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Apple's New iOS 6 Maps App Drawing Significant Criticism
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The irony is that Apple had to release it to get sufficient granular feedback to fix it! My phone updated last night and I happened to be mapping a few things before the update. I went to check a route this morning and the screen was visually different and also selected a different route . . . .
I like Google maps and even stopped using Mapquest most of the time. I know Apple wants to de-Googlefi but it seems that users have to go through 2 years of pain to do so.
I wonder if standalone Google maps for iOS6+ could be given permissions to integrate with iOS and apps for a couple of years so folks with real daily needs for mapping have a slightly less frictionless but more accurate alternative.
Rocketman
I like Google maps and even stopped using Mapquest most of the time. I know Apple wants to de-Googlefi but it seems that users have to go through 2 years of pain to do so.
I wonder if standalone Google maps for iOS6+ could be given permissions to integrate with iOS and apps for a couple of years so folks with real daily needs for mapping have a slightly less frictionless but more accurate alternative.
Rocketman
Thanks, but I'll wait.
I did upgrade to iOS6 on my iPad and was very disappointed with the Maps App. So I'm not going to upgrade my iPhone just yet. I use Google Maps all the time when driving and would literally be lost without it. This seems to reflect Apple's new approach to releasing products: get it "close enough to final" and release it. Let customers do the final beta testing and then fix problems with upgrades. The did it with Final Cut Pro X and the MacBook Pro Retina. Yes, new products always have bugs, but Apple is now releasing not-ready-for-prime-time products. It's a new approach for them. And it's disappointing and frustrating.
I did upgrade to iOS6 on my iPad and was very disappointed with the Maps App. So I'm not going to upgrade my iPhone just yet. I use Google Maps all the time when driving and would literally be lost without it. This seems to reflect Apple's new approach to releasing products: get it "close enough to final" and release it. Let customers do the final beta testing and then fix problems with upgrades. The did it with Final Cut Pro X and the MacBook Pro Retina. Yes, new products always have bugs, but Apple is now releasing not-ready-for-prime-time products. It's a new approach for them. And it's disappointing and frustrating.
This is going to be very embarrassing for Apple.
They could afford to launch a fleet of satellites to take better pictures lol
They could afford to launch a fleet of satellites to take better pictures lol
I reported a bunch of errors during the beta but none have been corrected so far.
I use maps a lot. I was also planning on updating my iPhone next month when my contract is up but now I will not upgrade until Google Maps is available. I think if they sold it for 99 cents they will make some fast cash as it is worth it for people find there way around.
This is inexcusable for a company like Apple to launch a vital yet woefully incomplete app. If they don't have the data base and the kinks worked out, wait until it is right. That method builds confidence in customers - plus the desire to have the first of whatever is next.
Wonder what Steve Jobs would have done? I know he held off the launch of the first iPhone when he realized the prototype in his pocket was getting scratched up by his keys. He stopped everything and worked out a deal with Corning for gorilla glass and fixed that potential problem before the release. It is impossible for me to think that the Apple guys didn't try out or compare Maps with the gold standard.
This is inexcusable for a company like Apple to launch a vital yet woefully incomplete app. If they don't have the data base and the kinks worked out, wait until it is right. That method builds confidence in customers - plus the desire to have the first of whatever is next.
Wonder what Steve Jobs would have done? I know he held off the launch of the first iPhone when he realized the prototype in his pocket was getting scratched up by his keys. He stopped everything and worked out a deal with Corning for gorilla glass and fixed that potential problem before the release. It is impossible for me to think that the Apple guys didn't try out or compare Maps with the gold standard.
Well that's great, because I've been telling TT of it's map errors for London since I bought my first TT satnav....have they listened? NOPE! Their stupid CS people have the gall to try and flog me a map update package, so I can check if my corrections have been included.
It's a real shame that the data is so poor - that's the first thing people notice unfortunately.
