Apple Launches New App Store Feature Section for Alternative Maps

[Macist]

I would absolutely hate to work in Apple's Map team right now - the pressure exerted on them must be intolerable. The failing of this product is no fault of theirs, but rather that a mapping solution of this calibre takes years to develop, rather than months and unfortunately Apple made the hasty decision to pull Google Maps prematurely based on corporate politics.

I've no doubt they will get there and Apple Maps will be fantastic, but it's most certainly not there yet. Fingers cross Google release a native iOS app soon!

Yes. It seems that Apple Maps was going in this release of iOS 6 no matter what. If the product had been even more terrible than it is it would still have been in there.

Apple have shot themselves in the foot. They could have simply put Apple Maps in the App Store as an 'alpha' release so curious users could get a glimpse of the future - then simply kept the Google App, even if dated, for another year.

Few would have had a problem with that scenario.

 

[tatonka]

There's nothing wrong with the app. This is a data problem. They can fix the data without re-releasing the app. So it's confusing to call the app itself "beta".

And I'm not at all surprised that the data has imperfections immediately after it was launched. So did google's data when they started.

Apple chose an initial partner that decided to become a competitor. Apple, therefore is behind because they did not foresee either their partner turning on them or that maps would turn out to be such a core piece of functionality for their device. If they had had such foresight, then we'd still be having the same arguments, but during the iPhone 1 timeframe instead of now.

That is just not true. The app has weird loading issues, where it can't seem to be able to figure out which tiles to reload at certain zoom levels. And the app navigation is pretty atrocious (rotate, zoom, tilt are very unintuitiv and often enough the correct gesture is not recognized). Also most importantly the search is horrendous. All stuff that is completely in apples court and has nothing to do with the data they got for contractors. Don't try to put all the blame on the map data alone.

T

 

[hbkscorpio]

They should compensate apple customers

Tim Cook should offer the best paid maps app to apple customers for free as a compensation, right????

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Following this morning's release of an open letter from Tim Cook apologizing for issues with the new Apple-driven Maps app in iOS 6 and mentioning some alternative map options available to users, Apple has also added a new featured section to the App Store highlighting some of those map alternatives.

Image


A host of alternative apps ranging from free to Magellan's $49.99 "RoadMate USA" are available from such brands as Waze, Mapquest, Garmin, Bing, and MotionX.

Apple's embrace of alternative map options seems to be a sign that the company is taking criticism of its own offering seriously, although directing users to downloads through the App Store is still of benefit to Apple. Cook's letter did, however, also promote web-based alternatives such as Google's and Nokia's maps.

Article Link: Apple Launches New App Store Feature Section for Alternative Maps

 

[Macist]

I wonder when the first Microsoft and Nokia Ads quoting Tim Cook's personal recommendations will be published? This really is a horror story for Apple from start to finish.

 

[AppleInTheMud]

Can we finally just let this go and accept the fact that there are other options and that Apple is working to fix it?

No we cant. They need to lean to respect their customers.

Find my iPhone is now also useless... Maps misplace whole streets :-O

But nice they once admit they have fu** up

Hate the iPhone 5 ... But bought another one today :-/ Yeaaa thats crazy - I probaly need help.

One Q - how come find my iPhone on the iMac uses google maps but the iPhone uses the crap from Apple Maps ???

 

[Foggy]

This whole thing with maps shows perfectly how loyal apple users are to apple- even when apple is admitting they released a less than perfect product apple fans will still defend it and say its not that bad, ive been using it without problems etc...


its like sticking your finger in your ears and loudly shouting lalalala when someones critzizing maps

apple can do no wrong- and if apple admits to doing wrong apple is wrong- but not ok so shut up! ♥

It is quite bizarre. I now sort of understand where some of my anti-apple friends are coming from when they talk about Apple faboys.

The maps are crap. They have very publicly admitted they are crap. If the maps where anywhere near acceptable they would not have written a letter of apology to their customers.

 

[Rogifan]

Not a troll. Just a joke.

And very lame.

 

[guspasho]

I think it's great that Apple is trying to own up to its mistakes and offer users alternatives, but why don't they give us back the old Google Maps, at least as an App Store download option? We know Apple developed it with rights from Google that don't expire for another year. They can pull the app from the store in a year when the rights expire, and force us on to Apple Maps in a year when they've had enough input from those who already like it to make it at least as good as Google Maps.

It's the one reason I haven't upgraded to iOS 6, and don't intend to. I don't want to lose my transit directions and my street view. You can't get street view any other way, afaik.

