Apple Maps to Be Rebuilt 'From the Ground Up' With First-Party Data Over the Next Year

[Kabeyun]

In life, I've never seen someone say, "I'll pick second best."

Cute quote, but nonsense. It's everywhere, including right here in this forum. Anyone who uses Apple Maps, for example, including myself, is probably sacrificing the top maps database (Google, arguably) for the benefit of integration, or Google-related privacy concerns, or what have you. If second best is good enough for most or even many, they'll pick it if other conditions are right for them.

 

[spinedoc77]

Any idea why Waze has no lane assistance when Google has it?
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I can venture a guess, Google has the disease Microsoft had in the 90's, 00's, they have too many departments that don't interact well with each other. Having multiple apps that basically do the same thing is their bread and butter. Purchase Waze and incorporate the crowd sourcing into Google maps? Nahhhh let's just have 2 mapping apps.

Waze themselves also seem to be getting more Googleish in that they seem to care much more about design, about rounding edges and such, more than they care about actually adding new features.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Apple needs to abandon their maps efforts, and put all that money towards building a keyboard that won't fail.

 

[Tech198]

"The secret sauce here is what Apple calls probe data. Essentially little slices of vector data that represent direction and speed transmitted back to Apple completely anonymized with no way to tie it to a specific user or even any given trip. It’s reaching in and sipping a tiny amount of data from millions of users instead, giving it a holistic, real-time picture without compromising user privacy."

This is starting to get like TomTom. Slowly, but surly. Sharing bits & pieces among users.

(The "Current" image leaves allot to be desired)

 

[femike]

Apple Maps and Apple TV shows are total opposites. One is sitting on your arse, the other is getting out. One rakes in subscription fees, the other not. Apple chose to concentrate on TV Shows.
So its good Apple has now realised to show more focus on Maps. But in this country, Apple Maps are not good.

 

[Glideslope]

Good luck.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

Nothing like an Apple Maps story to bring out all of the haters...hah!

This has been discussed ad nauseum in other threads, but when you look at Apple's history, when have they ever taken something that others launched first and not improved on it?

The data they are collecting is much better than Google's and will be easier to catch up...and look better...and operate better. Apple's main limitation right now is reliance on third party data suppliers for routing, map data, POI data. They are doing it themselves now...just like Google!

And I'm sorry, but every map has it's flaws, so for the half of you (like me even) that have legitimate gripes about incorrect road info, or location info, or whatever...fine...it will be fixed...but Google and HERE have the same issues in different locations. I can't tell you how many times Google has told me to make illegal turns where that never happens to me with Apple.

For the other half of you, I suspect you are still butt hurt from when Maps launched and didn't have your address in the exact spot of your driveway...or you are one of the same people that loves to bring up when the beta was launched and it had roads in the middle of the ocean (forget the fact that those dumb issues were fixed before public release).

I use Waze mainly, mostly because I drive to fast and want to avoid getting a ticket, but I prefer Apple Maps above and beyond every other map out there from a UI perspective...and it hasn't failed me any more than other map programs.

And I'm trying to drive slower, so have been moving to Apple Maps more and more recently (as I typically do when a beta is released).

Um....they were certainly not fixed before public release.

 

[Vasilioskn]

Apple maps is not good and it’s unacceptbale that they make you leave the app to read yelp reviews when the reviews should be displayed as google maps does.

 

[MozMan68]

Um....they were certainly not fixed before public release.

Are you talking about public release 5 years ago??

We’re talking about what will happen over the next year.

And despite all of the failures they have had with Maps since launch, read the articles...they had to create their own maps app then. And now they have 100’s of millions of users...despite what everyone is saying, if any company can come back from the disastrous launch they had, its Apple.

They have the devices, users, tightly controlled architecture and the tech/people to surpass what even Google has built up over 10 years.

 

[artfossil]

Apple maps is not good and it’s unacceptbale that they make you leave the app to read yelp reviews when the reviews should be displayed as google maps does.

The last thing I want to see in Maps is a Yelp review. I just want to know how to get to my destination and Maps does that just fine.

 

[Abazigal]

In life, I've never seen someone say, "I'll pick second best."

That’s because what’s best is going to vary from person to person.

In the case of Apple maps, it’s good enough to get me to where I need to go, is integrated with iOS on a system level and maybe I am more comfortable parking my data with Apple instead of google.

These combination of advantages may be worth more to me than better mapping data I don’t really need.

 

[sracer]

if i am to believe most of my fellow Apple users, this move is a complete waste of effort since they repeatedly said that Apple maps has been more accurate than google maps.

 

[ipponrg]

They have the devices, users, tightly controlled architecture and the tech/people to surpass what even Google has built up over 10 years.

I gently laughed at this one.

Please explain some of the following:
- Why did Apple hire Google's former AI boss to help with Siri
- When Apple canned Google Maps from the iPhone, why was their attempt at recreating Maps heavily criticized

I have yet seen Apple to surpass much of Google's tech. Some might claim that Apple has dominance in the mobile space, but there is so much more to tech than just mobile.

 

[MozMan68]

I gently laughed at this one.

Please explain some of the following:
- Why did Apple hire Google's former AI boss to help with Siri
- When Apple canned Google Maps from the iPhone, why was their attempt at recreating Maps heavily criticized

I have yet seen Apple to surpass much of Google's tech. Some might claim that Apple has dominance in the mobile space, but there is so much more to tech than just mobile.

— they hired him because he’s the best??

