Does Waze have the traffic light diagrams like Apple Maps have now? Last time I used waze I ended up taking wrong turns and went back to Apple Maps. AM works for what I want and I don't really want to use Google Maps.
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Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Which Is Better?
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It's not a non-answer. My contention is they're on essentially equal footing when it comes to privacy.
Never trusted Google and never will. Google Maps lags Apple Maps and has for a very long time.
Apple Maps has been providing navigational guidance to Apple users for almost 13 and a half years now, and much has changed about the app in that time. However, according to data from Canalys, the overwhelming majority of iPhones in the U.S. still have Google Maps downloaded as an alternative to Apple Maps, which comes preinstalled on all iPhones. We want to hear from MacRumors readers. Which do you prefer to get you from A to B?
Launched in September 2012, Apple Maps was quickly criticized for having incomplete and inaccurate mapping data, which led some iPhone users on dangerous routes. Apple CEO Tim Cook offered a rare public apology for the frustration it caused customers, and iOS chief Scott Forstall was ousted just one month later.
Since then, Apple has made significant improvements to Apple Maps, building in new features and correcting lingering errors. Real-time traffic information and navigation options for pedestrians were added to Maps in 2013, which is also the same year Maps was extended to OS X. In 2015, Maps was updated with "Nearby," a feature that offers up local points of interest and transit directions in a handful of cities.
In early 2020, Apple completed an overhaul of its maps in the United States, adding significantly greater detail including updated buildings, parks, sports fields, pools, and more. A Look Around feature in select cities is similar to Google's Street View, and the updated maps have been rolling out to more countries in the time since. In iOS 15, Apple introduced immersive walking directions shown in augmented reality, curated guides for select cities, real-time transit updates, and more road details for enhanced driving navigation. In iOS 16 it gained multi-stop routing. And in iOS 17, Apple made it possible to download maps for offline use – something Google Maps users have been able to do for quite some time.
Have Apple's incremental improvements been enough for it to be considered an equal to Google Maps in users' eyes? Of course, Google developers have not stood idly by watching Apple Maps' gradual evolution. Google has introduced several enhancements aimed at enriching the user experience through advanced AI technology and more immersive visualization tools, and has even taken a leaf or two out of Apple's book.
One notable recent update in this regard is the Immersive View for Routes, which provides a comprehensive preview of a user's journey, whether they are driving, walking, or cycling. Launched last year, the tool combines billions of Street View and aerial images to create an intricate digital representation of the world, allowing users to visually navigate through bike lanes, sidewalks, intersections, and parking spaces along their route. It also includes a dynamic time slider indicating how conditions such as air quality and weather change throughout the day, helping users plan their trips with more precision.
Another significant improvement is the integration of Lens in Maps, an evolution of the Search with Live View feature. Leveraging AI and augmented reality, Lens in Maps helps users get their bearings in a new location by providing information about nearby amenities like ATMs, transit stations, and dining options. The feature has since been expanded to over 50 cities.
Google Maps has also rolled out updates to make navigation maps more reflective of real-world conditions. These include more detailed and realistic representations of buildings and improved lane guidance on highways. For electric vehicle owners, Google Maps also offers information on charging stations, including compatibility details, charger speed, and the last usage time.
Despite these concurrent improvements to Google Maps, their combined effect hasn't stopped users coming away impressed by how far Apple's navigational guidance has come. Based on anecdotal reports, the app is increasingly recommended by users for its cleaner view versus the more cluttered design of Google Maps.
Likely thanks to its disastrous launch, Apple Maps still gets a bad rap among some users, but Apple's continued efforts to improve the app appear to have helped reverse some of those opinions. "Maps has come a long way, and people have noticed," Craig Federighi, Apple's head of software, said at WWDC 2023. Are you more or less likely to use Apple Maps these days? Let us know in the comments.
Article Link: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Which Is Better?
I also prefer Apple Maps UI, Google Maps has become too bloated, it wants to do too much. I still get frustrated with apple Maps though, their routing algorithm is not the best, Google Maps seems to be more optimized, perhaps because of the large user-base and tracking.
Still prefer Google Maps > Apple Maps, though both still have issues.
Apple has Not added features from Waze Map, which it took over. Can't even add simple stuff like road issues in Apple Maps (i.e. speed traps, accidents, delays, etc...) which is still possible in Waze. Then again, can't even add those (simply) in G Maps as well.
Both still have issues (i.e. doesn't show possible roads issues like delays or backups esp. due to accidents) though Waze does a better job at that.
