Apple Maps Now Using 'Business Listings' Data From Foursquare

[2457282]

Blame Apple for the lack of integration. Apple does not allow users to choose default apps.

It is not a blame issue, but I have stated previously that Apple should allow the default mail, browser and map application to change. Hell you could even argue that the phone app could be substituted if Apple allowed it. But there are security and privacy concerns (not to mention competitive ones) that keep the walled garden....well....walled.

I am okay with it, but tons of android followers are not. Such is life and the freedom to choose.

 

[DJsteveSD]

I stopped using Foursquare when they split off "Swarm" and yes it was a bad decision.

 

[pdaholic]

It took over a year for Apple Maps to update a major road change (after countless in-app requests to Apple) while Google Maps took a little over a month. I saw it in my hometown. Really hard to trust Apple Maps given that scenario.

 

[TimUSCA]

Blame Apple for the lack of integration. Apple does not allow users to choose default apps.

It doesn't matter who you blame. At the end of the day, all that matters is what works and what doesn't. Apple's fault or not, the fact remains that Google Maps is not integrated into iOS, and therefore won't be used by me.

 

[realeric]

Fail. Who still use foursquare? It takes 1 year to list a business in Apple Maps. Fail.

 

[w00master]

Ads + Tracking, no thanks.

Google analytics is used on Macrumors. Too late. take off the tin foil.

if you come back and say: well i'm blocking, well guess what you're ripping off the site owner.

 

[bpeeps]

So, you think nothing changed since it was released in 2012 which is 3 years ago, give it a try again.

I use Waze, there's really no other navigation app that gets you through traffic like it. Apple and Google both just give direct routes using main streets/highways. They both alert you to traffic, but don't really do anything to route you around it if there's a faster route (Though Waze's POI search leaves much to be desired).

 

[FightTheFuture]

If they want Apple Maps not to viewed as the disaster it was when it was released, they should overhaul it and re-release it I think.

Overhaul it with what exactly? What's the point of them rebuilding from the ground up? Apple Maps just doesn't have the same amount of data as Google and that's really it. Feature-wise they are getting close and the app itself works great - it's just that the data they are using is based off Yelp, TomTom and their own which can't compare.

Google has been doing maps for over a decade and people on here expect Apple to have the same amount of data in three years. That said, Apple Maps works great for many people.

They both alert you to traffic, but don't really do anything to route you around it if there's a faster route

I believe Google Maps was recently updated to alert you via voice alert if traffic issues will effect your route.

 

[Northgrove]

I think this will be awesome especially for the international support and accuracy.

I generally dislike when there are too many eggs in one basket, too many companies relying on a singular service, since it's bad for competition, but in this case I think relying on a company with an existing, proven database is the only real way of moving forward. Especially company info was still a problem for me and Apple Maps. So Foursquare will become even more central for location support? Well, at least they are worth it.

 

[naeS1Sean]

Overhaul it with what exactly? What's the point of them rebuilding from the ground up? Apple Maps just doesn't have the same amount of data as Google and that's really it. Feature-wise they are getting close and the app itself works great - it's just that the data they are using is based off Yelp, TomTom and their own which can't compare.

Google has been doing maps for over a decade and people on here expect Apple to have the same amount of data in three years. That said, Apple Maps works great for many people.

I believe Google Maps was recently updated to alert you via voice alert if traffic issues will effect your route.

I don't know how to say it in a different way. Overhaul the app. Re-release it in a way. It still gets me lost. I know of quite a few people that will always view it as garbage because of what happened. And being that Google has been at it for so long is another reason why I use them over Apple Maps. I'm sure AM is great for a lot of people. I'm only expressing my personal opinion. I don't think they should get rid of the app. I love seeing the updates they do to it. And you're correct about the G Maps update.

 

[Keirasplace]

It took over a year for Apple Maps to update a major road change (after countless in-app requests to Apple) while Google Maps took a little over a month. I saw it in my hometown. Really hard to trust Apple Maps given that scenario.

Google map hasn't updated something around here that changed 5 years ago; does my anecdote trump; are they a wash?

Even worse, something in the Laurentians has always been wrong since Google map started and never been fixed despite telling google about it. Still, same bad road and a truncated road! We have to tell everyone that comes to our cottage is not really the right name and not to use Google to route.

