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Apple Maps don't suck! (merged)
- Thread starter mcdonoughdr
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No, I took it from the cover page of that particular survey's summary.
The full summary states:
A September 17-26 ChangeWave survey of 4,270 consumers has taken a close-up look at the latest smart phone demand trends, including intentions to buy the new iPhone 5 and Windows 8 phones. The survey also focused on customer satisfaction, OS preferences, and future demand for the other major smart phone manufacturers. ChangeWave Research is a service of 451 Research. Report details include:
Growth Trends: Overall Smart Phone Market
Competition between Apple (AAPL), Motorola (MMI), Research In Motion (RIMM), Google
(GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Samsung and HTC, among others
Customer Satisfaction Ratings by Manufacturer and Mobile OS
Planned Buying Trends by Operating System biggest winners and losers
Consumer Reaction to the Apple iPhone 5 and iOS 6
Interest in Windows 8 Smart Phones
Close-up look at In-Store Usage of Smart Phones
Importance of 4G Capability on Purchase Decisions
Cloud Backup Services
____________________
In short, 4,270 consumers were surveyed and a 32% said that they were likely to get the iPhone 5.
Those who already had an iPhone 5 or had an iPhone running iOS6 were asked additional questions regarding the map fiasco. Of those, 90% of respondents said that they did not have any problems, while only 3% reported their Maps experience as a very big problem.
I live in the US and find the maps and app sub par. I wouldn't say disaster but I was expecting more.
App.
No night mode (found inverting the colors helps with night vision)
No satellite view while driving
Next turn box covers too much of the screen
Can only zoom in and out a bit but cant move the map while navigating
No speed and speed limit on screen
Maps
POI are terrible (missing, incorrect placement etc)
Can't find all locations and its educated guess is VERY bad (I posted screen shots of this in the other thread)
In cities a lot of streets are the one way but labeled the wrong way (just dangerous)
I'm sure there are a lot more issues but that is all that really effects me. I use sat nav a lot for work and I can't replace my Garmin Nuvi with iOS maps like I could with Google Nav.
I think surveys will always be skewed do to usage. For example all my friends think the new maps are great, but they never use them. Where as I use sat nav constantly so I'll easily notice shortcomings very quickly. Its not all bad though, siri integration is nice, "where's best buy (or whatever)" and it pops up and will take you there so that's cool.
App.
No night mode (found inverting the colors helps with night vision)
No satellite view while driving
Next turn box covers too much of the screen
Can only zoom in and out a bit but cant move the map while navigating
No speed and speed limit on screen
Maps
POI are terrible (missing, incorrect placement etc)
Can't find all locations and its educated guess is VERY bad (I posted screen shots of this in the other thread)
In cities a lot of streets are the one way but labeled the wrong way (just dangerous)
I'm sure there are a lot more issues but that is all that really effects me. I use sat nav a lot for work and I can't replace my Garmin Nuvi with iOS maps like I could with Google Nav.
I think surveys will always be skewed do to usage. For example all my friends think the new maps are great, but they never use them. Where as I use sat nav constantly so I'll easily notice shortcomings very quickly. Its not all bad though, siri integration is nice, "where's best buy (or whatever)" and it pops up and will take you there so that's cool.
Ya, that's what I said...
Anyway, the point is that they surveyed iphone 5 and ios 6 users. and the germain bit inside the report is their conclusion that, "Simply put, Apple Maps is not considered a problem by the overwhelming majority of users."
Hence my contention in the thread title, that Apple Maps isn't a "disaster" after all, if by "disaster" we don't just mean, "In the experience of the vocal minority", but "in the experience of the 'overwhelming majority of users'"
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You also said that it was the summary for all of 451's surveys, which it isn't.
The point is that they surveyed 4,270 people and an unknown ammount had an iPhone 5 or iOS 6.
Here is the single biggest problem with the Maps debacle:
Tim Cook apologized publicly, and made recommendations for substitute apps.
This might be the single-handed worst post-Jobs decision Apple management has made.
Apologizing for the camera flare issue was even worse. That problem isn't unique to the 5. I have NO idea why he would do it.
What else is he going to apologize for? Grow a pair, Cook. Apologize for legitimate problems like the manufacturing defects (something you dodged) and not for minor ones.
Tim Cook apologized publicly, and made recommendations for substitute apps.
This might be the single-handed worst post-Jobs decision Apple management has made.
Apologizing for the camera flare issue was even worse. That problem isn't unique to the 5. I have NO idea why he would do it.