— C’mon...they HAD to dump Google then or be their b***h...better to have a crappy map app then let Google move even further down the road of dominance faster with all of Apple’s users.

As bad as it might have been for some, they still built up a user base of it through phones first, Macs (yeah, limited) and then through CarPlay (huge!!!).

Like it has been said a thousand times before, despite all the complaints, most legitimate, Apple Maps has been more than okay for the vast majority of their users and has only grown since it has been introduced.

Owning their own mapping data and the tech they are introducing behind it will let them outpace others at an exponential rate thanks to their user base and the fact that the integration into the Apple architecture and their dedicated user base will only increase with new hardware introductions.

They have already proven that. Criticism from a vocal minority...as large as it may be...is still a minority. Time will tell...and I’m betting on Apple.

Let’s have this same conversation a year from now and see where we are.

 

[TimmeyCook]

If they need months to go from the Bay Area to Northern California, I don't wanna know when they'd cover Australia or Hong Kong or South Africa or Argentina. Years to come.

Yes, because it’s just downloading “complete mapping solution” from the AppStore and driving around.
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I gently laughed at this one.

Please explain some of the following:
- Why did Apple hire Google's former AI boss to help with Siri
- When Apple canned Google Maps from the iPhone, why was their attempt at recreating Maps heavily criticized

I have yet seen Apple to surpass much of Google's tech. Some might claim that Apple has dominance in the mobile space, but there is so much more to tech than just mobile.

And what Google dominates?

They don’t dominate anything besides collecting user data from people that are dumb enough to not know how to install an ad blocker and selling it to third parties via their advertising service.

 

[ipponrg]

they hired him because he’s the best??

or they "hired" him because they needed a PR stunt to pad the negativity around Siri.

Owning their own mapping data and the tech they are introducing behind it will let them outpace others at an exponential rate thanks to their user base and the fact that the integration into the Apple architecture and their dedicated user base will only increase with new hardware introductions.

Except Google has years of experience and talent ahead of Apple in all of its services. They also aren't limited by anonymous data.

I'll admit. The coolest thing about Maps was the 3d building views. It was a gimmick though. The worst feature of Maps is their reliance on Yelp.

Let’s have this same conversation a year from now and see where we are.

We've had this conversation every year since they abandoned Google Maps.

 

[Glockworkorange]

My (third world) country is a desert according to Apple, I hope they focus a bit on it

Where?

 

[Ortiz83]

This doesn't sound good. I guess I'll have to finally learn to use Google Maps . . . although the first time I used it (to find a new house in a new residential area), it put me 4 miles away in farmland. Apple Maps got it right, though, so there's that to be said in Apple's favor. But it was years ago....

How does this not sound good? Like really?

 

[Glockworkorange]

Been using Google Maps. I only use Apple maps when other apps open a location and it defaults to Apple maps.

Is there a way to change this where everything will open in Google Maps instead of Apple maps?

Not sure if you are serious.

Are you serious? Answer is no.
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Nobody has been doing as much work because their maps don't suck today! Can't wait for iOS 12 for third party navigation through car play.

I envy those with CarPlay.
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Um....they were certainly not fixed before public release.

Yeah, those awful screenshots came after release.
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Apple maps is not good and it’s unacceptbale that they make you leave the app to read yelp reviews when the reviews should be displayed as google maps does.

I agree they should keep the data in the maps app without having to jump out.

But as a service. I think Apple Maps is excellent and just s really good looking product.

 

[ipponrg]

Yes, because it’s just downloading “complete mapping solution” from the AppStore and driving around.
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And what Google dominates?

A few questions:
- Search? Or do you use Bing? Maybe Altavista or Lycos?
- Can you count the number of devices in the world that run Android? How does that compare vs Apple?
- Do you have a Gmail account?
- Do you share docs with Google Docs?
- How about what restaurant(s) are around the block within walking distance?

They don’t dominate anything besides collecting user data from people that are dumb enough to not know how to install an ad blocker and selling it to third parties via their advertising service.

Your ISP collects data on you.
Your phone company collects data on you.
The government collects data on you.
Your credit card company collects data on you.
The IT department in your company can collect data on you.

I'm not sure what your point is here. Why are you so worried about user data when there are a ton of other major entities collecting data on you?

And FYI - you can turn off what you'd allow Google to collect on you. When I downloaded my data from Google, all they had on me were the YouTube videos. They had nothing public in regards to my mobile phone locale or even when I check my email because I turned all those options off.[/quote][/QUOTE]

 

[Glockworkorange]

Most normies use Apple Maps because it’s there by default. Hell, they also think it’s part of Siri. I can’t tell you how many times I here people say “well, Siri took me through the highway” or “she (insert blank here)” or something similar.

I surmise the vast number of iPhone users use Apple Maps and are fine with it.

 

[bernuli]

Oh yeah. Start over... thats a good idea.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Too late for that now for obvious reasons, but they should have done that year ago.

What obvious reasons?

 

[groovyf]

It’s all well and good improving map data, but Apple Maps is terrible for up-to-date traffic data.
The other day I tried Apple Maps on a known route to me and found it gave two alternate routes that were both longer distance/time than my usual. Google Maps gave my usual route.
Even when I was less than a mile away from my destination, Apple Maps still tried to take me a route that added an extra two minutes.

 

[mithion]

In the last year or so, I've found Apple maps to be more reliable than Google Maps. Not to say it's perfect, there's definitely room for improvement. But it's light years ahead of where it started. And if they can improve it further by accessing better data, then I welcome it enthusiastically.