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

[dk001]

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?



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]

So many bury their head in the sand even when shown how this stuff actually works.

 

[MozMan68]

Why? It's already been happening from some of the places i have been in Boston and NY.

What's been happening??

 

[gavroche]

It is an Apple fault, they designed the phone that overheats when used as a navigation device on a dashboard/windscreen.

I never said it was only related to Apple Maps.

As for early computers,
1) Waze was way better than Apple Maps when it came out. (and way better than Google Maps too)
2) I've only had the phone 3.5 years, hardly an old computer.

I highly doubt any brand phone that I could have navigating in my dash in the sun would not have a heat issue. Unless some other maker had found some secret method of heat dissipation noone else has.
And you missed my point about old computers and cars entirely. I was merely pointing out that most technology starts out with limitations and problems, and improve over time. To refuse to use that technology because of a negative first experience would mean you wouldn't be using a lot of important tech we use every day.
But hey... keep on fighting the good fight. Down with Apple.

 

[mazz0]

However, they mostly work OK for basic use cases.

I don't find that to be the case. Their Maps has businesses in the wrong place and missing or incorrect footpaths. In Messages my conversations aren't always up to date on every device and it frequently creates a new conversation thread even though the participants haven't changed. If I copy something on my iPhone it's almost never available to paste on my Mac. Their geofencing can't be used to tell when my stop is coming up on an unfamiliar bus route because it's so slow to update.

 

[BigMcGuire]

From an unfashionable backwater of the UK:

View attachment 768293

Yeah, I've been noticing Apple Maps vehicles all over here about a month or two ago. They're definitely remapping it seems.

Apple Maps has been acceptable to my wife and I. We like Waze for the traffic redirect but Apple Maps hasn't been bad - enjoy it with CarPlay.

 

[CordovaLark]

On one hand it's about time. On the other it has taken them thing long just to "update" Apple Maps and all they have so far is Northern California...? Also Eddie Cue, why?

 

[dk001]

I think you could infer what I meant when I said when they track “you”....I realize it is anonymous and there is no way for them to know itt is “you”.

Poor word choice on my part based on the paranoid folks on here.

Apple DOES get “data” from “your” phone as the article states...and they always have if you let them.

I’m not sure of a better way to say that other than the example of traffic data that is always on as a default when you buy an iPhone.

Whether you use Maps or not, if this is left on, the get the data as to how fast your phone (and you) is moving and translate that into up to date traffic info.

I’m sure the same might be true for the probe data discussed in the article. Although, it does infer that you actually have to use Maps for that data to be utilized since the phone will only send data from the “middle” of a route.

One aspect many keep missing. deja vu
Apple, and Google, you can elect on the depth of data collection and data sharing.

 

[ipponrg]

I don't find that to be the case. Their Maps has businesses in the wrong place and missing or incorrect footpaths. In Messages my conversations aren't always up to date on every device and it frequently creates a new conversation thread even though the participants haven't changed. If I copy something on my iPhone it's almost never available to paste on my Mac. Their geofencing can't be used to tell when my stop is coming up on an unfamiliar bus route because it's so slow to update.

I don't disagree with you here. When I say basic, I really mean basic. Troubleshooting Apple problems sometimes makes it become a PC-like problem.

 

[mrochester]

Apple uses App Store and News data to sell ads. Nothing on the scale of Google, or course, but they’ve got a profile on you too. Are you going to stop using those Apple services?
[doublepost=1530546755][/doublepost]

Not true.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-data-collection/amp/

“That said, the company does use your data to sell targeted ads based on your activity in the News and App Store apps. You can actually see what information Apple is using here by going to Settings, Privacy, then Advertising. If you tap “View Ad Information,” you’ll see who’s targeting you.”

I don't use News and I'll have to investigate how best to stop using the App Store.

 

[dk001]

Every iOS release I retry Apple Maps.

1. It has gotten better over time.
2. It still has serious location issues aka: what is there.
3. It is still less accurate routing than Google Maps.
4. It lacks inter-connectivity between Drive, Public Transportation, Bike, and Walk.

Recent issues as of iOS 11 for me:

1. My neighborhood is still only partially mapped and a good number of the local locations (businesses) are out of date. If it can't map my area (lots of Government buildings here) that makes other areas suspect.
2. Up to date traffic information isn't very good.
3. Routing information still lacks - limited selectable options and sometimes the options are not the optimal ones.
4. Search still sometimes returns out of area results.

When you look at what you use a map for, that defines what to use. Or should.

