Why? Should they stall until every single country in the world is on board before releasing a feature?
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Apple Maps Rivals AllTrails on iOS 18 With New Hiking Features in U.S.
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Why? Should they stall until every single country in the world is on board before releasing a feature?
Not exactly “sherlocking” when this is basically digitizing maps that are available at any national park kiosk. Or should AllTrails have some kind of exclusive access to walking trail mapping?
I am so excited for these releases. I'm already counting on all the annual savings from cancelled software I no longer need which is being replaced by improved notes, maps, password manager. This is a historic WWDC.
The problem with Open Street Maps is they do very poor job of maintaining, and updating. It may work for some areas where there aren’t changes, but its terrible at least in lot of national parks which change the trails depending on the season or rotate the areas. Other problem is OSM geocoding is bad. It may work in some but not the places that need updates And sync with gps is an issue.
Workoutdoors is a really good fitness app for the applewatch. Its the only applewatch app I've paid for. Configuration UI is a bit fiddly/nerdy but once you figure it all out it'll be the only app you use while exercising.
I was hiking in Yosemite, about 2 or 3 days from the trailhead. There is zero cell service there, even at the trailhead I was by myself. The trail mostly followed a river. Then I meet these two girls (OK I'm an old guy so everyone only 40 looks young, they were likely in their 20s so clearly "born in the digital age")
One of them shows me her iPhone which has a map and a blinking "you are here" dot. And she asks me "Where are we?" Clearly, she knew the blinking dot was the location and that she was standing on a trail but she meant, is it a hard or easy walk to a place to camp, will the canyon open up and get wider, and how long of a walk is that? All this was clearly on her map but all she was seeing was a useless-to-her "you are here".
Think about it, if you can't read a topo map, the "you are here" dot is as useless as if you drew an "X" on the ground and I told you "You are standing on an "X". You are always "here" no matter where you go and the GPS will always uselessly tell you that you are standing in the place you are standing. Seriously all she saw was a screen filled with usless wiggly lines and a flashing dot. She could also see the direction she needs to walk.
I think this is a problem with people who depend on these electronic gadgets, You don't need "turn by turn" directions when the plan is to walk for two days on the same trail.
Because of these electronic maps, there are now maybe as many people like this with zero map-reading skills. Maybe this is an opportunity for Apple or someone else to apply AI to topo map reading. You could ask the AI "when will we come to the next good place to stop for lunch and a rest with a flat space by the water? The system then makes a custom graphic.
(let's not talk about what happens if you are 20 miles from the road and you drop your phone in the water and can't read maps and don't own a compass.)
I want them to do better is all. Bring me further into the Apple way of things. But this is the first year in recent memory we’ve got a substantial update to Mail for example. It’s just not a great showing for someone trying to be all in but spurned for wanting to do something with their software that’s not what they decided on. Or prioritized. And that second point is the most damning.
Apple, pleeeessse give us mt. / gravel cyclists turn by turn and custom routes like ride with gps.
Hmm I’m obviously hopelessly behind the times. I like to hike and walk but haven’t kept up with the App Store apps so this is the first I’ve heard of AllTrails. It looks really good, I may end up paying for it.
By the time Apple’s topographic maps make it to the Netherlands I’ll probably have retired from hiking, lol.
By the time Apple’s topographic maps make it to the Netherlands I’ll probably have retired from hiking, lol.
It's good that Apple are introducing this feature. It will improve over time for sure.
AllTrails has nothing to worry about for a while. I have used this in the UK and it was amazing on showing me the way in quite complex terrain. Clearly you need to DL (and pay) for the content if you are going to lose cell contact.
AllTrails has nothing to worry about for a while. I have used this in the UK and it was amazing on showing me the way in quite complex terrain. Clearly you need to DL (and pay) for the content if you are going to lose cell contact.
I just don’t see them going much past superficial stuff in this area. Be it trail forks or ride with GPS. Look how long it took them to pick up a very basic implementation of Garmin connect training status. It won’t ever be that in depth, but rings. Or something
No, that’s code for “mapping the planet takes time” If they waited until all countries were mapped, this wouldn’t roll out until 2030. It’s not logical to assume a company can just magically roll out a product or feature everywhere at once, especially such a complex one.
Why doesn’t Google have satellite messaging on Pixel phones? “Either they can’t or they won’t” according to your logic that still lacks a detailed explanation.
Why doesn’t Google have satellite messaging on Pixel phones? “Either they can’t or they won’t” according to your
Garmin is hot garbage.
In what way? It gives comprehensive performance and stats about my workouts, swimming, cycling. It’s miles ahead of what Apple has on tap. But it’s not for casual folks like closing rings so it’s serving an entirely different market. Apple isn’t going out there to make sure my Shimano DI2 or Wahoo trainer or power meter are working with their watch. But frankly that’s table stakes for athletes. Ant+ is a big deal. Pedal dynamics are a big deal. It’s an endless list but they show one “cool” dude doing some BMX stunts on the keynote? Oh ok that settles it Apple totally is doing this for sure they take cycling and MTB seriously now. Got it.
Maybe start with a few places and really do it up nice. Make sure it’s not just the extremes like the east or west coast of the continental US. Maybe go for 3rd, 4th or even 5th largest cities. That’s in scope I’d think. Or how about actually having a global focus. They seriously impair their product rollouts and favor the US. What about France or Spain? Maps are inconsistent at best. Again, they’ve got the capital and the know-how so is it a lack of motivation? Organization? Is it just a “we’ll get to it when we get to it” sort of thing? I’d like for Apple to be better but their secrecy means they don’t get their feet held to the fire rolling out features and being held accountable. It’s sort of sleazy. Ever so slightly. And I think funny enough, Maps is what burned them. Unfortunate. And also they lost Forstall in that debacle who should have replaced Jobs but that’s another kettle of fish.
In sum: asking them to map the ocean is a tall order. The land? Not so much. Make a plan, set some dates. And then it’s pitter patter get at er
They can’t. Simple as.
No Apple doesn’t, they’re all over the map (pun intended) when it comes to delivering the full Maps experience. While you can zoom into look around in the middle of Australia (check out Eucla on the Nullabor Plain one of the lowest populated areas in the world) yet huge swaths of area just outside of San Francisco aren’t covered or upstate New York. Apple has a problem with delivering “eye candy” across the board and the rationale is never provided because there isn’t any.
This would be way more useful if it were available on iPhoneOS 18 so we could use it on our phones.