Apple Exec Explains Why You Should Use Apple Maps

[MacRumors]

Apple Maps Product Lead David Dorn and Design Lead Meg Frost recently did an interview with CNN to explain the Apple Maps features that were introduced with the iOS 15 update and to explain why iPhone users should choose Apple Maps over other mapping apps like Google and Waze.

According to Dorn, there are three major reasons why Apple Maps is the best choice.

1. Apple is making serious investments into Maps to improve it.
2. Privacy is central and Apple isn't tracking your location for data purposes when you use Apple Maps.
3. Maps is part of the Apple ecosystem and integrates well with other Apple devices and services.

Apple's effort into improving the Maps app can be seen in iOS 15, an update that added new 3D city details in select areas like London, New York, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. There are also navigation updates that add more detail at complex interchanges. Frost said that Apple wanted to make maps "both safer and visually satisfying to navigate."

As for the 3D landmarks added in the update, each landmark is created by hand. "We pick the amount of detail we find appropriate and create a 3D mesh of the building landmark itself. And we apply it to the base map," Frost told CNN.

The full Apple Maps interview can be read over on CNN's website, and it provides more detail on features like Share ETA, CarPlay, real-time AR walking directions, and more.

Article Link: Apple Exec Explains Why You Should Use Apple Maps

 

[gsmornot]

I use Maps all the time. I just wish we could add the one feature everyone uses Waze for and have it available without navigation.

 

[DHagan4755]

Google Maps used to be a 100% lock for me but I must say Apple Maps has come a looong way — especially in iOS 15/macOS Monterey.

 

[mrr]

I am a fan of Apple Maps.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I love Apple Maps. It has come a very long way. No need to explain it.

Did you know Apple Maps was Steve Jobs's idea!

Apple Maps Was Steve Jobs' Idea

Following the Apple's iOS 6 Maps letdown, some suggested Steve Jobs never would never have released such an inferior product. But "Apple insiders" have told Bloomberg Businessweek's Brad Stone, Adam Satariano, and Peter Burrows that an Apple-made mapping service was all his idea.

amp.theatlantic.com

🥺🥺🥺

 

[ignatius345]

I use Maps all the time. I just wish we could add the one feature everyone uses Waze for and have it available without navigation.

What is that feature?

I've been all in on Apple Maps for years now. It's been excellent at route planning and navigation, but it still lags behind Google when it comes to POIs (points of interest). I'm still hitting on too many occasions when I have to look for a restaurant or something on Google Maps and then use Apple Maps to navigate to it.

My other big wish list item is offline maps which can be super handy in areas of poor internet connectivity, or when travelling.

Still, I'm very impressed with the improvements to rendering and detail, and I use the Guides feature heavily to keep track of destinations of all kinds.

 

[Blackstick]

Only took them a decade to get it into shape...

 

[PilotWoo]

When they make significant progress on point 1, I may start using it. It certainly is getting better. It's just not as good as Google Maps at the moment.

 

[megastuff999]

4. Errr because we really would like it if you did

 

[blairh]

I tried. Can’t compete with google maps IMO.

 

[flashram]

A roundabout was built down the road from me back in March of this year. Google Maps and Waze had their maps updated within 2 weeks. I submitted the change to Apple numerous times and as of today they still haven't updated the intersection. I want to like Apple Maps but they make it really hard.

 

[videosoul]

Points 2 and 3 are great.

Point 1, well... good effort. But in my experience, in London (a major world city), Apple Maps is severely lacking compared to Google Maps.

The interface is great, the quality of aerial photos is great, the Look Around feature is great..... but there are just so many inaccuracies and so many missing labels compared to Google Maps. I have had countless experiences of Google Maps being better updated in terms of labels of businesses etc, shop opening hours, and navigation. I always do my best to retport these, but most of the time it's just quicker and easier to use Google Maps.

Can't even do simple things like multi-stop route planning and "set arrival time"!

And Waze is, in my experience, vastly superior for driving navigation.

A shame really. I'll keep fighting the good fight!

 

[DrV]

I usually use Waze. It gives more reliable ETA estimates and has more information about possible interesting activity along the route.

As soon as Apple Maps is equally good at these, I’ll switch due to the reasons given in the article. (Even though the argument about serious investment is silly. I don’t care how much money has been spent, I care about the result.)

 

[xfusejc]

What is that feature?

I would imagine the ability to share information along a route with others, like cop ahead or objects on the road or hazard conditions. Particularly the cop ahead lol it’s the only reason I use Waze, when I’m doing a long drive.

 

[fockx]

Used to really enjoy using it, but ever since 14.0 and upwards it has become a stuttery, low frame rate mess for me. Not sure what happened, made a bug report for every version since but up until now it's still exactly the same for me.

 

[contacos]

Apple Maps is never up to date but as usual, Apple focuses too much on the US market only while Google does things internationally asap. Once in a while I try AM again but it never has the latest streets being closed due to construction sites etc and I end up in a dead end.

Can you download cities for offline navigation on AM?

 

[now i see it]

“You should use Apple Maps because I work at Apple”

 

[jafd]

Meanwhile in more remote and rural areas, Apple Maps mightily sucks.

For example, where I live it shows that there's a road where there's a bridge defunct for a couple decades. Moreover, it navigates over that "bridge" when I ask it for driving directions. Even in the days of its glory, that bridge was for pedestrians and cyclists only, so it's absurd for Apple to even suggest a car should go there even if it was using some outdated data sources that showed some outdated facts.

I reported it to Apple over two years ago. Nothing has been done about it.

This is why my map application of choice is OsmAnd+. Apple Maps can go pound sand.

 

[RickDEGH]

Make it useful and I’ll gladly use it! I need bike navigation in Germany, at least!

 

[Kkspire]

Big fan of Apple Maps simple and accurate. Also much more responsive to issues your report. Google maps is trying to make phone calls, sell you hotel reservations, get you to fly to New Guinea, and stop at Taco Bell on the way.

 

[ignatius345]

I would imagine the ability to share information along a route with others, like cop ahead or objects on the road or hazard conditions. Particularly the cop ahead lol it’s the only reason I use Waze, when I’m doing a long drive.

Apple Maps has that now. I get them popping up all the time. I think there are fewer user-reported hazards because there are way fewer Apple Maps users than users of Waze and Google Maps, but the feature is there.

 

[guinnessduck]

What is that feature?

Probably the ability to just have a driving mode where you don't need to set a destination. It gives you all the info like speed of the road, traffic, accident reports, etc. as you drive along without having to bother to tell it where you are headed. I like doing that for traveling places I go all the time. I don't need the navigation telling me when to turn if it's just my daily commute. I just need to see if there's an accident up ahead, or some crazy traffic and I might want to take the back way. It's something I would love Apple Maps to add as its a feature I use all the time on other navigation apps.

 

[BrownyQ]

I swapped to it after a lifetime of Google Maps, just to give it a try as I've moved away from Google's services. It's okay, it does the job. Have yet to find a situation where it's let me down.

 

[Kylo83]

Doesn’t show your speed while driving, is terrible with speed cameras and it doesn’t have much places stored to search for and traffic is bad on it, Tom Tom app is the best

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

This is comedy gold.