Apple Launches New 'Maps' App in iOS 6, Includes Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Real-Time Traffic, 3D Maps

[dreadnort]

Maps outside the US

no matter what the state of IOS maps will be i will still use 'navfree', it's completly replaced my garmin for sat nav

 

[DJHonda84]

Do we know if Google will continue to support the maps app, for those who's hardware doesn't support iOS 6?

 

[csimmons]

...
Tomtom ought to be worried. As had navigon. This means that basically all smartphones out there now ship with high-quality TBT navigation for free, out-of-the-box. Consumers spoke: they wanted better quality experiences and weren't prepared to pay the exorbitant costs of dinosaur companies trying to protect satnav revenue, thereby forcing new entrants in to the market (in this case, those that had most to gain: the OS vendors themselves). Consumers win.

I doubt very seriously that TomTom is worried about the new Maps app in iOS, since they provide the back end for it. They confirmed this at WWDC, and it is stated on the Maps info screen.

That pretty much guarantees the Maps app will work outside of the US. I use Garmin/Navigon personally, but I'm glad to see that Apple has a major player like TomTom helping them out on this.

 

[DocNYz]

This is simply not true. I enjoy my iPhone but this is one area in particular I was surprised they did not make an improvement. There are many of us that would like a much quicker way to do this. There are some tweaks out there that are very well done and if Apple implemented them in a way very similar to those, it would not add any complexity to the OS. Your statements are utterly false.

Seriously this is ****ing absurd that Siri can't change core settings by now.

Hopefully Navigon will incorporate Siri otherwise I may have to switch over to apple's maps ...

 

[tatonka]

I must admit the maps app goes beyond what I had expected it to be. Unfortunately it still doesn't improve anything substantially for me. I personally would have liked them to revamp the look and feel of the iOS rather than spending a ton of time and money to replace the partnership with google with a bunch of other partnerships.

T.

 

[gnasher729]

Navigation in the UK is very complex compared to the states and dedicated UK Sat Navs are not great at the best of times.

Please explain. What would be more "complex" about navigation in the UK? And to be honest, making an iPhone app that is better than a dedicated TomTom doesn't seem to be too difficult - when you consider what rubbish the TomTom app is.

 

[yetanotherdave]

I suppose you would like to have them hold it from the market until every nook and cranny is covered? I'd rather get it ASAP and release updates as it's developed for the rest of the world.

Actually yes, because everyone outside of america loses features. Like apple does not have satellite photos for my city, unless you zoom right out to the point of being useless.

At the very least, if they don't have data, they should use google's as a backup. For the time being while they get up to speed. Not getting new features is annoying, losing features is not acceptable.

 

[viewfly]

Re: excluding the iPhone 4

Apple loves to talk about how so many customers are on their newest OS. What they don't say is that a lot of those customers are on a crippled version of the latest OS. At least Android 2.3 has good turn-by-turn directions.

I can't wait until Apple starts doing this with OS X. Can you imagine not having major features unless you have the latest hardware?

You mean sort of how Android's Ice Cream Sandwich is only on 5% of hardware devices after being out 6 months? Android's hardware is so fragmented,most are shut out of future upgrades, by the carriers and mgfr's.

I've been using the iPhone app Mapquest, for a year or more; and it works much better than my Garmin.

 

[Oletros]

You mean sort of how Android's Ice Cream Sandwich is only on 5% of hardware devices after being out 6 months? Android's hardware is so fragmented,most are shut out of future upgrades, by the carriers and mgfr's.

I've been using the iPhone app Mapquest, for a year or more; and it works much better than my Garmin.

Difference is that even with 2.3 you get ALL the same core apps than with 4.0. They're updated independently of the OS

 

[misterpip]

Is google street view gone forever from ios, or does anyone think that google will release its own app, or will apple/third parties fill that void?

Street view is one feature I will miss, because it worked really well on the iPad.

 

[BR485]

I'm looking forward to Google releasing the iOS version of Google Maps. I doubt the new Apple 'Maps' app will be as robust as Google's product in terms of ground covered and it won't feature anything resembling Street View, but it will be interesting to see what they came up with.

Sat Nav does nothing for me as I actually like to use old-fashioned paper maps when driving in non-familiar cities. Constantly looking at a squwaking box that tells when to turn where etc. is annoying and I'm missing all the scenery.