I expected the overall level of detail to be poorer than Google Maps, but not stuff like the virtually non existent classification of roads. Without colour coding it even makes route planning at smaller scales next to impossible. It shouldn't have been too big an ask to have colour coded road classifications from the off.
What's even more strange is that some A roads are shown in little stretches of yellow, but mostly in white. I really don't get why this is the case, as surely TomTom's data must be better than that by now.
Even the app's icon is cartographically incorrect - showing a left turn off a bridge onto a road below!
Having said all that, the vector mapping engine is actually way better than Google Map's raster mapping which switches between scales compared to Apple's smooth rendering. And I do like the symbology - the POI symbols, and country specific road number lozenges.
So in some ways hopefully it has a good foundation, and they just need to sort the data out. The big question will be how quickly they can do that. For my part I've reported the wrong position of the Museum of Transport in Glasgow - it moved two and a half years ago. Will be interesting to see if and when it gets fixed.
As there is the report a problem link in the app, I guess everyone just needs to fire off a few and hopefully they'll get the message. Although it looks like its already well on its way to being a PR disaster.
Quick question about the roadworks - I've seen red and orange pecked lines, but what do they actually mean?
I expected the overall level of detail to be poorer than Google Maps, but not stuff like the virtually non existent classification of roads. Without colour coding it even makes route planning at smaller scales next to impossible. It shouldn't have been too big an ask to have colour coded road classifications from the off.
What's even more strange is that some A roads are shown in little stretches of yellow, but mostly in white. I really don't get why this is the case, as surely TomTom's data must be better than that by now.
Even the app's icon is cartographically incorrect - showing a left turn off a bridge onto a road below!
Having said all that, the vector mapping engine is actually way better than Google Map's raster mapping which switches between scales compared to Apple's smooth rendering. And I do like the symbology - the POI symbols, and country specific road number lozenges.
So in some ways hopefully it has a good foundation, and they just need to sort the data out. The big question will be how quickly they can do that. For my part I've reported the wrong position of the Museum of Transport in Glasgow - it moved two and a half years ago. Will be interesting to see if and when it gets fixed.
As there is the report a problem link in the app, I guess everyone just needs to fire off a few and hopefully they'll get the message. Although it looks like its already well on its way to being a PR disaster.
Quick question about the roadworks - I've seen red and orange pecked lines, but what do they actually mean?
Oh Please, bribery!?!?
You forgot
5. Hold Googles CEO, executive team and board members hostage and demand they overlook this legalese.
What happened to Apple's OCD about not putting stuff out that wasn't 100% done right? Now it's just about their ego and ditching Google over the customer experience that used to be so important. They are spending too much time worrying about google and samsung these days and not just doing what they did best. Tim Cook is struggling and in over his head it would appear.
But you are wanking about London Freaking England! Have a heart! Probably one of the MOST DENSLY POPULATED cities probably in the universe, with roads nearly everywhere! Getting lost in London has got to be a past time for many foreigners that visit. I was amazed at all of the side streets and alley ways going all over the place. I stuck to public transportation just because I could imagine ending up somewhere in Ireland after getting lost in London City...
I gotta give it to you Londoners, beautiful city, wonderful people, but getting around is crazy. I did love the stuffings out of the tube and light rail systems. If politicians here ever pull their heads out of their asses, we really should do a hell of a lot more in public transportation in this country... It's a damn shame that among other things republicans declared war on, that public transportation is such a huge part.
I've been using the beta for a while now and the maps functionality for where I am based in the uk (cheshire/manchester/liverpool) has been very good. I love the cartography and I have found positions of addresses more accurate and journey durations more realistic as well. Traffic is much better than google. I did miss public transport at first but the timetables included in the google implementation were never correct anyway. Sure there's going to be teething trouble (I feel sorry for anyone who lives in Birmingham the mapping certainly looks poor there) but in the longterm apple's implemation looks like a very promising solution.
