Apple Maps don't suck! (merged)

[throAU]

lol @ "they don't suck" and posting some pretty pictures.


they're MAPS

if they aren't able to give you an accurate representation of where you are and places you want to go, they fail to perform their core function.


Now don't take this the wrong way, as i'm sure they'll improve - but until you can rely on apple maps to get you from a to b accurately, all they are is a pretty 3d demo.


edit:
also, whether they work at home or not is pretty moot. i need maps to work when i am somewhere i am unfamiliar with. the fact that i can't trust them when i fly to a different country is a HUGE disaster - i just did a 6 week euro trip and the first thing i did when getting to a new city was pull out the iphone and fire up google maps to find out where i was - and also to find out how to get from point a to point b where public transport info was available. apple maps doesn't even HAVE that.

 

[MozMan68]

Do you have a source for your claim that the 'majority of users' are satisfied? That contradicts the recent widely publicized statistic that on iOS5, 25% of owners used the Maps app every day, whereas on iOS6 it is at 4%, and still falling. That implies that 84% of previous Maps users are not satisfied enough to even bother using the app anymore.

Hah...look that fact up...that's like me taking a poll of my wife and I, "100% of users are comp,teeny satisfied with Maps!"

 

[Brazuca]

Do you have a source for your claim that the 'majority of users' are satisfied? That contradicts the recent widely publicized statistic that on iOS5, 25% of owners used the Maps app every day, whereas on iOS6 it is at 4%, and still falling. That implies that 84% of previous Maps users are not satisfied enough to even bother using the app anymore.

No. The study looked at how much map data is being used. Read here to see why this is nonsensical.

Snappli and Claims of iOS Maps App Usage Plummeting

Hint:

On Google Maps, the average data loaded from the cellular network for each step was 1.3MB. Apple Maps came in at 271KB — that’s approximately 80% less data! On some actions, such as zooming in to see a particular intersection, Apple Maps’ efficiency advantage edged close to 7X.

 

[alent1234]

No. The study looked at how much map data is being used. Read here to see why this is nonsensical.

Snappli and Claims of iOS Maps App Usage Plummeting

Hint:

an app with 10 reviews in the app store says no one is using apple maps

OK

 

[jaysen]

Because people walk around the city using their phone for directions several hundred feet above the ground, right?

You mean you don't ?

 

[steve-p]

No. The study looked at how much map data is being used. Read here to see why this is nonsensical.

Snappli and Claims of iOS Maps App Usage Plummeting

Hint:

Not necessarily, although I wouldn't expect Gruber to say anything else or provide any critical insight. The original claim referred specifically to the number of individual devices accessing the Maps servers. Everyone else in the Gruber piece goes off at a tangent about caching and vector maps. If there is a network connection available, then the device will ask the server if its cache is out of date, even if it makes no further requests afterwards. The device would still be counted.

 

[gtstricky]

I used it a bit this past weekend in NYC and had no problems. I rarely use it otherwise so I am not the best test subject.

However I was a bit annoysed with the pinch to zoom, it kept rotating the map. I must not pinch in a straight line...

 

[ShiTzuism]

Do you have a source for your claim that the 'majority of users' are satisfied? That contradicts the recent widely publicized statistic that on iOS5, 25% of owners used the Maps app every day, whereas on iOS6 it is at 4%, and still falling. That implies that 84% of previous Maps users are not satisfied enough to even bother using the app anymore.

PWNing with hard stats. Nicely done.

 

[PrometheusGeek]

That's funny since it's those same people who will be complaining the most when they leave their familiar neighborhood and find themselves completely lost when the maps don't work as well as they thought.

No. "Those for whom it doesn't suck" aren't those for whom it works in their own neighborhood. Many of us use Maps in regular travel with great success.

Do you have a source for your claim that the 'majority of users' are satisfied? That contradicts the recent widely publicized statistic that on iOS5, 25% of owners used the Maps app every day, whereas on iOS6 it is at 4%, and still falling. That implies that 84% of previous Maps users are not satisfied enough to even bother using the app anymore.

