Apple's Maps Revamp Creeps into Midwest U.S.

[MacRumors]

Apple's Maps app rebuild continues its journey across North America this week, with the company following its pattern of rolling out the enhanced maps in adjacent continental U.S. states.

Before (left) and after - Midwest maps comparison via Reddit user 999999797​

Apple has been deploying the enhanced maps up the northeast United States over the last few months, with the rollout recently extending to New York state. Now it has expanded west to cover West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and North Illinois.

You can spot the updated regions by looking for more landscape details like sports fields, parking lots, ground cover, foliage, pools, pedestrian pathways and the like.

The data is gathered by Apple's own fleet of sensor- and camera-equipped vehicles, as well as first-party data gathered from iPhones using Apple's differential privacy. The combined data is also being made to ensure search results are more relevant.

The improvements initially rolled out in Northern California in July 2018, followed by Hawaii and Southern California in November 2018, and Arizona, New Mexico, and the Las Vegas metropolitan area in April 2019.

At WWDC 2019, Apple said the updated maps will roll out to the entire United States by the end of the year, followed by additional countries in 2020.

(Thanks, Brian!)

Article Link: Apple's Maps Revamp Creeps into Midwest U.S.

 

[sugargliderdude]

one thing i love about these type of maps, its also recording history... i love roaming around on street view looking around my city in 2008...

 

[miniyou64]

Remember when Forestall was ousted because of a few Map issues and things weren’t ready in time?

But now iOS and Mac Apps ship with mission critical features broken and severe bugs that brick devices?

 

[err404]

The maps not only look really good, the streetlights and stop signs are a great usability feature.

 

[gsmornot]

I would like (long term) to see speed limit even when not navigating, current speed, and reports like what you find in Waze. I prefer to use Apple Maps but for the interstate, Waze has the edge with the possible reporting.

 

[Fords]

Apple's Maps app rebuild continues its journey across North America this week, with the company following its pattern of rolling out the enhanced maps in adjacent continental U.S. states.

Before (left) and after - Midwest maps comparison via Reddit user 999999797​

Apple has been deploying the enhanced maps up the northeast United States over the last few months, with the rollout recently extending to New York state. Now it has expanded west to cover West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and North Illinois.

You can spot the updated regions by looking for more landscape details like sports fields, parking lots, ground cover, foliage, pools, pedestrian pathways and the like.

The data is gathered by Apple's own fleet of sensor- and camera-equipped vehicles, as well as first-party data gathered from iPhones using Apple's differential privacy. The combined data is also being made to ensure search results are more relevant.

The improvements initially rolled out in Northern California in July 2018, followed by Hawaii and Southern California in November 2018, and Arizona, New Mexico, and the Las Vegas metropolitan area in April 2019.

At WWDC 2019, Apple said the updated maps will roll out to the entire United States by the end of the year, followed by additional countries in 2020.

(Thanks, Brian!)

Article Link: Apple's Maps Revamp Creeps into Midwest U.S.

It’s a little bit off of that subject but an CarPlay map so that needs to be like the Google Maps needs to be in the satellite Harbor Motel if anybody reads this Kim pass on up to the people with Apple that do the maps that would be appreciated thank you

 

[realeric]

Are Apple still doing the map business? I thought they quit because no improvement has been done for years.

 

[Sasparilla]

Nice to see Apple continuing their improvement of maps. I would like to see Apple add easy user reporting into the app, like Waze.

Remember when Forestall was ousted because of a few Map issues and things weren’t ready in time?

This isn't really related to the article is it? Actually I believe it was because he didn't take ownership of the quality of the release at the time - which was really bad.

But now iOS and Mac Apps ship with mission critical features broken and severe bugs that brick devices?

Not related to the article again. But this isn't new, Apple has had issues with new releases going way back. Leopard was one I was around for, that was rough as well. I don't install updates with big OS changes for a couple of months because you know there will be alot of bugs, its an easy call.

We got a super good release with iOS 12 last year, that may have set people's expectations too high, because it was a bug fix release (with a few new things added), much like Snow Leopard was back in the day.

Are Apple still doing the map business? I thought they quit because no improvement has been done for years.

Gosh you haven't been reading Mac Rumors much eh? Because there have been lots of articles on the updates to Apple Maps for years but in particular in the last couple of years when they've been making big changes.

 

[rblue78]

Oh wow I just checked here in Indiana... Really nice; even has the entire layout of our mall with all of the stores. Now if I continue to use it depends on whether or not the chosen route is persistent. For example, with Google, I can stop and get fuel and it won't switch over to the fastest route, but remains on the one I *want*; with Apple, it flips to something else. SURPRISE! You get to drive on I-65, even though you specifically opted out of that by selecting a different route.

 

[jst_testing]

The maps not only look really good, the streetlights and stop signs are a great usability feature.

THIS... I’ve been loving this addition and it’s so clear on the map as I drive. One less stress to the brain to figure out if a stop/traffic light is coming up

 

[4jasontv]

I feel clueless because those two maps look the same to me. Maybe the one on the right is shaded a little more green?

 

[iModFrenzy]

Remember when Forestall was ousted because of a few Map issues and things weren’t ready in time?

But now iOS and Mac Apps ship with mission critical features broken and severe bugs that brick devices?

Unless I’m recalling wrong, Forstall got kicked due to not apologizing for the issues that maps had?