----------

Is google street view gone forever from ios, or does anyone think that google will release its own app, or will apple/third parties fill that void?

Street view is one feature I will miss, because it worked really well on the iPad.

I'm assuming Goggle will include Street View in its updated iOS Maps app. At least I hope so!

 

[The Game 161]

Guessing we won't get this in uk?

 

[Abazigal]

Seriously this is ****ing absurd that Siri can't change core settings by now.

Hopefully Navigon will incorporate Siri otherwise I may have to switch over to apple's maps ...

Yeah, what wouldn't I give to be able to use siri to toggle bluetooth settings...

 

[DrSD]

So 3D maps should work okay with iphone 4 rite?

Mine not working do i need to restore? it takes ages to restore.

 

[yetanotherdave]

So 3D maps should work okay with iphone 4 rite?

Mine not working do i need to restore? it takes ages to restore.

No, 3D maps is iphone 4s and ipad 3

 

[techguy20]

Now -- all we need is for Apple to create its own search engine and no more Google on Apple devices.

"**************************" -Siri
will now become "Let me Steve that for you"

 

[johnnyjibbs]

Ok, so the map tiles do look better than in the iOS version of iPhoto (now that was hard!) but it still looks crud compared to Google maps.

The maps app on iOS was one of the best apps on iOS - now they've replaced it with something that is currently severely lacking (especially for non iPhone 4S users). I'm hoping that as this is only beta 1 the finished thing will be substantially better.

A few annoyances so far:

• maps do not zoom to the same level of detail as previous Google version
• performance is poor compared to old version and map tiles no longer fade in
• map tiles are slow to load, even over WiFi
• map tiles lack detail, contrast (it's hard to see the roads in a built up residential area against the background, while parks stand out like a saw thumb)
• road colours are completely wrong in the UK - our motorways are blue, not yellow
• no street view
• 3D view looks nice but unfortunately I don't get the priveledge of that on my iPhone 4

One thing it does have going for it is the superb ability to rotate the map at will.

I do hate it though when a 'new' product is blatantly not as good as the one it replaces. (Final Cut Pro X, anyone?) Let's hope my list of bugbears reduces by the time the Gold Master gets released...

 

[yetanotherdave]

Ok, so the map tiles do look better than in the iOS version of iPhoto (now that was hard!) but it still looks crud compared to Google maps.

The maps app on iOS was one of the best apps on iOS - now they've replaced it with something that is currently severely lacking (especially for non iPhone 4S users). I'm hoping that as this is only beta 1 the finished thing will be substantially better.

A few annoyances so far:

• maps do not zoom to the same level of detail as previous Google version
• performance is poor compared to old version and map tiles no longer fade in
• map tiles are slow to load, even over WiFi
• map tiles lack detail, contrast (it's hard to see the roads in a built up residential area against the background, while parks stand out like a saw thumb)
• road colours are completely wrong in the UK - our motorways are blue, not yellow
• no street view
• 3D view looks nice but unfortunately I don't get the priveledge of that on my iPhone 4

One thing it does have going for it is the superb ability to rotate the map at will.

I do hate it though when a 'new' product is blatantly not as good as the one it replaces. (Final Cut Pro X, anyone?) Let's hope my list of bugbears reduces by the time the Gold Master gets released...

You are fortunate that you live in London, apparently somewhere backward and provincial like Bristol doesn't get satellite imagery to any useable zoom level...

 

[Bezetos]

What gps mapping apps can you use without a wireless connection? All the GPS apps I know require a signal.
GPS doesn't work without a signal right?

Google Maps on Android already allows you to cache maps on your phone and use GPS without a signal (as part of its experimental features).

 

[DrSD]

I don't get it , when i open map app on my iphone 4 , as soon as i open it i can see 3D on it, and then when it start using the data 3D goes away.

May be iphone 4 later will have 3D maps because maps are absolutely horrible.

 

[macandiPhone]

Its Maps galore from Apple

Everybody is excited what showed up in Apple's keynote.

The Maps app (from images shown above) are also breath taking..
FlyOver feature makes use of powerful cameras which are capable to peep into your houses.

Dont forget to smile since Apple cameras are observing you having a sun bath.