What else is he going to apologize for? Grow a pair, Cook. Apologize for legitimate problems like the manufacturing defects (something you dodged) and not for minor ones.
See, this is the kind of post I can appreciate, and that ought to be on a forum site like this one. You're speaking to your own experience, about issues you've personally had, and things you'd like to see changed. No sweeping generalizations. Just a personal observation and opinion. I like the balance.
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This statement on the cover (which you quoted) is what I meant was general for their surveys: "For much of the past year, our ChangeWave smart phone surveys have featured surging momentum for Apple and Samsung to the detriment of the other manufacturers."
Ok, an unknown amount. Could've been all 4,270, or some portion thereof. You don't know, which means that you have no basis for discrediting their findings. For them, it was a statistically significant enough amount of actual users to conclude that Apple Maps is not a problem for the overwhelming majority of users.
Again, major political polls commonly use sampling groups of 500 to represent all likely voters with an accuracy margin of +/- 4%. I have no problem assuming that the sample size of surveyed actual users in the 451 survey is statistically significant. Burden of proof lies on those who do.
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UK != Europe
Germany is fantastic, if you are not looking for POIs - but then you are lost with Google too.
To be more on topic, it doesn't make maps itself more or less a disaster, but at least it shows how much of a disaster it is for Apple and how much people care outside the forums.
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Why should he? Manufacturing problems only apply to a minority and those even get replacements...it is not like other companies don't have similar problems, they are just not blown that much out of proportion.
I suppose the question is, are the maps that ship with iOS6 worse than the old Google version in iOS5?
Yes.
Has Apple suggested alternatives?
Yes.
I'm using the Bing app for Maps; whilst not as good as Google (here in the UK anyway) it's good enough for me to find places I need and addresses.
Yes, street view is very useful but not so much of a deal-breaker as long as the map gets me to the right street (and this is where Apple's maps fail...) then I can usually find where I want to go.
For now, Bing works for me under iOS6.
I'm sure - eventually - Apple will catch up (they usually do).
Until then, I have a working alternative (yes, I know, I'm not able to set it as the default app, but its better than nothing) and that works for me.
Yes.
Has Apple suggested alternatives?
Yes.
I'm using the Bing app for Maps; whilst not as good as Google (here in the UK anyway) it's good enough for me to find places I need and addresses.
Yes, street view is very useful but not so much of a deal-breaker as long as the map gets me to the right street (and this is where Apple's maps fail...) then I can usually find where I want to go.
For now, Bing works for me under iOS6.
I'm sure - eventually - Apple will catch up (they usually do).
Until then, I have a working alternative (yes, I know, I'm not able to set it as the default app, but its better than nothing) and that works for me.
It's awful. I'm about to move to Dubai. I thought London was bad, but apple maps in Dubai is comical.
Am torn on whether to get iPhone 5 and use google maps in safari (not nearly as nice, but bigger screen) or just keep the 4S and have a proper maps app.
Still, the point remains that apple maps really are ****. Good in some locations is not good enough.
In the bigger scheme of things not a big deal, but for gods sake stop being such apologists for what has been an incredible balls up.
Am torn on whether to get iPhone 5 and use google maps in safari (not nearly as nice, but bigger screen) or just keep the 4S and have a proper maps app.
Still, the point remains that apple maps really are ****. Good in some locations is not good enough.
In the bigger scheme of things not a big deal, but for gods sake stop being such apologists for what has been an incredible balls up.
Apologists? Not at all. The truth is (as is demonstrated by actual data) that you are part of a group who are portraying the known problems with Maps as far more widespread than they actually are.
"Good in some locations is not good enough". How about good in many locations? Most? Data shows that in the US, 90%+ of users are quite happy. There IS no data for international users, only gratuitous assumptions like the one you're making here. What tangible evidence do you have that, beyond your own experience, Maps is - for most users - the "balls up" ***** which you are claiming it is?
It doesn't work well for you in London or Dubai. I believe you. But surely you don't extrapolate a conclusion for the rest of the world from your singular experience?
Just to show I'm not the only one complaining about Dudley being miles away from where it should be...
Hapless app doesn't know its Hagley from its Dudley.
And my complaints about local towns not being labelled...
Apple's software wipes Staffordshire towns from map.
Hapless app doesn't know its Hagley from its Dudley.
And my complaints about local towns not being labelled...
Apple's software wipes Staffordshire towns from map.