 

[JosephAW]

Received a notification from Apple for the Look Around feature in Apple Maps. I'm still on iOS 12!

 

[madsci954]

I follow the Apple maps subreddit and I learned a few things from there
- full rollout takes about 6 weeks, all users should have the updates after that
- until then, some people will get the updates and some won’t
- there is no rhyme or reason to get them, they just show up
- if you get the update, they may come and go until the 6 weeks pass

 

[err404]

I feel clueless because those two maps look the same to me. Maybe the one on the right is shaded a little more green?

They are significantly more detailed as you zoom in to driving scale. Right now Apples maps are the nicest looking while navigating by a wide margin (of the big three in the US:Google/Waze/Apple).
That said, the road details and actual directions seem about the same. I see the same minor errors as before (exit names, navigation to rest stops, etc). Not that this is a big deal. I find that in the NE, Apple is more or less on par with the competition.

 

[tylert120]

So the updated maps came to the Pittsburgh area several weeks back. These are my observations based on the previous version of Maps. Over all the maps are better, but I think they need more improvement. They took certain detail away that needs to be brought back.

This cemetery is no longer shaded in gray, like cemeteries are supposed to be.

These two shopping centers have lost their yellow shading.

Certain POIs have moved. For example, the library and high school POIs have completely been moved away from the building. They were previously correct. I have since reported them and Apple fixed these issues.

Before/after screen shot. Notice many of the main roads lost their yellow or bold shading. This makes roads hard to identify unless you are zoomed in very far.

 

[1098474]

Are Apple still doing the map business? I thought they quit because no improvement has been done for years.

Apple maps: look at the improvement in the U.S.

Google Maps: SMH

 

[truthertech]

Are Apple still doing the map business? I thought they quit because no improvement has been done for years.

Hello Rip Van Winkle. While you've been asleep, Apple went from it's disastrous start to become, by far the most used mapping App on iPhones, now used many billions of times a week around the world. It's been shown to more accurate in time estimates than Google and Apple just recently finished building its own base map at a cost of billions and several years. They now have several thousand employees working full time on just maps. Now that they have their own base map, instead of just cobbled together third party information from Tom Tom, etc., you are seeing them roll out impressive new features that will push them further beyond Google. For example, everyone agrees that Look Around blows Street View out of the water. It took some time, but it was well worth it. And remember, all of this is without sacrificing your privacy to Google, where they retain everywhere you go, forever in the Borg, and link it to every other bit of your life they've captured in your virtual dossier. All praise Apple!

 

[44267547]

So the updated maps came to the Pittsburgh area several weeks back. These are my observations based on the previous version of Maps. Over all the maps are better, but I think they need more improvement. They took certain detail away that needs to be brought back.

View attachment 869413
This cemetery is no longer shaded in gray, like cemeteries are supposed to be.

View attachment 869414 These two shopping centers have lost their yellow shading.

View attachment 869415 View attachment 869417 Certain POIs have moved. For example, the library and high school POIs have completely been moved away from the building. They were previously correct. I have since reported them and Apple fixed these issues.

View attachment 869418
View attachment 869419 Before/after screen shot. Notice many of the main roads lost their yellow or bold shading. This makes roads hard to identify unless you are zoomed in very far.

Hey Tyler? Just a friendly tip, when you’re going to post this many images, perhaps use a thumbnail size versus a full-size image, that way doesn’t take up a whole page on the thread for those who aren’t interested in viewing your photos.

 

[EBone12355]

I still find Apple's maps almost unusable in Carplay mode. There's almost no contrast between the road and the surrounding areas so it's near impossible for me to see upcoming roads without intently staring at the screen, something you shouldn't be doing while driving.

I have no such trouble with Waze's maps.

 

[iamPro]

I know it’s a bit off topic, haven’t found or got answers from the forums, but how do you set dark mode without affecting the maps app? I would like maps to remain time sensitive when it comes to dark/light mode while everything is in dark mode.
Dark mode in maps makes it impossible to see anything when driving during the day.

 

[err404]

I still find Apple's maps almost unusable in Carplay mode. There's almost no contrast between the road and the surrounding areas so it's near impossible for me to see upcoming roads without intently staring at the screen, something you shouldn't be doing while driving.

I have no such trouble with Waze's maps.

Are you on iOS 13? For me, while navigating, the roads increase in contrast making them easier to see.
note that when not actively navigating, the extra contrast is not applied. Also the new maps under iOS 12 do not have this feature.

 

[EBone12355]

Are you on iOS 13? For me, while navigating, the roads increase in contrast making them easier to see.
note that when not actively navigating, the extra contrast is not applied. Also the new maps under iOS 12 do not have this feature.

Yes, I'm using iOS 13 on a Pioneer AppRadio 4 head unit.

 

[xander49x]

i still do not use apple maps

 

[truthertech]

I still find Apple's maps almost unusable in Carplay mode. There's almost no contrast between the road and the surrounding areas so it's near impossible for me to see upcoming roads without intently staring at the screen, something you shouldn't be doing while driving.

I have no such trouble with Waze's maps.

You've got something wrong with your settings then. CarPlay works wonderfully well, and I've used it in many a vehicle.
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Yes, I'm using iOS 13 on a Pioneer AppRadio 4 head unit.

Sounds like you have a defective unit.