In terms of POI's sure theres less than google at this moment in time but the service has gone into widespread use only yesterday. Please remember that apple uses yelp for points of interest. IF THERE ARE POINTS OF INTEREST MISSING DO EVERYONE A FAVOUR AND ADD THEM ON YELP. If everyone adds a couple of POI then this functionality will be on par with googles in no time! Remember google also relied on crowd sourcing for many of their POI's.
Simarly if there is a problem with the map rather than complain on hear use the report a problem feature built into the app.
In terms of POI's sure theres less than google at this moment in time but the service has gone into widespread use only yesterday. Please remember that apple uses yelp for points of interest. IF THERE ARE POINTS OF INTEREST MISSING DO EVERYONE A FAVOUR AND ADD THEM ON YELP. If everyone adds a couple of POI then this functionality will be on par with googles in no time! Remember google also relied on crowd sourcing for many of their POI's.
Simarly if there is a problem with the map rather than complain on hear use the report a problem feature built into the app.
With all the problems maps are creating for Apple I doubt Google will provide a maps app. Its perfect leverage and differentiation for Android. It will take years for Apple to sort out their broken map data and I think this may well be a own goal for Apple, we will have to see how it plays out I suppose.
It's version 1.0, give them a break. They're human. It's only a matter of time for them to work out the kinks. In the meantime, give them a hand by clicking the "report a problem" link in the app.
Personally, I love the new Maps app and navigation works great. The fit and finish is there and Flyover in my city (Miami) is amazing. I also really like the Yelp integration.
I've been using iOS Maps for a few months now and couldn't imagine going back to Google Maps. While I can appreciate Google Maps and enjoyed using Street View, I like the clean, uncluttered look of iOS Maps and how streets fade in as you zoom in.
wtf? solid 1.0 release? more like 0.1. It comes across as an alpha release. Its depressing how blind some people are when Apple makes a mistake.
I much prefer Apple maps. Cleaner with faster redraw. Then again, I do not use transit info. My guess is that within six months most of these issues will be solved. I also believe that this is where the absence of a screaming Steve Jobs may be noticeable.
This is the reason I will not upgrade to iOS6. And if Apple doesn't correct this within a year, it may be the final reason to make the switch to Samsung Galaxy phone. The killer feature I use in Maps was Street View. I use maps to get to a location with which I am unfamiliar. I then use Street View to find the exact location of my final destination.
And this coming from my wife and I who have a MBP each, an iPad 3 each, an iPhone 4S each, Apple TV, Airport expresses, Apple Display and iMac household. (and there is only 2 of us)
I am hoping Google will bring a Google Maps app, but not holding my breath.
And this coming from my wife and I who have a MBP each, an iPad 3 each, an iPhone 4S each, Apple TV, Airport expresses, Apple Display and iMac household. (and there is only 2 of us)
I am hoping Google will bring a Google Maps app, but not holding my breath.
Is you squint your eyes, and gaze through the haze of clouds like a stereogram image - you may actually see a road.
I was just checking out the big island of Hawaii and the part I was looking for was obscured by clouds...
SUE MOTHER NATURE!!! The travesty!
Are you kidding me? Apple should be proud?
More like embarrassed. The maps application is the second most used application in iOS, exceeded only by the mail app. If this were some beta pet project by Apple, sure we could give them a break and some credit. But this isn’t, this is what replaces google maps. This half baked application with all its spelling mistakes, missing data, errors and lack of basic core features is a joke...and that’s just in the U.S. The rest of the world can't even use it for lack of data.
Apple is known for releasing quality well thought out products. It's why I've stuck with them for years. Honestly, after downloading ios6 and being frustrated by the map app not being able to even find my home address I started, for the very first time in my life, to actually look into what was offered by competitors. For now it’s just out of curiosity, but if this is a sign of the new Apple it's going to be harder and hard to justify sticking with them
I forgot to add that don't expect to see street view coming to Apple any time soon. Google put that together with YEARS of driving around in their special camera cars, and even their street views are lacking in many places. You can bet google won't let them use their street views, and Apple will have to come up with their own solution.