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Apple Launches New App Store Feature Section for Alternative Maps

doelcm82 said:
...

Every time Apple gets to where Google was, Google will have moved ahead. So Apple can never catch up, even if Apple works twice as fast as Google.

And the tortoise always wins if it gets a head start.
Click to expand...

You assume or presume that apple:

1. is a tortoise
2. is not disruptive

You also forget that historically:

1. Google steals and robs from apple
2. Google and others go where the poke is
3. Apple goes where the poke will be, and therefore can choose to be a tortoise when it has to be (iPad itself a prime example of the this)
 
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ixodes said:
Your basic thought is excellent, I most certainly agree.

However, it's Apples arrogance that's brought this on, and it's not going away anytime soon.

It's not up to us, Apple buried themselves. Frankly the push back they're experiencing is long overdue. They've been caught & now it's time to pay.
Click to expand...

What are you yapping about?

Apple delivers a new product, and you call it arrogance?

/wasted time
 
KnightWRX said:
What's overblown about that ? What's overblown about this analysis :

www.mtonic.com/applemaps/

Missing cities in Ontario ? Pointing searches for Ontario in Canada to Australia ? Completely overblown ?
Click to expand...

Ironically enough, I followed your link and did a Google Maps search for the very first "city/town" in Ontario that is listed as being "missing" in iOS 6 Maps: Aberfoyle, Ontario. Google brings up Puslinch, Ontario for that search, not Aberfoyle, Ontario. What does iOS 6 Maps bring up? Aberfoyle Antiques on Yelp, which is right next to the marker for Puslinch, Ontario.

Furthermore, Wikipedia brings up Puslinch, Ontario under a general Google search for Aberfoyle, Ontario and lists it as a "community" within the township of Puslinch. So it looks like Aberfoyle is not technically a town/city in Ontario to begin with. How many of the other "missing" entries in your links list are going to turn out to be like that? Probably quite a few.
 
I honestly feel the maps application is spot on. turn by turn navigation works perfectly.

The points of interest show in an incorrect place sometimes but I think that's more of a tom tom issue (or whoever they partnered up with for that data).
 
rickeym said:
Apple will do just fine. ;)
Click to expand...
I didn't say they wouldn't.

They'll take a hit, but it won't show due to their huge volume.

But I'm telling you, as deeply emerged as I am in the tech sector, I'm already noticing & hearing a pattern of discontent both within & without the Mac community (not to be confused with the iBoys network) that has never been heard before.

Furthermore, this discontent is being both welcomed & embraced within the Android community. The best thing to happen in years is the appearance of a crack in the walls of the Apple compound allowing many unhappy iUsers to walk out into the sunshine of an open welcoming world.

No longer locked down they are celebrating the myriad of handset choices and all the Android goodness that follows.

It's good to be Google :)
 
I think there is no reason for this topic to become a fight. Some people are satisfied with Apple Maps, and that's great. Some aren't, and in that case why not let Apple apologize (the move to offer alternative solutions blew my mind I must admit, I don't really understand the strategic move).

But for those who are satisfied, remember coverage varies a lot depending on the country. Based on what I have read here and then, it is my humble impression that Apple screwed up Europe big time, whereas the US are a bit more lucky. POIs seem messed up everywhere, by street maps and satellite seem really way off in Europe.
I've got streets missing in my own country that have been there for 5y+; Berlin (capital of Germany, just sayin') was misplaced, other major cities in other countries impossible to find.

I think what we musn't forget is that Apple Maps really, for the moment, is a collection of data from miscellaneous providers. Before it becomes "Apple Maps", with a proper correlation of Maps/POIs/satellite data and up to date streets, it's going to take time.

Bottom line: it's good that people say "I have no problem with maps" or "Maps is total crap"; but please, just remember the earth is big, there are 7 billion people, and that the situation of Maps in your own backyard doesn't automatically mean the app is totally messed up/awesome everywhere else.
 
TeeJayEm said:
The points of interest show in an incorrect place sometimes but I think that's more of a tom tom issue (or whoever they partnered up with for that data).
Click to expand...

It's Yelp! for POIs, TomTom was for mapping. But statements from TomTom and user comparison of Yelp! data with Apple maps have showed that the problem is on Apple's end. Mistakes in street/city positioning are not found in TomTom data and the Yelp! database has many POIs that are lacking on Apple Maps, not to mention Yelp! has proper geolocation data on them, but Apple misplaces them on maps.

The issues are way broader than POIs though, and don't be one of those people who because you haven't found an issue means that no one else has real issues.
 
ixodes said:
I didn't say they wouldn't.

They'll take a hit, but it won't show due to their huge volume.

