Apple Maps satellite pictures a disaster

[cjmillsnun]

Very very unhappy.

And I hate to say it, way way back in beta 1 I predicted maps wouldn't be ready.

They aren't ready. The vector maps aren't too bad, but the rasters (imagery) is inconsistent and crap. This is with the GM.

There are going to be thousands of angry customers on 19th September when their phones are downgraded!

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google maps was not made in a year. relax.

That is not the point.

iPhone customers are used to the google experience, and Apple maps are going to be a severe downgrade.

I for one will be complaining. Where I live the imagery is pin sharp on Google Maps, it's bloody awful pixelated rubbish on Apple maps. It's a shame, because they have neglected what is the easiest thing to get right. It's just a collection of TIFF files mosaicked together FFS. I do this every day in my day job. It really isn't hard to get it right.

 

[Baz1205]

I agree Chris. The satellite map of my house is half black and white, half total blur with no discernible detail. In standard view it shows restaurants and other businesses that are actually 10 miles away. This is totally unacceptable for a premium product and will be a huge embarrassment for Apple on the 19th.

Bazza

 

[apper]

Oh no. The maps of my own house is now blurry and black and white, also seems to be at least four years old. Please make it go away!

 

[NATO]

The Belfast area is good. Here's The Odyssey.
View attachment 357119

That's pretty good actually

 

[revs]

I am confused - on my iPhone the maps are awful, either missing or B&W. I then checked on my iPad and that had great colour sattelite imagery.

So something odd is going on. Lets wait until the 19th, and then go mental on that day if its not improved

 

[borgqueenx]

is it possible to access apple maps through a website or windows app?

 

[revs]

is it possible to access apple maps through a website or windows app?

No

 

[OzyOly]

I am confused - on my iPhone the maps are awful, either missing or B&W. I then checked on my iPad and that had great colour sattelite imagery.

So something odd is going on. Lets wait until the 19th, and then go mental on that day if its not improved

Pics?

 

[Parise]

So looks like some of us were right.

The whole "wait until its released" thing is a cop out.

The maps still suck compared to Google's. Glad we downgraded. Hopefully their stand alone app won't fall too far behind their release of the YouTube app.

 

[bushido]

let's hope the new maps app from google won't take too long and apple wont be an ass about it and release it asap

 

[Squid7085]

I think Apple is backed in to a corner here. They probably are trying to license all the best images they can because it makes little sense for them to get planes up in the air to take images if they aren't for the 3D mapping. I'd like to think that there are better Images, but from whom? Google and Microsoft have been the ones sending all the planes in the air, the freely licensed government images we had in the past just don't exist anymore. For example the county I live in used to capture images every 4 years, they haven't taken any since 2004. I think it remains to be seen how aggressive Apple is at getting their own planes flying. The images Apple HAS captured are wonderful quality. I see a lot of potential in Apple's Maps, but it surely has some growing pains, I hope Google gets an app to help with that.

 

[emir]

The images Apple HAS captured are wonderful quality.

How can you tell if an image was captured by Apple? Do you mean 3D cities?

Also i don't think Apple is going to fly over the entire world and create images.

But rather than satellite imagery i think they need to improve addresses and places. No business, restaurant or anything comes up in the new maps app whereas they were in google maps. they HAVE to improve on that.

I absolutely love turn by turn navigation with Siri though.

p.s. i am living in istanbul

 

[smokechaser]

Anyone know if Google Maps will be available as download on the apple app store? This looks bad and I want to use Google maps for a bit longer in iOS6.

 

[zioxide]

Everyone here is blowing this way out of proportion. It's just the satellite imagery, not the whole application. I'm guessing the vector maps are fine and directions are fine. Satellite images will continue to improve as Apple and whoever is providing them with the satellite images continues to add more high-res imagery.

Until then, nothing is stopping you from using the Google Earth app (which is already on the app store and has been for years) which accesses the same exact satellite image database as the old Maps app.

 

[revs]

Everyone here is blowing this way out of proportion. It's just the satellite imagery, not the whole application. I'm guessing the vector maps are fine and directions are fine. Satellite images will continue to improve as Apple and whoever is providing them with the satellite images continues to add more high-res imagery.

Until then, nothing is stopping you from using the Google Earth app (which is already on the app store and has been for years) which accesses the same exact satellite image database as the old Maps app.

The vector maps have huge errors too, and are missing many details - so its not just satellite images (i could handle that!)

 

[Georgij]

Your Dudley is in 3D now, I hope that will balance things out for you =D

 

[Rivvvers]

you think they would have improved the satellite maps for mavericks release. but no, still just as bad as when it was first released.

 

[BvizioN]

Around the area where I live Apple's map satellite image is exactly as how everything is today. Google's image satellite have buildings that have been demolished over 3 years ago.

Almost in the heart of a major UK city.