 

[d21mike]

There's nothing wrong with the app. This is a data problem.

The primary supplier of the "data" is TomTom and the CEO for TomTom says it is NOT the data. He is not sure why the Apple Maps App is having these problems (with his data) but his company would be happy to help Apple Fix them. I still say it is Apples Problem to fix. No idea what the problem it but if I had to guess it is related to how they process the data and not the data itself. Just ask a TomTom user to compare an incorrect route produced by the Maps App against a TomTom device or App to see if this is true.

I for one have had very little problems with the New Maps App. But the little problems I have had were not related to the data, it was related to the software. Since I am the user I can also say it could be user error.

This will be a non-issue in 3-6 months.

 

[ahireasu]

Somehow Apple is the only company that isn't allowed to make mistakes... every time one happens it's doomsday this, we're all screwed, and the apocalypse is coming. What's more so amusing is how Apple gets more negative media attention than other tech companies, and even when admitting fault and providing solutions, they're still evil and bad.

This is not a mistake but a case of fraud,when they adv how great and awesome their maps are etc etc. and then launch it and sell it and i find out they lied and its in beta state,none functional in 90% of the world thats called fraud simple as that.
Give me the same app with all the goods they promised me when i was buying their phone for free and i will forgive their "mistake".

 

[Crosbie]

Hmmm... this may be a bit of a backhanded concession.

On the UK app store Maps Feature Section:

Bing Get Me There: London only. 2 1/2 stars. First review: "Constant cannot find route errors".

Garmin: £39.99

AA Satnav: £24.99

Navigon: £59.99

ForeverMap: at £1.49 and a whopping 3 1/2 stars (84 reviews), this seems like the best option, until...

Waze: Free. 4 1/2 stars (1,104 reviews). Top of the Feature Section. And Apple license their data for maps.

Google Maps: Oh, no, wait.

Cunning, no?

The message is: This stuff is hard. We offer you a high value service. We chose the best partners. Google aren't there to help you.

 

[Freyqq]

Google may be waiting for this to play out a little longer. Simply the people that sell these phones, despite thinking that they're very sophisticated, aren't. If it resonates that maps suck on Apple, that's going to be the downside to iPhone that every sales guy will repeat at point of purchase.

Now that won't deter an apple fan, an android fan, an MS fan, or an expert, but it will change purchasing for undecided/ new smartphone customers.

The thing is, apple could release their old map app without google's permission. It was just on macrumors the other day that apple still has a YEAR left on their contract with google, so they could still use their google maps app for a year without any alterations.

 

[natedizzles]

Apple will never win. If they F up people complain and demand free products and an apology. But when the company comes out and apologizes, people still complain and say apologizing is a weak move in Apple's part. Quit being babies

 

[Oracle1729]

Not to mention, most people don't want to have to "hack" on their phone to make it perform well.

Who died and let you speak for "most" people. I'd say the thriving iOS jailbreak community as well as the entire android community would like to disagree with you.

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Because Google's data and routing has always been and is today....flawless. Right? RIGHT?

Wow...so Apple's steaming pile of crap that Timmy just publicly apologized for is no worse than the data set in google because google is not flawless? Do you actually believe the garbage you spout? Everything that's not flawless is equally bad? Well macOS sure isn't flawless so I guess in your warped view, Windows is just as good.

 

[d21mike]

This whole thing with maps shows perfectly how loyal apple users are to apple- even when apple is admitting they released a less than perfect product apple fans will still defend it and say its not that bad, ive been using it without problems etc...


its like sticking your finger in your ears and loudly shouting lalalala when someones critzizing maps

apple can do no wrong- and if apple admits to doing wrong apple is wrong- but not ok so shut up! ♥

Wow. Software that is "less then perfect" and Apple Fans say that "less then perfect" = "not that bad". Sounds like you think fans are saying "not that bad" = "almost perfect". I don't think so....

I am not ashamed to say I am an Apple Fan. And yes their software is less then perfect but this new Maps App is much better then the prior version (for most of us). So I agree with their direction. And yes, like Tim I agree that in some ares it needs to be fixed. But for some of us that had the Maps App located on page 2 or 3 out of the way and never used this App is now on Page one and I use it frequently.

Disclaimer: I use the Maps App for Turn by Turn Navigation. I do not use Street View and I live in the Los Angeles Area and I do not use public transportation. If I did I would simply get another App like I did with Navigon prior to iOS 6. Not a big deal for me.