Both Map apps still point out the destination at a few hundred feet away from where it's actually located. Worse, it's difficult to send information back to Google and Apple to correct the darn errors!!
Both Map apps should 'learn' from daily use of the driver. Both map apps still uses the Long travel method to reach a destination instead of suggesting shortcuts which I use at times, esp. when traffic is slow/at a standstill.
Despite the issues, still use G Maps as I've gotten used to using it over the years. Apple Maps, years ago, was atrocious but has gotten relatively 'better'.
But it also depends on where one lives and how the map apps update their information.
Apple has Not added features from Waze Map, which it took over. Can't even add simple stuff like road issues in Apple Maps (i.e. speed traps, accidents, delays, etc...) which is still possible in Waze. Then again, can't even add those (simply) in G Maps as well.
Both still have issues (i.e. doesn't show possible roads issues like delays or backups esp. due to accidents) though Waze does a better job at that.
Both Map apps still point out the destination at a few hundred feet away from where it's actually located. Worse, it's difficult to send information back to Google and Apple to correct the darn errors!!
Both Map apps should 'learn' from daily use of the driver. Both map apps still uses the Long travel method to reach a destination instead of suggesting shortcuts which I use at times, esp. when traffic is slow/at a standstill.
Despite the issues, still use G Maps as I've gotten used to using it over the years. Apple Maps, years ago, was atrocious but has gotten relatively 'better'.
But it also depends on where one lives and how the map apps update their information.
Up to about 3 years ago, there was no match. Google Maps was miles better.
Now, Apple Maps' UX is superior, while Google Maps data is more detailed.
However, Google Maps can be too detailed, particularly directions via some complex interchanges. Too much detail is not always good; it distracts drivers from processing the information real time, particularly using funky names to reference on / off ramps.
Now, Apple Maps' UX is superior, while Google Maps data is more detailed.
However, Google Maps can be too detailed, particularly directions via some complex interchanges. Too much detail is not always good; it distracts drivers from processing the information real time, particularly using funky names to reference on / off ramps.
For me, Apple Maps is what I use because I am used to it and I like the fact that it doesn't track me as much as Apple Maps. However, when I am on the road heading somewhere out of my area, I use Waze because the reporting is superior to Apple.
I thought Google bought out Waze. Do you know positively it was Apple?
My biggest complaint for the app by far - as I get older [and the reading glasses get stronger], I still struggle with the bleeping small labels in the app.
Google definitely owns Waze; it's why I deleted my account and the app when they did. Thankfully Apple Maps has the same feature for reporting speed traps, construction, crashed cars, etc. I don't think enough Apple Maps users know about it though.
I've used certain delivery/shuttle driver apps which have their own navigation feature and clearly get their data from another source [in 2 cases where I was seeing all kinds of bad data, I did some research and found both used google data, not Apple Maps, nor OpenStreet]. I can echo the bad speed limit feature, which can be very bad as some apps will punish the driver for speeding or base ETAs on the speed limits. I live in a super rural part of the US and often the dirt/gravel roads have 35mph or higher signs up in the app, but even in an emergency, an ambulance or cop would never go that fast on the roads, as they'd slide off of them! In other instances I will be on a 4 lane highway that looks more like a freeway/interstate and it has physical 55mph signs on it, but the apps will say it's 35mph, and warn me that I could be punished for safety violations. Apple Maps, meanwhile, gets close to 100% of the speed limits correct and simply won't display a speed limit on the super rural gravel/dirt roads that are 10-15mph.
I never use Google Maps. Not because it doesn't work as well as (maybe better than) Apple Maps, but because Google uses the information on locations I navigate to, pass by, etc. to build an ever greater database of details about me, my family, and my life. The value of their products is decent, but not worth giving them more ammunition to control and influence me. I want the search for what I need and not have annoying ads being thrown at me at every site I visit. To be clear, I'm not bashing Google or their business model. I simply don't believe they are an ethical company when it comes to privacy. If your company motto is designed to remind employees to "Do no evil" then you probably aren't hiring the most ethical people. Doing no evil should be table stakes to even start a business, not a slogan to hide ill intent behind.
Apple Maps has been providing navigational guidance to Apple users for almost 13 and a half years now, and much has changed about the app in that time. However, according to data from Canalys, the overwhelming majority of iPhones in the U.S. still have Google Maps downloaded as an alternative to Apple Maps, which comes preinstalled on all iPhones. We want to hear from MacRumors readers. Which do you prefer to get you from A to B?
