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I still have the Google Maps app on my phone, but haven't used it in probably two years or so. Completely happy with Apple Maps, at least in North America. It has a far better UI than Google IMO.

When traveling it's a good idea to check which maps app supports public transport at the destination. I also sometimes use the HERE app, because it can download maps for regions or countries in advance so you can use it offline in case you don't have data service while traveling.

Have been using Apple Maps exclusively for about a year, and considering that Tokyo is the worst when it’s comes to inconsistent addresses and finding places, it works just like a charm (travel time is a godsend, especially when you have several appointments in several locations through the day). I was really only missing street view a bit, so this will make me a happy camper. Also from the demo, Apple’s Look Around seems to be more seamless and way cooler.
 
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I know this is kind of parallel to the current conversation, but will this compete with Waze?

I really like Waze (especially the auto-recalculate when it finds a faster route and the “Police Ahead” warnings of course) but I really dislike the fact that Google gets so much info from it.
 
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Ok so I'm an outlier based on the comments here. I've never used Apple Maps once, since it's inception. Not deliberately, as in regularly commuting etc...

However, based on a recent experience and with the improvements mentioned in iOS 13 plus the rebuilding of maps; I'm really thinking about giving Apple Maps a try.

I primarily use Waze, and didn't know until now that Apple Maps is also crowd sourced. I still think Apple should have bought Waze instead of Google. I think them passing that opportunity up was a mistake. When I need walking directions I've used Google Maps exclusively. Again, based on how horrendous Apple Maps were to begin with, I just never felt the need to revisit the issue.

With the leaps and bounds Apple has recently made with Maps, it might be finally time. I'd be lying, if I said I'm not nervous about trying Apple Maps though.
 
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Glad to see the competition. Apple Maps has been my preference in most cases because it's smoother and uses less battery, plus the nav UI is better, but they definitely lack features and places of interest vs Google Maps.

I love how all the screenshots show usage right in my home neighborhood. I ate at that specific The Counter last week. TBH, it's not as good as their other locations.
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One time, like five years ago, I was trying to nav to Home Depot. And I ended up in a pretty gritty sub-division. And as I'm driving wondering where the F the Home Depot is, a bunch of 8 year olds wearing backpacks walked across the street and gave me the meanest mean-mug I've ever seen. I haven't used Apple maps since.
It still sucks at finding stuff by name today. I look up the address in Google Maps then copy it in.

For some reason, neither one knows how to take me to the actual entrance of a train station. I go there to pick someone up and drive around aimlessly for 20min while I try not to get shot.
 
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I’ve been using Apple maps since pretty much the beginning. Prior to that I used I believe a Magellan app. Early on it was spotty, but it worked. We used it in Ireland a couple of years ago and it was pretty good. Used it in the Netherlands about a month ago and it was perfect. This is only going to get better.

People always want to trash apple maps and they likely haven’t used it recently. I remember a time when mapquest was the go to and google had people driving in circles.
 
I have iOS 13 installed and trying to experience the Look Around feature. However, every address I put in does not yield the binoculars. I tried famous landmarks. I even tried Apple headquarters. So can someone provide an address that works! Thanks.
 
Apple could buy Tesla, leverage all the cameras on all the Tesla cars, and kick this mapping thing into high gear. Not to mention their Apple Car program. Especially now that Tesla is available at such a discount. Just a thought.


Interesting thought, but the cars Apple is using need special cameras and lidar setup. The good thing is Apple's mapping effort is already in high gear. They've been quietly building their own base map, which are the foundation layers, since the early debacle. In the meantime they've had to rely on TomTom and others, which meant that they were at their mercy as far as updates and new features. Apple has now finished the base map and is slowly rolling that out worldwide. They've also been filming for three years now with their fleet of Apple Maps cars. They've finished most of US and parts of UK, etc., and in the US they are now doing pedestrian routes. That's why they mentioned, but most missed it, that Look Around will be available for rest of US in 2019 and then in selected countries in 2020.
 
I guess the "StreeView" name was out of the question for Apple as its already TM by Google ?

"Look around" such sounds kinda 'normal'
 
Glad to see the competition. Apple Maps has been my preference in most cases because it's smoother and uses less battery, plus the nav UI is better, but they definitely lack features and places of interest vs Google Maps.

I love how all the screenshots show usage right in my home neighborhood. I ate at that specific The Counter last week. TBH, it's not as good as their other locations.
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It still sucks at finding stuff by name today. I look up the address in Google Maps then copy it in.

For some reason, neither one knows how to take me to the actual entrance of a train station. I go there to pick someone up and drive around aimlessly for 20min while I try not to get shot.
I hope you send Apple feedback to help improve maps
 
This looks great and all, but it just keeps adding to the list of current features only being available in the United States. This list just keeps on increasing. Sure I'm no fan of Google as a company in terms of their privacy policies and whatnot, and they often release features in some limited amount to begin with but they are much more efficient compared to Apple in terms of getting these features on a global scale.

As a non-US user of Apple's operating systems and software I'm feeling more and more like a second or even third-grade user. Apple News? Nope. The current TV-app? Nope. Siri on HomePod in my native language even-though Siri on my phone is working perfectly fine? Nope. Detailed maps, collections, favourites and look around? Nope. Underground and detailed map for metro etc..? Nope. Apple Card? Nope. And I guess there are quite a few things I don't remember.
 