But I'm telling you, as deeply emerged as I am in the tech sector, I'm already noticing & hearing a pattern of discontent both within & without the Mac community (not to be confused with the iBoys network) that has never been heard before.

Furthermore, this discontent is being both welcomed & embraced within the Android community. The best thing to happen in years is the appearance of a crack in the walls of the Apple compound allowing many unhappy iUsers to walk out into the sunshine of an open welcoming world.

No longer locked down they are celebrating the myriad of handset choices and all the Android goodness that follows.

It's good to be Google :)
Click to expand...

And they will find cheap plastic handsets of unsure quality with bad screens and outdated technology, full of malware and spyware (main being OS itself), world where everything, beginning from OS itself, is stolen and pirated, where there is no privacy, G servers are recording your last breath and step and where "quality" just doesn't fit, a world for second rate phones and users.

Its good for Apple :)
 
KnightWRX said:
It's Yelp! for POIs, TomTom was for mapping. But statements from TomTom and user comparison of Yelp! data with Apple maps have showed that the problem is on Apple's end. Mistakes in street/city positioning are not found in TomTom data and the Yelp! database has many POIs that are lacking on Apple Maps, not to mention Yelp! has proper geolocation data on them, but Apple misplaces them on maps.

The issues are way broader than POIs though, and don't be one of those people who because you haven't found an issue means that no one else has real issues.
Click to expand...

I wasn't suggesting that there aren't real issues. I was simply stating that most issues appear to be data related and not with the application code itself. I'd imagine some of those issues could be fixed in their backend infrastructure and we'll see those fixes over time without requiring another iOS update.
 
Apple Maps works great for me

I wanted iOS6 for the turn by turn with voice. While the fly over is fantastic and is much better than looking at Google's street view, these are not high on my priority.

I typed a destination and pressed start. Turn on a nice playlist with my headphones on and top down. As I drove, the voice gently quieted my music, warned me of a turn, and gently played my music. When I approached each turn, the voice advised me, and music continued. I never looked at my phone and kept my eyes on the road.

This works great! And I look forward to new updates over the next year. Remember, it took Google 10 years and many updates. Apple started from scratch and I'm impressed so far.

D:cool:
 
TeeJayEm said:
I wasn't suggesting that there aren't real issues. I was simply stating that most issues appear to be data related and not with the application code itself. I'd imagine some of those issues could be fixed in their backend infrastructure and we'll see those fixes over time without requiring another iOS update.
Click to expand...

Read this if you want some insight into what's causing Apple's problems :

blog.telemapics.com/?p=399
 
4w28q.jpg


Here's the situation in Hong Kong. It's a huge difference. And since almost everyone uses public transit, losing directions on Apple Maps has been pretty hard.

That said, they've been sold out all week, so it's probably not hurting Apple that much.
 
"Why is it that everytime Apple screws something up, there's always a bunch of people to claim it's a fabricated story to make headlines ?

You say Apple Maps works fine but then say it's not as "refined as Google's maps". Guess what, that's downgrading your user's experience, it's exactly what the headlines state it is!

And younger kids ? What's your age sir ? I'm 33. It's not that I don't have patience, it's that my stuff doesn't work anymore. Apple downgraded my experience and broke some apps I use with these maps. Now I'm stuck waiting for them to fix it, which could be a couple of months (missplaced POIs/clean up of redundant POIs) to a couple of years (updating the mapping data with missing streets/roads) to never (the "pretty" rendering which makes the maps harder to read).

So seriously, don't tell me that "everything is fine". If you think its fine, then state your opinion as such, don't present it as a fact that applies to everyone and don't accuse the news media of "fabricating" a story when it's obvious that there is a story here. You just don't seem to like it.

That's too bad, some of you younger kids need to learn Apple isn't perfect."

^ I'm 36. Sorry to hear that your Points of Interest on Apple Maps isn't perfect. With a little therapy you may be able over come such a detrimental, "down graded user experience".

Good luck with that!
 
digitalhen said:
Image

Here's the situation in Hong Kong. It's a huge difference. And since almost everyone uses public transit, losing directions on Apple Maps has been pretty hard.

That said, they've been sold out all week, so it's probably not hurting Apple that much.
Click to expand...

But it works perfectly for people living in San Diego! And for every 1 person in hong kong who doesn't like maps, there are 1000 in San Diego that love it!

;)
 
i.mac said:
You assume or presume that apple:

1. is a tortoise
2. is not disruptive

You also forget that historically:

1. Google steals and robs from apple
2. Google and others go where the poke is
3. Apple goes where the poke will be, and therefore can choose to be a tortoise when it has to be (iPad itself a prime example of the this)
Click to expand...

You got it backward. Apple is Achilles in my analogy. And though the paradox says that Achilles can't catch up to a tortoise (Google) with a head start, real life experience says of course he can.