Launched in September 2012, Apple Maps was quickly criticized for having incomplete and inaccurate mapping data, which led some iPhone users on dangerous routes. Apple CEO Tim Cook offered a rare public apology for the frustration it caused customers, and iOS chief Scott Forstall was ousted just one month later.
Since then, Apple has made significant improvements to Apple Maps, building in new features and correcting lingering errors. Real-time traffic information and navigation options for pedestrians were added to Maps in 2013, which is also the same year Maps was extended to OS X. In 2015, Maps was updated with "Nearby," a feature that offers up local points of interest and transit directions in a handful of cities.
In early 2020, Apple completed an overhaul of its maps in the United States, adding significantly greater detail including updated buildings, parks, sports fields, pools, and more. A Look Around feature in select cities is similar to Google's Street View, and the updated maps have been rolling out to more countries in the time since. In iOS 15, Apple introduced immersive walking directions shown in augmented reality, curated guides for select cities, real-time transit updates, and more road details for enhanced driving navigation. In iOS 16 it gained multi-stop routing. And in iOS 17, Apple made it possible to download maps for offline use – something Google Maps users have been able to do for quite some time.
Have Apple's incremental improvements been enough for it to be considered an equal to Google Maps in users' eyes? Of course, Google developers have not stood idly by watching Apple Maps' gradual evolution. Google has introduced several enhancements aimed at enriching the user experience through advanced AI technology and more immersive visualization tools, and has even taken a leaf or two out of Apple's book.
One notable recent update in this regard is the Immersive View for Routes, which provides a comprehensive preview of a user's journey, whether they are driving, walking, or cycling. Launched last year, the tool combines billions of Street View and aerial images to create an intricate digital representation of the world, allowing users to visually navigate through bike lanes, sidewalks, intersections, and parking spaces along their route. It also includes a dynamic time slider indicating how conditions such as air quality and weather change throughout the day, helping users plan their trips with more precision.
Another significant improvement is the integration of Lens in Maps, an evolution of the Search with Live View feature. Leveraging AI and augmented reality, Lens in Maps helps users get their bearings in a new location by providing information about nearby amenities like ATMs, transit stations, and dining options. The feature has since been expanded to over 50 cities.
Google Maps has also rolled out updates to make navigation maps more reflective of real-world conditions. These include more detailed and realistic representations of buildings and improved lane guidance on highways. For electric vehicle owners, Google Maps also offers information on charging stations, including compatibility details, charger speed, and the last usage time.
Despite these concurrent improvements to Google Maps, their combined effect hasn't stopped users coming away impressed by how far Apple's navigational guidance has come. Based on anecdotal reports, the app is increasingly recommended by users for its cleaner view versus the more cluttered design of Google Maps.
Likely thanks to its disastrous launch, Apple Maps still gets a bad rap among some users, but Apple's continued efforts to improve the app appear to have helped reverse some of those opinions. "Maps has come a long way, and people have noticed," Craig Federighi, Apple's head of software, said at WWDC 2023. Are you more or less likely to use Apple Maps these days? Let us know in the comments.
Article Link: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Which Is Better?
Google purchased Waze many, many years ago. Apple has, for several years now, had the same reporting features that Waze has - speed traps, construction zones, crashed vehicles.
To access it, while navigating, tap the ^ on the lower right corner of the app, then Report an Incident - then tap on Crash, Hazard, or Speed Check.
Please tell me you’re kidding. Are you seriously asserting that just because Apple has an Advertising division its privacy practices are equivalent to Google, essentially a surveillance company with 80+% of its revenue coming from Ads driven largely through coercive data collection and who has been fined $400M for privacy violations? Wow, not sure how to take this; but I’ll assume it’s simply a matter of being uninformed and suggest you take a look at this objective comparison of Google and Apple with respect to privacy.
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Had no issues with Apple Maps especially since the inclusion of way points, just wish it was a option in Tesla.
Apple Maps has been providing navigational guidance to Apple users for almost 13 and a half years now, and much has changed about the app in that time. However, according to data from Canalys, the overwhelming majority of iPhones in the U.S. still have Google Maps downloaded as an alternative to Apple Maps, which comes preinstalled on all iPhones. We want to hear from MacRumors readers. Which do you prefer to get you from A to B?
Launched in September 2012, Apple Maps was quickly criticized for having incomplete and inaccurate mapping data, which led some iPhone users on dangerous routes. Apple CEO Tim Cook offered a rare public apology for the frustration it caused customers, and iOS chief Scott Forstall was ousted just one month later.