Apple maps are total crap. I went to Japan last week and the maps for tokyo were so bad I can't even explain it. Absolutely zero points of interest. I couldn't find my hotel or the train stations. Searching for burger king in Japan gave me search results for washington DC. Wtf? I couldn't find the goddamn apple store in Ginza using apple maps. I tried navigation and it just got stuck calculating the route. Its total garbage and for some reason the google web app was acting up too. Nothing anyone says can compensate for how bad apple maps are.
Is tokyo not a ****ing international metropolis? Id assume places like London and tokyo would get first coverage. Wtf were they thinking.
Is tokyo not a ****ing international metropolis? Id assume places like London and tokyo would get first coverage. Wtf were they thinking.
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The majority of users in North America, maybe.
The quality of mapping data in the UK is significantly worse than the older Maps application in iOS5.
As I say though, Bing Maps are a good enough alternative for me.
No, he's one of the many people who have a useless maps app.
If i bought a world atlas, and it was comically inaccurate outside of my home country, i'd be rather annoyed.
The fact that it is an app on my phone rather than a paper book is not entirely relevant.
Yay. They work for you. We're happy for you. But to claim that there is no real widespread problem, despite the fact that for the vast majority of the populated areas on the planet, they're hopelessly inaccurate is being a fanboy of the highest order.
Even apple admit they suck. No "you're holding it wrong" or anything. "We screwed up".
Apple can admit it, why do you have a problem believing it?
And why is this such a huge disaster? Because the reputation of the app has been tarnished. Even if apple fix it and it is as accurate as bing or google in 6 months time, users are going to be wary trusting it for a lot longer than that.
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and yes, I am an iOS 6 user and have first hand experience of the suckage around Perth, Western Australia.
This will also impact on apple's previously great new iOS adoption rate. Every user I know here who has upgraded to 6 has been disappointed. No one is recommending their friends upgrade. Because maps is built into the OS, maps sucking will impact iOS 6 adoption.
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I do not think that you can expect from a american company to deliver a product wich works flawless on other continents.
I think the app developers in those continents should step in and create decent apps wich correct localizations, apple did the right thing by recommending other apps. The best way for apple to go it to leave the maps as it is and put the workforce working on the maps to reviewing the developer apps so those get approved fast and in the further development of the toolset for those developers.
Outside of the US, they are incredibly widespread. And you are an apologist, of the very worst kind. Why? What's in it for you? Apple maps are **** in the UK, the UAE, and plenty of other countries. That is, to quote your Vice President, a big ****ing deal.
They messed up. They haven't lost me as a customer, but I'm not happy and have every right to be unhappy. I've cancelled my iPhone 5. I might still get it (been into the store a few times to use the web version of google maps, and to see if I can live with that), but defending apple maps and insisting this cock up is no big deal is just bizarre.
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There have been a number of companies here who sent out notices to staff advising them not to upgrade. Has definitely hurt apples "it just works" image. Because it just doesn't.
I live in Dubai and yes the MAPS here are really crap. Even google Maps in UAE were not that brilliant (compared to US and Europe) with iOS5. But Apple Maps with iOS6 are just ridiculous.
If you are moving to Dubai, please note that DU & ETISALAT (local telecom providers) have blocked FaceTime, unless your handset is not bought from either of the telecom providers. DU & ETISALAT belong to Government and they behave same way as BT used to before Government opened up competition in the UK .
I do not know which country you are moving from, but I strongly suggest you bring your handset with you.
But the moot point remains that the MAPS outside of US are really really poor. All the stats and market survey results are based for US customers only.
I am pretty sure that amount of iP5 handsets sold outside US will far outnumber the handsets sold in US. So shouldn't the non-US customers expect good MAPS ??
Apple have not lost me as a customer, I know eventually they will get it right.
They have messed up on MAPS and that's that. They have apologised for it and are trying to correct it.
There is no point in lambasting them OR defending them in these forums. If Tim Cook accepts its a mess, why don't we just let it be instead of trying to prove that MAPS actually are NOT A BIG PROBLEM
This is incorrect though. It might be good for many/most USERS but the US is a small portion of the planet...
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Google is an American company....they seem to do a pretty good job...
I was surprised to find out that maps can search by postal/zip code at least for Canada, US and UK
Can't say I ever tried that on Google or if its even useful...
Can't say I ever tried that on Google or if its even useful...
I was surprised to find out that maps can search by postal/zip code at least for Canada, US and UK
Can't say I ever tried that on Google or if its even useful...
It's always worked in Google Maps.