If Apple works harder and faster than Google, Apple will catch up and even surpass Google Maps.

I'm not predicting that Apple will surpass Google. I'm just saying there's no logic argument that it can't do so, IF it works harder and faster.

And even if Google remains the king of online maps, Apple's maps don't have to be the best. They only have to be good, and trying to be the best will make them good.
 
JayJayAbels said:
^ I'm 36. Sorry to hear that your Points of Interest on Apple Maps isn't perfect. With a little therapy you may be able over come such a detrimental, "down graded user experience".

Good luck with that!
Click to expand...

Why did you botch the quote job like that ? Makes it unclear you're quoting me. Next, why therapy ? What's your problem with people reporting their problems with the new maps ?

It seems Apple listened. Why do you have a problem with people holding up Apple to its usual high standards ? Seems Apple doesn't have a problem with it.

Maybe you should take a little while to ponder why you feel the need to piss all over people who are having issues with this. The issues aren't fabricated, even Apple admitted to them.
 
JayJayAbels said:
I'm 36. Sorry to hear that your Points of Interest on Apple Maps isn't perfect. With a little therapy you may be able over come such a detrimental, "down graded user experience".

Good luck with that!
Click to expand...

I've come to notice that anytime anyone says "good luck with that", it's usually proceeded by the most asinine statement you could possibly imagine.

The new maps app not being as good is only part of the problem on this board. It's all the cheesy people coming out to defend it, despite the fact that it's practically indefensible. These are usually the same people who claim they buy Apple products because they're the best, bar none, and provide the superior mobile experience.

Until they don't.

Then it's all blubbering, calling people haters and android fans, suggesting they take their business elsewhere, or the much hated "well it works for me ".

I've said this, I dunno, a thousand times before, but it always bears repeating. I just can't believe that there are some people so emotionally invested in a company that admitting any wrongdoing on their part would be akin to asking them to give up a limb.

Apple dropped the ball big time. You don't have to go around saying it's not a big problem, because it is. Millions of people relied on the old maps, and the new ones aren't anywhere near up to par yet.
 
"Sanity because he says its overblown ? Seriously guys, why are you apologizing for Apple ? You're doing a very poor job of it, and not calming down the situation at all.

Tim Cook did a much better job that all of you did. Leave the damage control to Apple's PR."

^ It is overblown. But since it has now become a debacle - Apple HAD to address it - even if they recognized how exaggerated it is.

Google Maps is only as successful as the data it collects. And they've used the installed Apple user base to collect that data over the years. Apple will be able to catch up soon enough.

Google only wanted the Turn by Turn feature to exist on Android phones. That is foul... but it's business. Apple realized that that was a feature important to their users and if they couldn't have it they would just make their own app.

Of course they have their work cut out for them. Of course! But over the next two years, with the data they collect, they'll be able to catch up to the Google Maps experience. (An experience that ONLY exists in the first place BECAUSE of Apple.)

----------

"Guys. Comeon. The reports of iPhone 5s exploding and killing children is completely overblown. You know how the media loves to hate on Apple. They only do it for headlines and those Android boogeymen who hang around on Apple boards and make fun of us. Nothing more.

You want the truth? Look at the facts. Out of the millions of people who bought the new iPhone, only 45 kids have been killed. The amount of children who's lives have been cut short by the iPhone 5 is a marginal problem for a select whiny few in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of children who use it every day without being destroyed or horribly maimed.

The problem isn't with the iPhone killing kids. It's with the loud whining minority who just won't shut up about it. So your kid got killed? Who cares? I use my iPhone 5 every day and it's perfect. You don't like it, you can go out and buy a crapdroid phone.

What is it with Macrumors these days, huh? Android fans everywhere! :mad:"

^ You just compared an iOS app to a human life. You realize that right? You understand just how severely distorted that analogy is right?

It's breathtakingly moronic.
 
Why do you keep botching quotes like that ? Use the quote button on the bottom of posts. You don't copy paste "quotes".

JayJayAbels said:
^ It is overblown. But since it has now become a debacle - Apple HAD to address it - even if they recognized how exaggerated it is.
Click to expand...

How do you figure it's overblown ? People have issues, they presented them, some made pages about such issues (the tumblr), and there's plenty of examples around. It's just not Apple quality. Apple addressed it because they recognize it's not up to their usual standards of excellence.

JayJayAbels said:
Google only wanted the Turn by Turn feature to exist on Android phones. That is foul... but it's business.
Click to expand...

It's also a bold face lie. Google offered Apple turn by turn, at the cost of making sure Apple brands the feature as Google and their whole Maps as Google and that they build in Latitude into the solution instead of as 3rd party app as it is right now.

Apple didn't go along with it, preferred to build their own, albeit sub-par, solution.
 
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