So, hey. How you feel about the maps depends how it serves your needs basically.
If you never had an issue, they're both fine.

 

[hagar]

Now, go and fix the actual Maps! The centre of Brussels, Belgium became a huge pedestrian zone. The city council informed both Google and Apple urging them to update their maps to avoid traffic jams. Google immediately responded. Apple, not so much. After 6 months, Apple Maps is still showing the old situation... It's clear this is a structural problem as updating the map should not take more than a couple of hours.

 

[pdaholic]

Google map hasn't updated something around here that changed 5 years ago; does my anecdote trump;

Nope, not for me.

 

[kungpaaao]

Please do say more. Because for me Google Maps does not work. It does not integrate with any of my Apple products. I cannot click on an address in mail or safari and get it to launch google maps. so why Google Maps. It makes no sense unless I have an Android device, which itself would make no sense.

I would think that's Apple's fault for not allowing you to pick a default map app?

Anyway, I detest Safari. Also, I do find problems with accurate info in both Google and Apple maps. However, Google maps is my go-to. I need it at work on my PC and I can only access it via a browser.

To each his or her own.

 

[Muceda]

If your intent is to communicate something meaningful, yes.

I understood perfectly what NickD73 tryied to communicate. Apple MAPS has never ever worked (at least for me and for all the people I know) it does not work in my location, it simply does not work at all other than seeing a Map. Updates for problems take more than a whole year to resolve, it will not tell you the route not even for a very close place, not even a straight line on the same Avenue, nothing. So we either use WAZE or Google Maps. The problem is they are not integrated but at least they work fine 99.9% of the time!!

 

[Carlanga]

Always great to see Apple Maps become more and more useful!

Once they can actually put all the roads and water in the maps then I could care about them getting this.

Apple maps is so behind google maps is ridiculous now. Wish I could open google maps as my main choice Sam w outlook instead of mail. Stupid link opening always goes to Apple apps only. They should let us choose w out having to jb for this.

 

[SirCrumpet]

This is fantastic news - Foursquare's location data is second to none, especially on new and recently opened places.

 

[Amadeo]

I think the author failed to see an entire B2B side of their business. The success of their business being based on the apps has long ago been ditched. The Pinpoint service — and the location data they glean from the apps and partners — has been pegged as the future of Foursquare for a while now.

 

[ineedamac]

I use Google Maps to lookup businesses but not for directions. I find that Google never represents traffic accurately and the UI for navigation/route selection is pretty terrible.

When in the office on a pc I use Google maps to look up places. This is just easier since I'm already online and Google maps are a few keystrokes away.

When I'm in the car I use Apple maps for navigation and looking places up. Apple maps has awalys provided good directions whether I'm in Ohio, Michigan, NC, GA, DC, VA or FL.

 

[igorsky]

I'd love to see them relying solely on Foursquare and get rid of Yelp.

 

[32KFJ]

I just saw that Apple maps in Austria is using herold.at for opening times & home pages and qype additional to Yelp for reviews because Yelp isn't very popular here (except maybe in the bigger cities).

Very cool addition.

Also the speed for implementing the corrected data of false POIs from the user is really fast! Still using google maps from time to time because it still lacks some POIs here

 

[ErikGrim]

Really happy about this. Much prefer Foursquare reviews to Yelp, which sources their top reviews from cliquey user groups of essentially paid off writers (in perks, not cash). Seriously, go to your local Yelp "meetup" and see how cult-like it is.

 

[NickD73]

Ads + Tracking, no thanks.

What ads? Tracking...paranoid?

If your intent is to communicate something meaningful, yes.

Ok. Google Maps > Apple Maps

Please do say more. Because for me Google Maps does not work. It does not integrate with any of my Apple products. I cannot click on an address in mail or safari and get it to launch google maps. so why Google Maps. I makes no sense unless I have an Android device, which itself would make no sense.

Apple controls that. Thank them for restricting your ability to choose, and forcing us to use an inferior product.

 

[ErikGrim]

I stopped using Foursquare when they split off "Swarm" and yes it was a bad decision.

To be fair, they've now re-implemented and enhanced a lot of the gaming elements they cut away when they split the apps up now, so if you miss being a mayor of a place now you can again

 

[peterh988]

Out if interest, is there any reason Apple would go back to using an older satellite picture? Looking at my house, it used to show the new building across the road, now just shows the vacant land there.