Apple Launches New App Store Feature Section for Alternative Maps

[twigman08]

Apps available in the Apple app store are Apple's competitors?

Do you read the stuff you write?

When I think about it, assuming someone bought a paid app, wouldn't Apple be making off this? lol.

Just to say though: Apple Maps has been working flawless for me and have no problem using them over Google Maps. Though I understand why some people may not like them right now.

 

[faroZ06]

I feel this whole situation is overblown and Apple shouldn't have had to take this unnecessary step. I mean, aside from Google, who has decent map data? Garmin? TomTom? I've had problems with all of them.

Apple's map data IS from TomTom. They somehow screwed it up even though TomTom's data is good.

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Honestly, I've always used MapQuest. Seriously, give it a try. Turn-by-turn directions, voice guidance, and it's free!

Yep, MapQuest is probably the best thing out there. I used it for navigation because Google Maps couldn't do voice navigation. Apple Maps can't, either, on my iPhone 4.

 

[slffl]

It's so funny, most of them are navigation apps, which wasn't even part of the old Google maps app!!! God I get so sick of the media who sensationalize everything Apple to get clicks.

I for one LOVE Apple maps and it has replaced MotionX GPS Maps as my daily GPS app.

 

[macingman]

This is a new low for Apple...

EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I love the new Apple maps, and while I'm sure there are lots of people affected negatively by the bad data their software is perfect and I have yet to come across a problem with it. In fact, I'm going to sell my Garmin GPS Navigation system and use the money to buy myself car accessories for my iPhone 5.

I feel this whole situation is overblown and Apple shouldn't have had to take this unnecessary step. I mean, aside from Google, who has decent map data? Garmin? TomTom? I've had problems with all of them.

I would assume you are in the US. Here in Australia the maps are terrible, there are some major cities which the pins for them are hundreds of kilometres of where the city actually is.

 

[jashic]

Do you have any idea at how pathetic your post is? LOL

I have a suggestion for everybody who finds that their panties are in an uproar. Return your phone, buy something else and quit with your pissing and moaning.

Understand that for every single person complaining about Maps, there are *thousands* of people using it and enjoying it each and every day.

This is quite an ignorant statement. You do realize there are about 300MM ppl in the US and like 10 Billion worldwide right? You do know they sell the iPhone outside of the US, right? Do you realize that entire cities are missing from Apple Maps outside the US, right? Oh but you don't care because your world is San Diego. Lastly, you realize that millions of NON-US people upgraded to iOS6 then realized the maps don't show their city and then realize Apple doesn't support you going back to iOS5, right? Suddenly, as an App developer who directs people using the maps SDK suddenly doesn't work on 60% of iOS5 users who have upgraded to iOS6, right?

I think some people, if Apple would take back our Apple 4 and 4S's would probably do so. Return it? You're kidding right? They basically took away something they've had in the iPhone since iPhone ONE. Something I already had working great on my phone 3 weeks ago.





Expand your mind.

 

[adder7712]

I would assume you are in the US. Here in Australia the maps are terrible, there are some major cities which the pins for them are hundreds of kilometres of where the city actually is.

Don't get me started on the maps for Malaysia. Non-existent businesses pop-up out of nowhere after the update.

 

[roxxette]

This whole discussion has nothing to do with the topic of Apple Maps sucking...

Agree.

 

[Rogifan]

Well if the NY Times is to be believed I think the maps fiasco can be placed squarely at Steve's feet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/29/t...es-for-misstep-on-maps.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

This quote at the end of the article is interesting:
Leslie Grandy, a former Apple manager who ran its online store, said it had been challenging for Apple to rapidly develop new and better versions of its services to compete with Internet-focused rivals.

“I think there’s a bigger question of whether hardware companies can be services companies,” she said.

 

[JayJayAbels]

This is absolutely without a doubt the fault of the media and its scramble for headlines. Apple Maps works fine. No it's not as refined as Googles maps but it's also brand new. The problem is... no one has any patience especially these younger kids. And they are the most vocal.

Apple is smart enough to counter the allegations directly and swiftly. It's smart Public Relations and they will be JUST fine in a few months.

 

[ipedro]

Best GPS experience

After what I just experienced, I feel bad that Tim Cook has had to apologize.... because Apple Maps are EXCELLENT! -- well, at least here in Toronto.

I just had the best GPS experience ever, hands down.