Since then, Apple has made significant improvements to Apple Maps, building in new features and correcting lingering errors. Real-time traffic information and navigation options for pedestrians were added to Maps in 2013, which is also the same year Maps was extended to OS X. In 2015, Maps was updated with "Nearby," a feature that offers up local points of interest and transit directions in a handful of cities.
In early 2020, Apple completed an overhaul of its maps in the United States, adding significantly greater detail including updated buildings, parks, sports fields, pools, and more. A Look Around feature in select cities is similar to Google's Street View, and the updated maps have been rolling out to more countries in the time since. In iOS 15, Apple introduced immersive walking directions shown in augmented reality, curated guides for select cities, real-time transit updates, and more road details for enhanced driving navigation. In iOS 16 it gained multi-stop routing. And in iOS 17, Apple made it possible to download maps for offline use – something Google Maps users have been able to do for quite some time.
Have Apple's incremental improvements been enough for it to be considered an equal to Google Maps in users' eyes? Of course, Google developers have not stood idly by watching Apple Maps' gradual evolution. Google has introduced several enhancements aimed at enriching the user experience through advanced AI technology and more immersive visualization tools, and has even taken a leaf or two out of Apple's book.
One notable recent update in this regard is the Immersive View for Routes, which provides a comprehensive preview of a user's journey, whether they are driving, walking, or cycling. Launched last year, the tool combines billions of Street View and aerial images to create an intricate digital representation of the world, allowing users to visually navigate through bike lanes, sidewalks, intersections, and parking spaces along their route. It also includes a dynamic time slider indicating how conditions such as air quality and weather change throughout the day, helping users plan their trips with more precision.
Another significant improvement is the integration of Lens in Maps, an evolution of the Search with Live View feature. Leveraging AI and augmented reality, Lens in Maps helps users get their bearings in a new location by providing information about nearby amenities like ATMs, transit stations, and dining options. The feature has since been expanded to over 50 cities.
Google Maps has also rolled out updates to make navigation maps more reflective of real-world conditions. These include more detailed and realistic representations of buildings and improved lane guidance on highways. For electric vehicle owners, Google Maps also offers information on charging stations, including compatibility details, charger speed, and the last usage time.
Despite these concurrent improvements to Google Maps, their combined effect hasn't stopped users coming away impressed by how far Apple's navigational guidance has come. Based on anecdotal reports, the app is increasingly recommended by users for its cleaner view versus the more cluttered design of Google Maps.
Likely thanks to its disastrous launch, Apple Maps still gets a bad rap among some users, but Apple's continued efforts to improve the app appear to have helped reverse some of those opinions. "Maps has come a long way, and people have noticed," Craig Federighi, Apple's head of software, said at WWDC 2023. Are you more or less likely to use Apple Maps these days? Let us know in the comments.
Article Link: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Which Is Better?
Apple Maps is way better. Anybody who thinks Google Maps is more accurate is working off decade’s old information. Google steers me wrong plenty and is often missing traffic data that I see on Apple Maps. Moreover, Apple responds quickly and fixes things if you report it (last time in less than 24 hours). Talking to Google is like screaming at a wall. And of course, Apple’s UI is way way better.
And of course, Apple anonymizes the data tracking.
If you have not compared them recently I recommend you run one on CarPlay while running the other on your iPhone with a dash mount. I think you might be surprised how good Apple Maps is now and how much Google has rested on their laurels.
And of course, Apple anonymizes the data tracking.
If you have not compared them recently I recommend you run one on CarPlay while running the other on your iPhone with a dash mount. I think you might be surprised how good Apple Maps is now and how much Google has rested on their laurels.
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On a recent trip to the UK and Italy I used Apple Maps for walking and transit. My wife was using google on her iPhone and I was on Apple Maps and it was night and day. She was visibly frustrated. The apple interface and walking direction guidance was far easier to follow. We used it numerous times a day for 2 weeks and honestly I came away far more impressed with the interface of the Apple Maps than google. I have used both over the last few years for driving. Apple has come a long way. I think apple's interface is cleaner and less cluttered.
I deleted google maps years ago, and it was a bit of a struggle in the beginning to rely on just AM. Now it’s no problem.Only when people want to send me directions and I don’t have GM on my phone
Literally, the only reason I did not buy a Tesla 3 years ago was no CarPlay and not liking Tesla’s navigation. It just was not for me.