What about privacy!!!

 

[Oletros]

FlyOver feature makes use of powerful cameras which are capable to peep into your houses.

Dont forget to smile since Apple cameras are observing you having a sun bath.

What about privacy!!!

You're joking, don't you?

 

[iSunrise]

Ok, so the map tiles do look better than in the iOS version of iPhoto (now that was hard!) but it still looks crud compared to Google maps.

The maps app on iOS was one of the best apps on iOS - now they've replaced it with something that is currently severely lacking (especially for non iPhone 4S users). I'm hoping that as this is only beta 1 the finished thing will be substantially better.

A few annoyances so far:

• maps do not zoom to the same level of detail as previous Google version
• performance is poor compared to old version and map tiles no longer fade in
• map tiles are slow to load, even over WiFi
• map tiles lack detail, contrast (it's hard to see the roads in a built up residential area against the background, while parks stand out like a saw thumb)
• road colours are completely wrong in the UK - our motorways are blue, not yellow
• no street view
• 3D view looks nice but unfortunately I don't get the priveledge of that on my iPhone 4

One thing it does have going for it is the superb ability to rotate the map at will.

I do hate it though when a 'new' product is blatantly not as good as the one it replaces. (Final Cut Pro X, anyone?) Let's hope my list of bugbears reduces by the time the Gold Master gets released...

My thoughts exactly, I feel the same way.

I use the Google maps app frequently and from the first time on that I´ve used it, it impressed the hell out of me, because it was so simple yet powerful. I simply cannot understand why they had to replace it now (way too soon!) with their own maps app that misses a lot of important stuff that we had on our devices. The old maps app was a huge selling point for me.

I basically always used the Google maps app whenever I was in a different city or country and it NEVER failed me once. I always felt very safe, because I never got lost when walking to some location I´ve never been or if I just wanted to hit a hotel or something else.

A 3D view is nice and all, but who really uses that inside a maps app aside from looking at places beforehand. But even then, it´s not that helpful at all, it´s just a nice addition.

I need walking distances if I want to walk somewhere and I need bus routes when I need to drive with a bus. Seriously Apple, what lives are you guys living that you are under the impression such things don´t need to be included?! And I´m not even talking about Street View which is now gone, too.

IMHO that was a very bad move from Apple. They need to update it at a very fast pace so that everyone on this world doesn´t feel like he lost IMPORTANT functionality.

Looks like I have to wait for Google to release their own maps app now until Apple wakes up again.

(And I´m not even talking about the keynote, which was a huge disappointment.)

 

[monkeybongo]

My thoughts exactly, I feel the same way.

I use the Google maps app frequently and from the first time on that I´ve used it, it impressed the hell out of me, because it was so simple yet powerful. I simply cannot understand why they had to replace it now (way too soon!) with their own maps app that misses a lot of important stuff that we had on our devices. The old maps app was a huge selling point for me.

I basically always used the Google maps app whenever I was in a different city or country and it NEVER failed me once. I always felt very safe, because I never got lost when walking to some location I´ve never been or if I just wanted to hit a hotel or something else.

A 3D view is nice and all, but who really uses that inside a maps app aside from looking at places beforehand. But even then, it´s not that helpful at all, it´s just a nice addition.

I need walking distances if I want to walk somewhere and I need bus routes when I need to drive with a bus. Seriously Apple, what lives are you guys living that you are under the impression such things don´t need to be included?! And I´m not even talking about Street View which is now gone, too.

IMHO that was a very bad move from Apple. They need to update it at a very fast pace so that everyone on this world doesn´t feel like he lost IMPORTANT functionality.

Looks like I have to wait for Google to release their own maps app now until Apple wakes up again.

(And I´m not even talking about the keynote, which was a huge disappointment.)

This is a 1.0 product, I`m sure you`ll see improvements on the server side quickly and there`s nothing to stop you from staying on 5.1 until it works out for you (I`ll wait until it`s stable). Besides I`m sure Google will release a IOS maps application soon.

 

[Bezetos]

I think that the mistake Apple has made was focusing on a gimmick (FlyOver) rather than actual functionality (no more Street View, maps lack details, bus routes don't work (apparently), inferior performance etc.).

The only good functional addition is vector maps and rotatable labels, but they should have had this ages ago.