A non sequitur if ever there was one. It implies nothing of the sort. iOS 6 may not be as widespread across all iOS devices as previous versions which have google maps. And people may well be discouraged from using Maps because of the over-reactionary outcries from these forums and Gizmodo.

A recent Macrumors poll has 67% high ratings, and only 10% claiming its horrible. Aside from that, it's always the very vocal and angry minority who skew the opinion drastically. This is nothing new. Happens all the time with Apple. They create something that isn't worlds better than other companies, but people's heightened expectations creates an outrage. Maps needs to be improved, to be sure. But current perception is grossly exaggerated by the overreactions of a relative few. It's not nearly as bad as you silly lemmings imply. It's bad for some, sure, and that's too bad and needs to be fixed. But it's a good product overall, which will get much better.

 

[PrometheusGeek]

PWNing with hard stats. Nicely done.

People misinterpret hard stats all the time for the sake of their a priori opinions. Doesn't alter actual reality.

 

[bigjobby]

Sure it doesn't suck...

... but just wish my car can perform these kinda manoeuvres.

 

[cyks]

A recent Macrumors poll has 67% high ratings, and only 10% claiming its horrible. Aside from that, it's always the very vocal and angry minority who skew the opinion drastically. This is nothing new. Happens all the time with Apple. They create something that isn't worlds better than other companies, but people's heightened expectations creates an outrage. Maps needs to be improved, to be sure. But current perception is grossly exaggerated by the overreactions of a relative few. It's not nearly as bad as you silly lemmings imply. It's bad for some, sure, and that's too bad and needs to be fixed. But it's a good product overall, which will get much better.

Is it this poll that you're referring?
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1457334/

Where you see 67% giving it high ratings, I see only 41%.

59% of those who voted have found problems.
32% said that it either misses all or most locations.

Nearly 3 out of every 5 people report finding errors, but somehow you call that the vocal and angry minority?


I would continue, but you already said it best....

People misinterpret hard stats all the time for the sake of their a priori opinions. Doesn't alter actual reality.

Here is another MacRumors poll, where nearly half say it's either worse than Google's or awful:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1451982/

 

[spblat]

Worse than Google?

Not worse than Google. At least not universally.


Marqam Bridge as seen from OMSI (Google Earth) by spblat, on Flickr


Marqam Bridge as seen from OMSI (Apple Maps) by spblat, on Flickr

 

[spblat]

Golden Gate, Google Earth by spblat, on Flickr


Golden Gate, Apple Maps by spblat, on Flickr

 

[cyks]

Not worse than Google. At least not universally.

Pretty 3d flyover views aren't maps.

 

[faroZ06]

If they suck for you, fine. People for whom it doesn't suck (the majority of users) don't care.

It doesn't suck for me, nor do I ever use Maps.

 

[fiveainone]

and plus with google maps you could not go into landscape mode, but with apples version you can

Exactly.. I hated no landscape mode and navigation. Now I can have turn-by-turn in landscape, without the need for an extra Navigation device. I live in a major city, so no problems for me!

----------

Pretty 3d flyover views aren't maps.

Sure they are. Now I can know what the destination looks like before getting there. Along with the turn-by-turn, it's impossible to get lost since you know exactly what the area looks like. No more getting to the destination and wondering if you're at the right place. You can see you're in the right place. It's an alternative/replacement of Street View.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

I think Apple Maps is better in my area too. My apartment complex was built in 2009. Apple has the streets and the satellite imagery. Google Maps doesn't even have the streets on the map or the satellite imagery and says my address doesn't exist....

Thats deceptive of you! It's because of your zoom level. The apartments are missing at a higher level but when you zoom in they appear...

Your zoom level:
http://goo.gl/maps/r9BAh

But they are visible here:
http://goo.gl/maps/IHw3z

A pretty small inconsistency for what is basically a brand new development.

 

[cyks]

Sure they are. Now I can know what the destination looks like before getting there. Along with the turn-by-turn, it's impossible to get lost since you know exactly what the area looks like. No more getting to the destination and wondering if you're at the right place. You can see you're in the right place. It's an alternative/replacement of Street View.