I got called to a job out of the downtown where I live to an area where I had no idea where the heck I was going. It's nighttime and didn't know the area I was going to.

I got in the car, put the iPhone 5 to my ear and Siri prompted me to speak: "I need to get to xxxx St. Clair Avenue". Siri said: "Here are the directions to..."

The directions were clear and the visual UI was super simple, free of clutter and designed to be read at a glance when driving. Upcoming cross streets are clearly marked and the 3D view makes it easy to understand where you're headed. Instructions came with enough time to get in the proper lane. Distance to your next turn is measured super accurately. I was mere metres away from a turn and the next turn sign indicated that. I also purposefully made a couple of alternate turns and Maps adjusted my route.

When I was at a stop light, I tapped "Overview to see how far along I was and was able to look at the remaining route without cancelling my current directions. The light turned green, I hit resume and was on my way.

Maps took me right to the front door of this brand new restaurant that hasn't been added to any mapping service. Amazing iOS Maps indeed.

 

[JayJayAbels]

"The problem here is that Apple is not producing its own map data. They use data from Tom Tom which in 2008 acquired Tele Atlas. Tele Atlas is the company behind map data. Tele Atlas has been in map data business for much longer than Google (since 1984). While they do have decent road/street data they do not have the wealth of information that Google has. They have not been able to collect this data since 1984. How long do you think it may take them to catch up with Google? Forever?"

And Google gained the majority of its data through Apples installed user base on iOS.

So... not long.

 

[petsounds]

Steve is rolling in his grave

More like Steve is going Super Saiyan...

 

[Dolorian]

How long do you think it may take them to catch up with Google? Forever?

This question assumes that Google is just sitting around doing nothing while they collect and update data to "catch up". Google has been working aggressively on it's maps this whole year and has now more incentive than ever to continue doing so.

 

[ipedro]

And Google gained the majority of its data through Apples installed user base on iOS.

So... not long.

Google is going to hurt bad with the loss of hundreds of millions of iPhone users. They rely on map patterns to feed their advertising system which is how Google makes money.

In the short term, Apple has some embarassing press, but in the long run, they're taking control of an asset that Google badly needs.

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple has an entire secret department working on an Apple Search Engine. It's the last remaining frontier where Apple doesn't control a critical function and where Google has a monopoly.

iOS 7 or 8 will probably feature a Siri based search engine. "Would you like me to search the web for that? -- presents a non-Google list of relevant results"

 

[ToM7]

I know one thing

steve will never do something like this.
tim you're totally doing a mess in apple.

 

[mnemonix]

Understand that for every single person complaining about Maps, there are *thousands* of people using it and enjoying it each and every day.

Quite the reverse actually. You do realise there are entire cities, countries and continents for whom maps is currently useless? Maybe one day you'll step outside the US and understand yourself there is a whole world beyond it.

 

[roxxette]

Google is going to hurt bad with the loss of hundreds of millions of iPhone users. They rely on map patterns to feed their advertising system which is how Google makes money.

In the short term, Apple has some embarassing press, but in the long run, they're taking control of an asset that Google badly needs.

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple has an entire secret department working on an Apple Search Engine. It's the last remaining frontier where Apple doesn't control a critical function and where Google has a monopoly.

iOS 7 or 8 will probably feature a Siri based search engine. "Would you like me to search the web for that? -- presents a non-Google list of relevant results"

Google is going to hurt bad ? They need ios user badly ? How many android phones with google maps are in the world and how many iphones ?

Search engine by apple ? Only a try hard will use the search engine of a company that is know to restric and put limits to the user.

 

[Macman45]

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

Amen to that...Maps will come good, and I'm not about to fork out $49 for a stop-gap alternative....They have the resources , they screwed up...It happens.

 

[Fofer]

Steve Jobs would have never done this.

steve will never do something like this.

Indeed he wouldn't have, and that's exactly the point.

Cook said that he’s not troubled about making decisions that Jobs might not have made, recounting a visit to Jobs’s home after Cook was made CEO. Jobs told Cook the story about how, after Walt Disney died, people at Disney would constantly ask themselves “what Walt would have done.”

“And he looked at me with those intense eyes that only he had, and he told me to never do that, to never ask what he would do,” Cook said “Just do what’s right. And so I’m doing that.”

http://www.macworld.com/article/1167011/cook_apple_will_double_down_on_siri_and_secrecy.html

 

[Macist]

I think there are three types of iOS Maps users.

