'd like to store it, or if you'd like to use it again for the return trip.
3. When a user asks the app for directions, and then proceeds down that route, and the app follows the users location along that route for a quarter mile or more, the app should consider the person en route. Forgetting their route and dumping their maps at some random point (usually when you stop for gas) because they didn't hit a "start" button is a stupid way of leaving people stranded and lost. Less buttons, more usefulness.
4. Show useful map data. A 50 foot view down a straight highway with a semi intelligible note about the next turn, is not useful. The overview should always show the users position. A view that auto-zooms to shows our position on the REMAINING route with a preview of the next upcoming turn so you can get in the correct lane early would be helpful. In-line directions should actively zoom between you and your next turn or exit.
5. Tap on upcoming exits to display how far away their gas and restaurants are. ...better yet, ever-present "GAS" & "FOOD" icons, that at any point can tell you where the nearest options are. Like asking Siri, but able to be performed out in the boonies where there aren't reliable cellular connections, because it should be able to read that data off its LOCALLY STORED MAPS.
6. On-screen toggles for voice instructions volume & mute, independent of the levels the music or podcasts you're listening to are playing at.
Etc. All things that Apple can do or sit back and watch their competition do.
Leaving for another 3-state drive in 6 minutes. Bringing the wifes iPad, and several road atlases.
I totally agree with this statement: "Every time I take another trip, I get the feeling that no one at Apple actually uses their own Maps app, or never travels beyond urban neighborhoods."
I agree with most of what you say here.
1) Yes, this is long overdue!
2) This is a great idea!
Great way to store a route map, which won't take up as much as storing all maps!
3) I'm not sure what you mean here. Maps are still in memory, I've only lost them if I restart my iPhone enroute. If I'm using turn by turn directions and go off to get gas, it tries to reroute, but can't if no service, but, once I get back on the route it's back to giving me directions. If not using turn by turn, it should still have your mapped out route there in blue.
4) I'm guessing you are zoomed in, but not using turn by turn directions? I have found turn by turn directions to do exactly what you say here. It shows my path with a blue line down the street where I need to go. If it tells me to turn on main st a quarter mile ahead, I can see the other streets as I come up to them and pass them, but, main st will be ahead in blue where I need to turn. Once in turn by turn, BTW, you can also zoom a bit in or out.
5) This is good too. Back with iOS 6 I was very disappointed in apple choosing to buy Yelp for POI data, it's really crap, wish they would have bought Foursquare...but, now that MS owns it, it's gone to crap too. Apple needs to come up with their own solution. I too would like POI data along my route, say, within 3 miles of it (whatever distance I want). (I have suggested this to apple). All any app can do currently is find according to a certain distance in a round circle from my blue GPS dot. Within Maps, when you search, it will search within the area you are zoomed in to. I have found I get more closer places when I zoom in more, and see more places down the road when I zoom out. Still, nothing is really great yet.
6) The voice for Maps can be turned up or down within the app (w/turn by turn) I think bottom right button, or here: Settings>Maps>Navigation Voice Volume. Normal will be at the same level as your music, Low or Loud will be, respectively, softer or louder than music.
• While in turn by turn mode, you can tap on the map to bring up the top bar of phone to see your reception & the clock for current time (shows for a few seconds); (I think this also brings up some things at bottom, bottom right you can change volume). If you click on the top section that shows next turn, it will voice repeat next turn.
It is limited in how many characters you can type, but, summarize a suggestion here:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html
I would like to see features such as Speed Cameras and Speed Limit for the current road you are travelling on.
I would be prepared to pay a small amount for the speed camera function as i know it costs money to keep on top of maintaining this service.
1st world problems
too lazy to pay attention and read the speed limit sign? But, wait, you want to know where speed cameras are too. ...Or is it that you just want to be able to speed and get away with it? I'm so tired of this mentality in USA, I wish speed cameras were on every interstate highway in the US and every single person that goes 10 or more over the speed limit got tickets, no way out of them. Have this run in a respectable way, such as by Highway Safety admin., not police or other department, police have enough to do. I drive a lot and I see so many people drive 10, 15 20 or faster, then when there's a cop, slam the brakes, go below speed limit, then back up when they are out of range.
If you want to drive fast, join your local (legal) street car race club, and keep it off the streets!!
