Apple Fixes Australian Map Error That Caused Police Warning, Issue Traced to Official Gazetteer

[J53119]

Just buy a real GPS, problem solved. Easy to find one under $100 with lifetime maps.

 

[paul8]

Gladstone QLD Australia also incorrect

If you do a search of Gladstone QLD, Australia, it shows the city incorrectly located several miles to the South.

 

[gnasher729]

I suspect it's just the sheer quantity of them. I was thinking about my city of around 500,000 people. I think 500 user corrections from here is a reasonable guess (not many people will submit, but some will submit a lot). Scale that up to all the territories where apple maps is used and you can easily imagine over a million submitted corrections in total. You can argue about the numbers, but it's clear that the numbers are BIG! Because it's messy data it's just too much data to process. A large country on a war footing would stuggle with the task! Apple has no chance.

I personally can't see apple maps ever catching up with google. They're not racing towards a finish line where google is catching its breath - google are still running.

Apple can of course do it. It's not really difficult. What Apple has to learn is that this is a problem that cannot be fixed by hiring a handful of very clever people, but you need an awful lot of people who don't need to be very clever (just not totally stupid either).

 

[rmwebs]

Are you serious??? You believe that for all errors Apple is correcting one piece of incorrect data at a time, as opposed to a systems approach?

Actually its not as simple as that.

Apple has bad data sources. Old data sources.

To get all of their data updated quickly, they need to license it from other mapping providers, such as Google, Microsoft or Nokia. Clearly the data they use from Tom Tom is not up to scratch. It's not a simple case of fixing some system bugs - the data doesnt exist, you cant just magically recreate that, it takes years to do that.

The ONLY way Apple will get Maps sorted out fast, is to license from one of the big players, or admit defeat and give everyone the tried and tested Google Maps back.

I cant see them taking either option though as they suck at services and seem blinded by the fact that their team of ~100 will never compete with Google's 7900+ that work just on Maps.

 

[hamkor04]

But that's just me I guess.

Perhaps, Yes
You are the one who uses his brain

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Just buy a real GPS, problem solved. Easy to find one under $100 with lifetime maps.

I'm afraid that's not the solution,
Lots of people pays lots of money for Smartphones to keep everything in one place

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Yes we we do. Particularly an enforced court order to make Apple remove their Maps from existence.

good idea, but who would be Pioneer?

 

[petsounds]

EXACTLY what I wrote. Ripping off Google Maps, the PLATFORM, the features, the functions, the look-and-feel, basically EVERYTHING.

Unlike Apple however, Google isn't suing them, just making a FAR SUPERIOR product and letting the consumer decide.

Really? By your logic, I guess MapQuest should sue Google then.

Apple hasn't implemented any map features that aren't generic to other mapping solutions.

 

[KnightWRX]

Actually its not as simple as that.

Apple has bad data sources. Old data sources.

Apple also has badly integrated good data. Some TomTom data is showing up wrong in Apple's mapping back-end, but was verified OK by TomTom. Apple has had issues integrating data from the different vendors into its database, introducing errors there.

So really, they have a ton of things to look at and fix.

 

[435713]

Just buy a real GPS, problem solved. Easy to find one under $100 with lifetime maps.

For people that use the heck out of GPS this is a good idea to me as well. Also learn how to read a real map, you know that stuff called paper... or a compass so people don't get any more dumber..... wait too late it's happening.

 

[840quadra]

Same here. Why is that some may ask? Because you have to type in your password every dam time.

Turn on passcode lock, problem solved.

 

[KdParker]

Why in the world did Apple ditch Google Maps? Was it a case of "Not Invented Here Syndrome?"

Seriously strange - I mean does Apple have a YouTube site, a Facebook clone, or what else? It's strange that they decided to ditch Google Maps.

Or why not just purchase a company like Garmin?

Timing.

Google would get off the goodies to allow apple to use siri with voice directions. So...contract up...needed a solution.

This will work out in the end, but apple is going to have invest alot more resources to getting issues like this corrected outside the US.

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Apple also has badly integrated good data. Some TomTom data is showing up wrong in Apple's mapping back-end, but was verified OK by TomTom. Apple has had issues integrating data from the different vendors into its database, introducing errors there.

So really, they have a ton of things to look at and fix.

And they should dedicate the resources to correct these issues ASAP.

 

[iphoneclassic]

because google refused to allow apple to get turn-by-turn directions under the license... Not because they wanted to get into the mapping business.

They wanted to get into iOS App business. Even though there are million+ apps none of those are written by Apple. With so much money flowing thru their eco system, probably Apple management decided to do something get a major chunk of it. This is supposed to be their dip their toes in the water moment. Either by ignorance or arrogance Apple thought they can do everything thru software, without manual data integration between different data layers, like Google did. Apple is not going hire 7000+ people.

 

[i.mac]

Why in the world did Apple ditch Google Maps? Was it a case of "Not Invented Here Syndrome?"

Seriously strange - I mean does Apple have a YouTube site, a Facebook clone, or what else? It's strange that they decided to ditch Google Maps.

Or why not just purchase a company like Garmin?

if you need to ask the question, then you need to ditch your idevice(s).

 

[KnightWRX]

And they should dedicate the resources to correct these issues ASAP.

I'm not doubting they are. What I am doubting is the easyness/triviality of the fixes as many seem to think here. This is not going to be easy to fix. It's going to require expertise in both GIS and Cartography on top of data lifecycle management and actual programming. This is really a multi-disciplinary problem and the team in charge of it had a lot of work on their plates building it, but getting it right might require bringing in more people with different talent sets than what the team already has.

Hiring, consulting, integrating partners, it all takes time and for Apple, time is not on their side on this one. That, and money can't buy time.

 

[Worldinmii]

They should send Scott Forstall there as punishment.