 

[Oracle1729]

Apple will never win. If they F up people complain and demand free products and an apology. But when the company comes out and apologizes, people still complain and say apologizing is a weak move in Apple's part. Quit being babies

This is an F up that never should have happened. Timmy's panties are in a knot over goggle so he prematurely pulled google maps. He cut off Apples nose to spite its face and f'd over Apple users because of his own anger management issues.

 

[theluggage]

There's nothing wrong with the app. This is a data problem. They can fix the data without re-releasing the app. So it's confusing to call the app itself "beta".

It's a MAP application. From the end user's perspective the distinction between the application and the data is irrelevant.

Then there are things like Street View - (a) the App doesn't do it and (b) where are Apple going to get the data? Google spent years assembling that data.

Ditto public transport - the feature just isn't there. Google may not have been perfect but it was a good starting point. Now it gives me the wonderful opportunity of reviewing a list of app store apps which may or may not do the job (rinse and repeat every time you visit a new country/city).

How about fixing the colour coding of roads? In the UK, Google Maps used the blue/green/orange/yellow/white scheme similar to the 'standard' OS map convention. Apple Maps just shows anything 4 lanes or above yellow and anything smaller is white.

That's ignoring the problems with POIs (which I'm sure will improve), Map Accuracy (a huge job) and crap satellite/arial imgaery (the best I've found in my area is almost as good as Google, the worst is worse than I ever remember seeing on Google even in the early days - they at least had the nous to find stuff that wasn't obscured by clouds).

 

[apolloa]

Their was nothing wrong with Google maps, it worked fine for the times I used it. I only ever use TomTom for my car though as it is miles better then anything Google or Apple can make.

But whilst I have no problem with Apples maps, I fail to see any point in launching it when it's a half arsed effort that cannot offer the same coverage or features as what it's replacing? It is a very bad image to say, 'hey look we got rid of something you use and works to make our own, but it doesn't work?'

They need to fix it quick, it can't remain in beta like Siri did for x amount of months as users have had the alternative working fine for years. If Apple cannot fix it then they really should let users use the full Google maps again.

 

[VanityBonet]

What? I don't want another app...I just want Apple to sort out their Maps...you're all too up Apples ass to see we're being p****d on!

exactly....who want to download other apps for transit when it was built into the regular old IOS but i forget the iphone is a rich person phone

 

[iChrist]

Pretty sad. All Apple needed to do is call it a beta and keep the existing maps on there until an update when it was ready.

EXACTLY.

Cook is making Apple look like stupid fool. Wow, can not believe! Every year has a major fail on release, but this is worst evaarrrr!

 

[Vulkan]

Tim Cook should offer the best paid maps app to apple customers for free as a compensation, right????

Ummm. No. How much did you pay for the Maps app again? In fact how much you paid for iOS6 (excluding buying a new iPhone 5).

I'll tell you how much... zip, zilch, nada.

 

[apolloa]

exactly....who want to download other apps for transit when it was built into the regular old IOS but i forget the iphone is a rich person phone

Exactly, people are literally hitting the roof due to paying hundreds for a device that has chipped paint etc out the box, but they are fine when Apple knowingly and deliberately break one of the software features on ALL iOS devices that upgrade to iOS 6!

I guess we can think of it along the same lines as the News Stand app you cannot move or delete, you can use these features that's fine, so long as you use OUR software features and no one else's....

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Ummm. No. How much did you pay for the Maps app again? In fact how much you paid for iOS6 (excluding buying a new iPhone 5).

I'll tell you how much... zip, zilch, nada.

Actually I'm pretty sure you have more then paid for it in the price of the iOS device and all those apps and music etc you purchased on it.

 

[coolbreeze]

Pin a Nokia map shortcut to your screen.

Done. How embarrassing.

 

[MacInTO]

This is such a pain in the ass. I was just on vacation in London and upgraded to OS6. While I was out and about, I tried to get transit directions and - boom - it wasn't there anymore!

Apple is the new Microsoft. Makes me want to switch to Android.

 

[Jjaro]

Pretty sad. All Apple needed to do is call it a beta and keep the existing maps on there until an update when it was ready.

Agreed!! This is the lowest I've ever seen from Apple, software-wise.

Also, I assume lots of you who say it's not that bad live in the US. I am an American living in Japan, and iOS 6 maps is absolute garbage for this country. They should just say "Screw it" and bring back Google maps till their own Maps app is ready in a year or two. I love Apple, but they totally dropped the ball on this, and FORCING us to continue to use their incomplete version of maps is absolutely unacceptable.

I will say though I like how it scales better and loads faster, but that's it.