Apple Maps in Japan

[PaulTokyo]

I thought I'd link to a Japanese website finding goofs within maps (I still can't get over how Shinjuku looks like a golf course). After all, it's easy to get into an American/English only mindset and not consider the substantial number of customers in other countries.

Looking at these images worries me a bit about how Apple will integrate more density into these maps. The icons for restaurants, the brown little fork and knife (laughably western), if increased provide absolutely no visual information on quick glance. Likewise, using the same train icon for the metro and JR stations is not helpful (also, not connecting the related stations provides a terrible UI experience).

Image
http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1209/20/news034.html


Image
http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/727/727846/#eid727851

The equivalent map in Google maps allows me to quickly identify train company (toei, metro, JR), the stations connected on a line, the MAJOR station, and even gives me all of the station names at a glance. Not being able to tell where Tokyo station is (or even be able to spot the difference between a huge station like Tokyo and a much smaller station like Yurakucho) is crazy.

Imagine if Apple complies with requests for greater density, and the icons don't expand in variety—these maps will be a mess!

Google was also multi lingual. Apple maps won't find places like tokyo station unless you type in japanese. Thats fine for the easy kanji you see everyday, head west a couple of hours and start trying to find some places.

The amount of errors with places, locations, the overlayed data in some instances is at least 10 years old.. it's like a group of drunk 4th graders have submitted a maps application for the science project and Apple said "Perfect" we'll take it.

The only thing that stops me jumping off the iPhone is the amount of $$ i have invested in iPhone applications. So realistically I'll just stick with my jailbroken iOS5.x iPhone4x like most will. I'm not even sure a Google maps application will be enough for me to upgrade as I want it intergrated with the rest of the apps. I guess when a proper jailbreak comes out along with a google app and a cydia app that lets you change the default maps app then it would be worth doing.

Apple really dropped the ball on this one.

 

[ethana]

Wow what a disaster. I feel bad for you guys who use Maps on your phone.

Apple, YOU SCREWED UP.

 

[SprSynJn]

For Christ sakes people. It will evolve. You guys are crying like children when there are other applications out there that are better. Google will most likely release their own app as well for those who cannot accept change. By the way, I distinctly remember Google Maps when it was first released, and it was horrible.

 

[thomas.kaeslin]

Apples Maps in Japan

it seems to me that most users living overseas talk only about the maps themselves - I dont actually care that much how they look as long as they are accurate but more importantly that the looks is the link to the puclic transportation system ...
here in Japan I relied on google maps to take me to any place i wanted, with the entire public transport system linked in
what a great APP this was

now I found that there are no public transport - the only suggestion, when pressing the "bus" button within Apple Maps was that I should download another App of course in Japanese....

it was for me actually the most crucial APP to have - forget about all the others but this was crucial for business and private travelling

sorry, but I think those US software developers, who probably do not even have a passport and never venture overseas (or even outside their city without their cars) do not appreciate how important google map was and too many users

I am on a 4S and if I would go back to IOS 5, I would and would even pay for it

never again I will stupidly just upgrade whenever it is suggested to do so

Apple team, you drive me nuts with you disrespect of what customers really want and need

 

[liteshow]

No Results Found

I did a search on Apple maps for Shinjuku Station Tokyo Japan and got No Results Found

Tried it on Google Maps running on Safari and returned the correct map as posted by the OP.

So the Apple Map search is also broken.

 

[ADR]

I did a search on Apple maps for Shinjuku Station Tokyo Japan and got No Results Found

Tried it on Google Maps running on Safari and returned the correct map as posted by the OP.

So the Apple Map search is also broken.

I believe (again, I'm not downloading iOS 6 until I hear of a good maps fix for Japan) that you have to search in Kanji, so 新宿駅 should work right away.

Now, I wish I knew more Japanese (daily), and I am studying after work in order to improve, but I still need to get around in the meantime and maps recognizing Romanji is key.

sorry, but I think those US software developers, who probably do not even have a passport and never venture overseas (or even outside their city without their cars) do not appreciate how important google map was and too many users

One thought I've been having is that Apple should partner (or should have partnered) with the best mapping agencies in all of the world's biggest cities (Tokyo is #1 and has pretty unusable maps).

In addition, in cities like Tokyo, where addresses are oriented in such a different manner (surely the developers in California should appreciate that they may not know much about Japanese addresses), there are some key mapping features which should be added in. Anyone who has been in Japan for more than a month knows that you travel using train stations, exits, and convenience stores as landmarks. The infrastructure of the maps app looks good for America or any country traversed largely by car, but I think they should have focused on individual special use cases first.

Perhaps it would have been in Apple's best interest to focus on cities which not only have the largest populations but also the largest amounts of iphone customers (and the quickly growing markets) and made the best maps possible for them and then rolled out ok maps to everyone else. I think it's pretty funny to have such a poor showing in the world's largest city but be pretty good in podunk USA.

 

[liteshow]

I believe (again, I'm not downloading iOS 6 until I hear of a good maps fix for Japan) that you have to search in Kanji, so 新宿駅 should work right away.
.

So if I am just a tourist or on a short business trip, and just needed to find my way around a foreign city, Apple Maps search would work only if I knew the language of the land (or related language) and have those language files installed on my device?

Otherwise, I could just use Google Maps search and problem solved.

 

[Brazuca]

So if I am just a tourist or on a short business trip, and just needed to find my way around a foreign city, Apple Maps search would work only if I knew the language of the land (or related language) and have those language files installed on my device?

Otherwise, I could just use Google Maps search and problem solved.

I think the point was that the info exists in the maps database, but it is not "translated". I took the post as providing more information as to where the errors are, not some excuse.

Keep calm...

 

[StoneJack]

I checked the area around Nishi Yokohama, where I lived for long time, and the map and satellite image were quite fine.

 

[Cybbe]

South Korea is just as bad. Try searching for Seoul Station. Not only will Apple maps have difficulty finding it (it will give you many results), zoom in and you'll realize the map is utterly useless.

Oh, and if you are outside of Korea you won't see the river Han. That's right, Apple left out the defining landmark of one of the largest cities in the world for all international users.

 

[liteshow]

I think the point was that the info exists in the maps database, but it is not "translated". I took the post as providing more information as to where the errors are, not some excuse.

Keep calm...

Yes, I understand the point that was being made here, and we just pointing out where the errors are. What you said is correct.

I am very calm here. I use both Apple Maps and Google Maps myself. My point I was also trying to make is you can't depend on a single map app. When one map app fails, just use another.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Yawn.

Another maps thread.

 

[Jibbajabba]

For Christ sakes people. It will evolve..

At that level though - how would you even start helping them out - its a full time job.

To be fair - I don't mind POI missing - but simple things like missing towns / misspelled cities etc. - its just something I wouldn't expect from a company like Apple - and yes - there are other apps out there - but Tim made it quite clear how awesome this new feature is so people expect it to work.

I mean for crying out loud - they even called Westminster in the UK - Westminister. Even worse - my whole town is missing !!!!!

 

[MSUSpartan]

I'm heading to Tokyo later this month... is there a good alternative (other than maps.google.com)? Tried looking for my hotel on Apple Maps and of course it's not there.