Brilliant!!! lol

 

[KdParker]

Apple can of course do it. It's not really difficult. What Apple has to learn is that this is a problem that cannot be fixed by hiring a handful of very clever people, but you need an awful lot of people who don't need to be very clever (just not totally stupid either).

They just have to pay them well and realise that this will be an ongoing expensive effort.

 

[Worldinmii]

The only silver lining I hope comes out of all of this is that Cook is sincere and genuine about the whole "putting the weight of the company behind fixing Maps", and that in time (ASAP) Maps ends up being better than it might otherwise have been if it hadn't been so bad in the first place.

I really wish they'd launch some online reporting system where we could somehow see what sort of progress is being made. So even if corrections we are not seeing corrections we've reported being fixed, it would be possible to see something, rather than reported errors going into a black hole, and seemingly never being fixed.

I completely agree, that would be a step in the right direction for Apple. Yeah not everything is getting fixed today, but look here are the things that have been fixed! We ARE working, it's not just when it's on the news!

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Truth. Almost 2 months ago, I reported a place (via report a problem button) that was closed and it is still there on the maps.

2 months for me too and reported various times. Apparently a large shopping mall WITH an Apple store, can actually be located in the middle of a 2 lane street?

 

[PracticalMac]

So they fix ONE issue.

999,999,999 to go!


Apple should still put the OLD Maps back in.

 

[apolloa]

But even so the problem you described is still with the mapping data. The fact that they can make all these fixes on the server side without any updates whatsoever to the actual iOS application shows that.

The actual Maps application here on my new iPhone 5 has been nearly flawless. Turn-by-turn works great, telling Siri to find me directions works well, and they look really nice with the vector graphics.

But yeah, there are still many problems with the mapping data, and whether the data Apple got from TomTom/Yelp/other partners was off or the engineers implementation of this data was off probably varies from problem to problem.

That said, Apple has clearly acknowledged there are problems here and are most definitely working hard to fix it, but it will take some time. But, in a couple years, we'll all look back and laugh.

Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong!

If you peel back the Apple app map view the app proudly states it's data is provided by TomTom, yet in my nearest town of around 20 thousand homes, my TomTom satnav (Not the built in Apple maps app) app on my iPhone can find a LOT and I mean a LOT of VERY well known and long standing businesses like PC World, and Esso petrol stations that APPLE'S map app doesn't think exist, in fact the Apple maps app thinks the nearest PC World store is about 90 miles away from myself, not the 12 miles it actually is!!

So Sorry, in the UK at least, to blame Apple's cock up on the map data supplied is totally incorrect.

 

[discuit]

These folks should be thanking Apple for getting them started on the Walkabout that they always dreamed of doing but never found the time!

 

[maroontiger2k9]

So they fix ONE issue.

999,999,999 to go!


Apple should still put the OLD Maps back in.

Not sure if serious... Apple broke off with Google/Google Maps.. and for the simple fact of apple's EPIC FAIL with Maps, im sure Google will price gouge them more than any competitor

Apple just needs to throw a big check over to Tomtom and work something out as a lifetime agreement... apple (and every other company) isnt built to integrate into every market... find your niche and dont deploy anything unless its bulletproof... apple used to do this well

this is a MAJOR problem.. waaaaaaaaaay bigger than the antenna-gate scandal... idk what apple was thinking by taking this on... maybe they bought a boutique or small company specializing in maps/etc but they have completely failed at this...

like i've said in another thread... i wouldnt trust Apple Maps (functionality, ease of use, accuracy, etc) with my family members if they have to drive in or through any unfamiliar territory...

and one last rant... the maps wont compromise the company.. as much as iphone 6/5s will.. they cant just continue to rehash old phone builds... they need to be more ambitous

 

[maroontiger2k9]

I wish I could down-vote posts. I definitely think that having an accurate map is more important than turn-by-turn directions.

or for those who have a paid navigation app... we prefer having both

apple needs to scrap MAPS in terms of in-house development... they've scrapped alot of small scale (in-house) games and apps before..

just take the L Apple.. and move on... MAPS is an enormous undertaking

 

[apolloa]

I'm not doubting they are. What I am doubting is the easyness/triviality of the fixes as many seem to think here. This is not going to be easy to fix. It's going to require expertise in both GIS and Cartography on top of data lifecycle management and actual programming. This is really a multi-disciplinary problem and the team in charge of it had a lot of work on their plates building it, but getting it right might require bringing in more people with different talent sets than what the team already has.

Hiring, consulting, integrating partners, it all takes time and for Apple, time is not on their side on this one. That, and money can't buy time.

And you highlighted another example of how Apple's arrogance has ruined customer experience, remove one thing that works and has what you mention in place and has done for years, and replace it with something that is totally brocken and lacks everything you said above.

 

[lilo777]

Apple can of course do it. It's not really difficult. What Apple has to learn is that this is a problem that cannot be fixed by hiring a handful of very clever people, but you need an awful lot of people who don't need to be very clever (just not totally stupid either).

I agree. But there may be even more to that. Since Apple gets mapping data from Tom Tom, how will they integrate data corrections made by Apple back into Tom Tom's data? Because if they don't Apple will have to merge their own updates with the new data they get from Tom Tom. It's not an easy thing. Without having some mechanism for updating Tom Tom's data fixing Apple's own data based on user input might be a pointless exercize.

 

[iChrist]

Ouch. Has an app ever been labeled as "life-threatening" before?

ANYTHING can be life-threatening, depending on what kind of moron is using it.

 

[ncaissie]

Too many people here bitching about first world problems. You all know people survived without smart phones and built-in GPS for thousands of years right?

So that makes it right for Apple to remove a great app and replace it with a piece of crap on a device that cost me $950?

Ok