1. Occasional users. They don't use the app that much and when they do it's in a very simple way. If all they do is type in the odd street address to find a location on foot Apple Maps, depending where they are, MAY be alright. They may have noticed that it's a pretty poor offering, but it does the job for them.

2. Route planners. They used Google Maps as an ersatz SatNav, following the text directions. Clearly the old Google Maps sucked for this. They probably like the new turn-by-turn functionality (if they have a 4s or 5).

3. The heavy user. They used Google Maps for finding the closest Sushi bar in unfamiliar towns and cities, getting to clients' offices, to get an overview of locations they were considering moving to, for working out routes on public transport systems. This group are apoplectic with rage at 99% misplaced POIs, 90s-tyle crude search box, junky Yelp data, the lack of accuracy.

 

[patent10021]

Nice quote Fofer. People forget about that.

Cook said that he’s not troubled about making decisions that Jobs might not have made, recounting a visit to Jobs’s home after Cook was made CEO. Jobs told Cook the story about how, after Walt Disney died, people at Disney would constantly ask themselves “what Walt would have done.”

“And he looked at me with those intense eyes that only he had, and he told me to never do that, to never ask what he would do,” Cook said “Just do what’s right. And so I’m doing that.”

He admitted iMap wasn't up to snuff (not worse than other maps). He didn't say competitors' apps were better either. He suggested alternatives because the POI data wasn't up to snuff and everyone freaked out like the world was coming to an end. Besides the bad POI data, all the other functions are just as good as other map apps if not better. Turn by turn and the actual overlays are done well.

Many people are saying you shouldn't do this in marketing, you shouldn't admit this in marketing blah blah blah. Cat is already out of the bag. Everyone knows Apple iMaps isn't so hot right now so suggesting to use another app isn't going to make Apple employees doubt or lose faith in their CEO. If they do, they are very loyal employees.

People and companies rarely apologize and acknowledge competitors in the same breath. There are no standards that cannot be changed to suit whoever wants to change them and I think suggesting an alternative is no exception. In addition, those app alternatives are created by companies that don't make phones or are created by phone competitors that don't have a hope in surpassing Apple as the world's most successful company for the next decade at least.

Someone mentioned that the founder of Toyota never suggested to buy another car even though he was in tears apologizing to the public. First off he's Japanese and would never do that. Second, cars have serious safety concerns therefore even mentioning another car maker could prove fatal since consumers are concerned with safety foremost. Phones are just mobile devices. Completely different arena. People are fickle enough to change to Droids simply because they have an issue with iOS icons so people are going to change phones regardless of any suggestion about a competitor's map app.

Cook is the CEO of the World's most successful company. I'm sure he didn't wake up one morning with a brain freeze and write his letter in 5 minutes.



*

 

[zzLZHzz]

Tim Cook didn't managed to learn RDF

 

[Patriks7]

I have a feeling a big portion of the people complaining about maps haven't even used them...

 

[arturmeireles]

I use Nokia Maps!

 

[theluggage]

^^^this. It's not as if they haven't failed or launched bad/unstable products before: Ping, OS X 10.0-10.2, the ROKR, G4 Cube (though cool), hockey puck mouse, mobileMe...and that's just the SJ 2.0 era.

Put it in perspective: the Maps failure is not the Newton.

10.0-10.2: Would have been a disaster if they'd stopped shipping and supporting MacOS 9 the day 10.0 came out. But they didn't - first there was OS X Server (which was a new product line), then there was a public Beta, then, new Macs shipped with both 9 and 10 in a dual-boot config for some time, and after that 10.0 offered 'classic mode' to support OS 9 apps pretty much until the Intel switch.

If they'd taken a similar approach with Maps then this would be a far, far different debate.

The other products you mention were mainly radically new lines, not replacements for mature, stable products like iOS Maps.

...except mobileMe/iCloud which I'd actually lump in with Maps: they're only getting away with that because iOS has never had decent syncing of non-media files so people have always found work arounds (most people are comfortable using email, (and non-techies have difficulty getting their heads around synicing). Google, DropBox etc. offer better services. At least Apple support Google mail, contacts and calendars - they should also put hooks into Pages etc. so that they could export to Dropbox or (now) Google Drive.

(Edit: I'm conveniently ignoring the hockey-puck mouse. There's a really elegant argument as to why this was a brilliant product, but there's not room for it in this post... )