• What is at location X,Y
• Provide directions - include alternative modes of travel
• What is traffic like
• What does the location look like - visual recognition

All of these I have found to be very useful and have become "required". Apple Maps, if it is going to evolve needs to do this in order for me to adopt it.

Then there is the overall integration. I recently traveled to another state/city. Google put my travel plan together for me. Flight, car rental, hotel, and directions all into one neat little package based on the data in my emails and apps. That was kind of cool.

 

[truthertech]

I’m not misinformed about anything. Not only am I well aware of what Google does and how it does it, I’ve downloaded my data and seen what they have on me.

And I don’t care.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me, though, is the narcissism of the privacy obsessed.

That's only the data that you have under your Google account. Ask them for everything linked to your universal identifier or ISP's and see what they say. For example, there are three trackers that I am blocking that Google is trying to install on my use of this site right now. If I wasn't blocking them, Google would use those trackers to document my use of Macrumors, what I clicked on, how long, and then track me across the rest of the web as well. That is then linked, or attempted to be linked, by Google to me via my ISP addresses. Another example is if I sent you an email, they would have that content and our addresses. Neither of these examples will show up if I ask Google about them, because I don't have a Google account. See how that works?

It is daunting, because Google's very existence is dependent on knowing those intimate details of people's lives. They are getting well over 90% of their revenue from selling access to that informations, so they are spending billions of dollars each year to figure out everything about you and they can't stop or their structure will collapse as it is all dependent on continuing to refresh and add to those dossiers. No one, knows all of the tricks Google is up to, but it's time for people to wake up. It's starting to happen in Europe more so than in US. if you want to read up on Google, here's two articles to get you going. The first is from a few years back when some people were just starting to wake up to what they were up to, and the second from just a few days ago, to show how sophisticated Google remains.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/google-data-merge-called-privacy-threat-1.1130198

https://threatpost.com/norwegian-agency-dings-facebook-google-for-unethical-privacy-tactics/133194/



As far as "narcissism," in this instance, your claim to be well aware of what Google does and how it does it, well...

 

[campyguy]

Great. Do you see these changes using a current iOS 11.4 or iOS 12 beta?

Both iOS platforms, and with macOS 10.13.5.

About this area, the erroneous features reside on a layer provided by TomTom's TeleAtlas and they're still present in TeleAtlas's mapping, and TomTom's MyDrive is not routing through the breach but offering two proposed routes with the secondary route that differs from Apple's and what I would call a pretty "wonky" route that I wouldn't use - leading me to surmise with more conviction that Apple is not using TomTom's routing engine (at least in this area).

 

[ROGmaster]

No, you've got it quite the opposite. People can't afford to use a mapping app that is crap and they won't and don't have to. That's why few used Apple Maps when it first came out, because it was so poor, but since 2012 it has steadily improved to be a top notch choice to the point that, given a choice between all the free mapping services, all of which take less than a minute to download, on iOS, people overwhelming choose to use Apple Maps over Google maps. Apple Maps is now used many billions of times a week.
[doublepost=1530542268][/doublepost]

Yeah it's not like Apple Maps in iOS's default maps app which people can't change.
One of the most noticeable moments in Apple's most recent I/O wasn't when they announced Google Maps and Waze support for Carplay because Apple Maps is so great the people in the crowd didn't care at all and they didn't cheer.

A true testament to Apple Maps's actual quality would be for Apple to make the app available for Android users.
By comparison Google Maps gets a lot of positive feedback even from absolute Apple biased sites like this one, it would be interesting to see how would Apple Maps do in a similar situation given the fact that it currently gets a lot of criticism even for iOS users.

 

[TaviDuprix]

My biggest hope is that they will start to offer optional directions to avoid toll roads. Nothing is worse than being in an unfamiliar location and Siri always directing you into a toll road with no alternate route. It would be nice to just ask for directions sans toll and get some other set of directions.

 

[MozMan68]

My biggest hope is that they will start to offer optional directions to avoid toll roads. Nothing is worse than being in an unfamiliar location and Siri always directing you into a toll road with no alternate route. It would be nice to just ask for directions sans toll and get some other set of directions.

Maps already offers both toll and non toll options...you just have to pick the non toll one.

 

[TaviDuprix]

Maps already offers both toll and non toll options...you just have to pick the non toll one.

How do you unlock this wizardry? I get multiple route options on occasion but many times (and seemingly always when a toll road is involved) I do not.

 

[visualride]

A few hours or perhaps a few days of programming fixes is all that this multi billion dollar mapping software needs. Stop geeking out guys and think of the basics of looking at a map. You need to be able to see the roads that you are looking for and their names at the current zoom level right? Google maps does this, Apple doesn't and doesn't plan to under the supervision of Super Genius Eddie Cue. See my example comparison images on page 14 post #329.