The base addresses and streets are off in many areas and there is a serious lack of POI, but I suppose those aren't needed when you have Flyovers...in the select areas that have them.

 

[Kukulcan]

I don't know if it was my submitted change, but the ice cream parlor in our house was updated in Maps. The POI still has the old name on the map, but clicking it, it shows the new name, photos, a review etc.

It changed owners only this year and Google Maps still shows: "This place has been closed or moved".

Just a fart in the wind in the greater sheme of things, but a start

 

[Brazuca]

I don't know if it was my submitted change, but the ice cream parlor in our house was updated in Maps. The POI still has the old name on the map, but clicking it, it shows the new name, photos, a review etc.

It changed owners only this year and Google Maps still shows: "This place has been closed or moved".

Just a fart in the wind in the greater sheme of things, but a start

It's a funny phenomenon. If it's an error in google maps, then it's just that. An error that will eventually get fixed and just carry on.

But if that error is in Apple Maps, then it's mapocalipse. Apple sucks.

We should take them to task on shodding work on merging POIs all around the world. Someone screwed up royally in merging the datasets.

The rest is a work in progress for everyone: improve the road layer and expand it to more places. Improve the satellite imagery where needed. Keep expanding Flyover and 3D. And wait for the transit apps to sprout.

These are more a function of licensing from providers. But merging all this data has to be done right. And Apple is falling on the job right now.

So can we stop with the silly examples of errors that exist on everyone's maps? There is plenty to complain about. A low-res sat image or a missing roadway is par for the course in any map. Even almighty google.

 

[spblat]

Pretty 3d flyover views aren't maps.

Sure they are. Now I can know what the destination looks like before getting there. Along with the turn-by-turn, it's impossible to get lost since you know exactly what the area looks like. No more getting to the destination and wondering if you're at the right place. You can see you're in the right place. It's an alternative/replacement of Street View.

There are two classes of complaints about Apple Maps.

First, the 3D irregularities. Example: the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Second: problems with roads, cities, points of interest.

My post, as I should have admitted, is only sufficient to refute the first class of complaints. The second issue doesn't affect me the way it does others, and I'm counting on Apple to fix the data. Fast.

 

[Brazuca]

There are two classes of complaints about Apple Maps.

First, the 3D irregularities. Example: the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Second: problems with roads, cities, points of interest.

My post, as I should have admitted, is only sufficient to refute the first class of complaints. The second issue doesn't affect me the way it does others, and I'm counting on Apple to fix the data. Fast.

NY Flyover has been expanded to all the bridges, most of surrounding boroughs, and even NJ. The bridges no longer melt there. Sadly Tacoma Narrows Bridge is still half done. But if Staten Island is any indication, they are placing a priority on solving these half-melted problems: In Staten Island the flyover ends exactly at the landing of the bridge.

 

[Kukulcan]

NY Flyover has been expanded to all the bridges, most of surrounding boroughs, and even NJ. The bridges no longer melt there. Sadly Tacoma Narrows Bridge is still half done. But if Staten Island is any indication, they are placing a priority on solving these half-melted problems: In Staten Island the flyover ends exactly at the landing of the bridge.

They should have that Copenhagen team work on NYC and other major cities

 

[Gutwrench]

Apple Maps is just fine with my usage in Minneapolis-St Paul. I don't, however, rely on transit information and I sympathize with those in large metro areas like NY if its now lacking.

This is my small criticism for Apple Maps. There have been a few occassions when searching for a business by name where it returns no result set unless i spell the name exactly correct. It doesn't ask 'did you mean....' or offer any other help.

Example: searching for the business "Pardon My French" returns the correct location(s), but if I misspelled it as in "Parden My French" it returns no results.

It's not that significant of a problem, but I often only know/recall a portion of the business name and I'm discovering Apple Maps isn't always locating it while Google Maps seemed to have always come up with suggestions that were helpful.

Still the vast majority of the time Apple Maps fits my needs without any complaints.