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Maybe I am missing something as I am an android user (Google Pixel) can some please explain to me how Apple maps is even a competitor to Google Maps (civil discussion please). Last time I checked Apple maps was very basic and did not have a lot of features (i.e. AR view, message businesses etc)
 
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I am a heavy user of the apple ecosystem, so I would love to use Apple Maps in my day-to-day. Unfortunately, I was turned off by the initial problems that plagued it in the first years. I’ve tried to use it at various times over the last year, and it has for sure improved. But it’s not yet up to par with Google Maps in many ways. I’m hoping this new update gets it there!

One of the features that I use frequently with Google Maps is my “starred” list. I have places that I have starred or marked as “want to go” during my travels around the world. This feature is so much more robust and more helpful than the current Favorites in Apple Maps. Also, Google visualizes the favorites better on their map...even when zoomed out I can locate my stars. The current Apple Maps doesn’t do that well, unfortunately. The favorites disappear from view as you zoom out.

I’d love it if the new Apple Maps collections will behave in a similar manner to Google’s stars. If so, I will definitely give Apple Maps another go!
 
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I have personally steered clear of Apple Maps as at the beginning it wasn't accurate.

I am thinking about giving it another go as I'd like to distance myself from Google as much as possible....

What's your honest opinion of Apple Maps vs Google Maps?

I pretty much only use Apple Maps now in London UK. The only thing I use google for sometimes is business / points of interest locations which is still much more accurate and complete. Also opening times and reviews.

If I know the exact address of where I’m going, apple maps is excellent.
 
I switched to Maps as soon as it was released. Not used or even had Google Maps installed since. It has obviously improved a lot over the years and I’ve never had anything but occasional minor issues, mainly when searching for businesses. I’m constantly surprised by the number of people who immediately dismiss it and claim it’s somehow terrible.

I use it most days in London and have also used elsewhere in the UK, in Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Greece. The driving directions are very good and lane guidance and speed limits are great. The thing I really would like is cycling directions but I use other apps such as Komoot for this so it’s not that big a deal. Oh, and faster rollout of things like shopping centre mapping.
 
It’s a great feature and looks a better implementation than Streetview. The problem is that it’s going to be years before it gets anywhere near the same coverage as Streetview for it to become useful. I live outside the US.
 
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That all sound awesome, but I really want the biking directions that Google Maps has. I prefer Apple Maps so it syncs with the watch, but it does make a noticeable difference to having biking-specific directions. I sure hope Apple adds that at some point.

Yeah I’d really like this. Keep hoping apple will buy or implement something like CycleStreets.org into their maps for bike routing.
 
I'm a mapping junkie. Here's what I've learned:

My Garmin GPS still can't be beat for Lane information.

Waze is the best for high volume traffic areas.

Google is best for local businesses, Street View (looks like that's about to change), bicycling, subways, and trip planning (they have the all important ability to add stops).

Apple maps is getting better at local businesses, but is a non-starter for trip planning (no ability to add stops).

I'm happy that Apple Maps is getting to be "good enough" for a lot of people. But I expect more from Apple. I expect an excellent product and a smooth experience. Sadly, Apple Maps isn't there yet. But Rome wasn't built in a day, and the product gets better every year. One thing is for certain: Look Around beats Google's Street View hands down. And I use Street View a lot.
 
I know this is kind of parallel to the current conversation, but will this compete with Waze?

I really like Waze (especially the auto-recalculate when it finds a faster route and the “Police Ahead” warnings of course) but I really dislike the fact that Google gets so much info from it.


Apple Maps does “auto recalculate” when it finds a faster route.
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I'm a mapping junkie. Here's what I've learned:

My Garmin GPS still can't be beat for Lane information.

Waze is the best for high volume traffic areas.

Google is best for local businesses, Street View (looks like that's about to change), bicycling, subways, and trip planning (they have the all important ability to add stops).

Apple maps is getting better at local businesses, but is a non-starter for trip planning (no ability to add stops).

I'm happy that Apple Maps is getting to be "good enough" for a lot of people. But I expect more from Apple. I expect an excellent product and a smooth experience. Sadly, Apple Maps isn't there yet. But Rome wasn't built in a day, and the product gets better every year. One thing is for certain: Look Around beats Google's Street View hands down. And I use Street View a lot.


Apple maps also is much better for transit. They are more accurate as Apple went way beyond what Google did and customized each transit set. This article explains why Apple Transit, including subways, surpasses Google.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/16/07/07/why-apples-transit-maps-are-rolling-out-so-slowly
 
Cool, but it still can't do the most basic, most fundamental thing a maps app should do: resolve slightly incomplete addresses.

When instead of "Whatever street" you type "Whatevr street" or "Whatever st." and it immediately points to a small Chinese town on the other freaking side of the Earth... Because there was literally nothing that was a better match on this entire freaking hemisphere? Or when it shows you a list of 97 potential matches from all over the world, for a road that's right next to you. Or when it confidently finds a single road with the same name that you typed in, but in some small town far from you, when there's a much more popular one much closer to you. Yeah, that's a bit ridiculous. And it doesn't just do that every once in a while, it does it all the time. If I was Apple, I'd try to fix that first, before doing anything to Maps.

Google has had this working perfectly 10 years ago. You can pretty much just type in whatever you want however you want, and Google will just read your mind and find what you meant, almost every single time. To me that's far more important than street view or a list of businesses, because when someone calls me to meet up somewhere, they usually won't say "Hey, meet me at Earth, Europe, People's Republic of South Theodora, 12334, District 17, John Wilkins Boulevard 47/A."
 
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