...Of course all the other awesome changes are welcome and debatable, but I'm just mentioning the obvious basics that everyone else in the world doesn't seem to notice.

 

[dk001]

Local example of reasons why I never really use Apple Maps. Same location and scale on the maps (Apple vs. Google)

Both have traffic turned on. Both are default layouts.
AM is just flat out missing things. Give me accuracy and detail. It is things like this I hope this next version fixes. It will however, take a really significant upgrade for me to actually consider using it alongside Google Maps. What I do suspect is that by the time is goes on line widespread, Google will have already moved on to the next gen and even better integration.

For those wondering, This is Ventura Harbor in SoCal. Yes, we have awesome weather .

 

[MozMan68]

How do you unlock this wizardry? I get multiple route options on occasion but many times (and seemingly always when a toll road is involved) I do not.

I’m not sure...they just pop up.

But I do think, like Waze, it would be nice to have an “Avoid Toll Roads” option in the settings.

Sometimes when I travel for work, they are more of a pain than they are worth.

 

[KdParker]

What's been happening??

Constance improvements with Apple Maps since it has come out. This will just be another one changes.
[doublepost=1530563462][/doublepost]

I’m not sure...they just pop up.

But I do think, like Waze, it would be nice to have an “Avoid Toll Roads” option in the settings.

Sometimes when I travel for work, they are more of a pain than they are worth.

There is a avoid tolls options.

 

[MozMan68]

Constance improvements with Apple Maps since it has come out. This will just be another one changes.
[doublepost=1530563462][/doublepost]
There is a avoid tolls options.

Yes...yes there is...my bad.

I wish it was in the Maps app though instead of settings.

And to the original point, would be nice if it was a clearer option every time. I’ve never had an issue with it, but I have noticed it isn’t that easy to select sometimes.

 

[one more]

How do you unlock this wizardry? I get multiple route options on occasion but many times (and seemingly always when a toll road is involved) I do not.

1) Choose a location you want to go to;
2) Pull the list with different route options all the way up;
3) At the very bottom of the list in the left corner you have “Options in the car” or some such (mine is in French);
4) From here you can choose to avoid tolls and/or highways.

When you have this avoiding tolls option enabled, it will still offer you the fastest (and often paid) route, if you are in a hurry.
[doublepost=1530564687][/doublepost]

I’m not sure...they just pop up.

But I do think, like Waze, it would be nice to have an “Avoid Toll Roads” option in the settings.

Sometimes when I travel for work, they are more of a pain than they are worth.

You can ask AMs to avoid tolls, see above.

 

[MozMan68]

1) Choose a location you want to go to;
2) Pull the list with different route options all the way up;
3) At the very bottom of the list in the left corner you have “Options in the car” or some such (mine is in French);
4) From here you can choose to avoid tolls and/or highways.

When you have this avoiding tolls option enabled, it will still offer you the fastest (and often paid) route, if you are in a hurry.
[doublepost=1530564687][/doublepost]

You can ask AMs to avoid tolls, see above.

I guess I really need to use Maps more...

Picked Pittsburgh as I known the best way is toll roads...but only toll road options show up.

Swipe up to see driving options (lower left)

Indeed...toll options is shown...

And then non toll routes show up...

Thanks for the info...now I need to change it back..

 

[ipponrg]

That is then linked, or attempted to be linked, by Google to me via my ISP addresses. Another example is if I sent you an email, they would have that content and our addresses. Neither of these examples will show up if I ask Google about them, because I don't have a Google account. See how that works?

You're a bit delusional here and maybe should not use the internet.

ISPs can still track your movement if they so desired to. The same with your mobile cell carrier. Your IP address (not ISP) can be tracked anywhere. Using this site as an example and if the admins wanted to, they can log into their servers and see what your "truthertech" login is accessing the site from. Who knows what other sites you have gone to that could have other "devious" attempts at mining your data.

This whole thing is blown out of proportion quite honestly. The internet is wide open, and if anyone really cared that much, they can figure out your habits. It's why even VPNing isn't a safe bet either. Until someone gets rid of ISPs and the idea of the internet (good luck to that), you're never going to be truly anonymous.

 

[TaviDuprix]

I guess I really need to use Maps more...

Picked Pittsburgh as I known the best way is toll roads...but only toll road options show up.

Swipe up to see driving options (lower left)

Indeed...toll options is shown...

And then non toll routes show up...

Thanks for the info...now I need to change it back..

Beautifully illustrated! Thanks for the 411 and example.