Apple's New iOS 6 Maps App Drawing Significant Criticism

[joesegh]

Thank God there's at least maps.google.com.

My biggest beef, apart from inaccurate mapping data, is how Apple actually decided to depict streets and names. The font is ugly, it often shows the wrong type of information.

For example, if you look at downtown NYC, it has the Bowery labeled three times in a single view, without labeling Kenmare, Chrystie, Mott, Grand, etc. Google obviously does name all of these streets in a comparable view.

Simple fact is that it's plain ugly. Google has put a lot of time in to making their maps easy on the eyes and incredibly useful at a glance. Apple will take at least a couple years to catch up in my opinion.

 

[lilo777]

Well, poor traffic info is actually one thing that will improve over time. Once millions download iOS6, and once those 2 or 3 million iPhone 5s get shipped, there will be a lot more data to compile and make traffic reports with.

You are assuming that people will start using iMaps but why should they? It's unusable.

 

[Patriot24]

And now we know why Steve Jobs was so adamant about controlling the entire user experience from end-to-end.

See what happens when you don't own the backend service? Apple is losing control of its products because they became dependent on Google.

 

[T. Durden]

Apple's approach to collaboration cooperation in the last couple years: Act like an angry rabies invested mental patient.

Can't blame google for throwing a few punches back.

As the story goes, Apple wanted to strengthen Google integration in iOS and create more collaborative efforts in areas where Google had clear strengths.

That all fell apart when a Google executive on the Apple board of directors went rogue and helped his company enter the smartphone space to compete with Apple.

 

[bgpaglia]

Meh...

Some map parts look like Cold War satellite pictures!

 

[London Lad]

Totally useless in most of the UK. Low definition images and cloud obstruction plus lots of inaccuracies in the place names etc. I was really looking forward to Siri local search for the UK and now we have it it's useless too as I guess it relies on the maps.

If I ask for my nearest pub or Chinese restaurant it gives me ones 12 miles away missing out about 100 nearer ones!

 

[MRU]

Important and Funny

In one high-visibility case from Ireland, Apple has categorized Dublin's Airfield Park as an actual airport, sparking government officials to contact the company in hopes of addressing the issue.

Yes this is true.. The minister panicked in case a plane had to make an emergency landing....


BUT....

It then had to then be pointed to the government minister making the complaint, that pilots don't actually fly their planes using the flight control wheel in one hand and and iphone in the other.... They are a little more 'sophisticated' than that....


Government ministers are such fecking newbs!!!! No wonder this country in banjaxed!

 

[jrswizzle]

It's amazing how people just invent fairy stories to defend Apple here. We know *know* Google make a considerable amount of money from iOS apps. If Google were withholding features it's likely it's because they had changes of their own they wanted making in exchange that Apple wouldn't honour. It's notable that changes Google could do without Apple's assistance, such as adding transit navigation in London, have happened relatively recently. This is odd if Google were trying to withhold features.

Instead we get people coming up with reasons less plausible than "this isn't Apple's fault, as the new maps were sabotaged... by the EVIL SKELETOR!"

How is it not plausible? Google's creation is Android. Google maps is the best mapping solution out there so they clearly offer it on Android. the iPhone needs the best as well so Apple cuts a deal with Google and Google allows it on the iPhone. iOS and Android are the two biggest competitors on the market. For over a year Google has had turn-by-turn in Google Maps on Android but no in iOS. And you think it's because Apple wouldn't allow it?? How is it not more likely Google knew they had an advantage, knew they had control of THEIR data and simply didn't allow Apple to use it thus giving Android the advantage.

If that's not what they did, they should've. To equate this logical line of thinking to "sabotage by the Evil Skeletor" is preposterous. Grow up. Both companies did exactly what competitors should do and in the end, instead of one mapping app we'll have two. My point is comparing a 7 year old app to a 1 day old app is premature. You Apple haters can be so dense.

 

[patent10021]

What's the release date?!??!!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!!!!!!!!!

Waiting for approval.

Shut up and take my money!

Thank you

 

[BigJohno]

I really like the new maps app and am very glad Apple did away with Google. Seems like most of the issues people have are in big city's like NYC and London, glad I live in Perfectville California and don't have to rely on public transportation.

Aren't there 99¢ apps that can find people's train routes for them?

If I depended so much to get around on one app like the old Google maps and knew it was changing I would have been waiting for feedback BEFORE upgrading.

I was told to use an app called hopstop. I live in sf and it works great. It's free too.

 

[Winni]

Wow. Everyone is criticising an app they didn't use much before iOS 6...

I guess that's just wishful thinking on your part. Google Maps has a huge user base and applications like Maps - and APIs and frameworks surrounding such apps - are key features for mobile devices. You screw this up, you shouldn't be surprised when customers who do not only use a mobile gadget for casual gaming and Facebook are looking for an alternative quickly.

According to many, many user reports from non-US customers, Apple just demonstrated to the world - especially the parts of the world OUTSIDE THE US - that they are not good at everything they do. From what I read, they actually delivered a really broken piece of software that only works with a limited feature-set in San Francisco and Cupertino.

This is a nice read, by the way:
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/09/19/153210/major-backlash-looms-for-apples-new-maps-app

-----------"Apple's new Maps app is the very first item on their list of major new features in iOS 6, but for many iPhone and iPad users around the world Apple's new maps are going to be a major disappointment as the Transit function will be lost in 51 countries, the Traffic function will be lost in 24 countries, and the Street View function will be lost in 41 countries. 'In total, 63 countries with a combined population of 4.5 billion people will be without one or more of these features they previously had in iOS,' writes DeGusta. 'Apple is risking upsetting 65% of the world's population, seemingly without much greater purpose than speeding the removal of their rival Google from iOS. Few consumers care about such battles though, nor should they have to.'" ---------------



But what's even worse is that their App Store policy will NOT allow Google to publish Google Maps; after all, Apple does not allow apps that replace features provided by Apple.

It seems that iOS users who really need that a working Maps application should neither upgrade to iOS 6 nor should they buy the new iPhone.

 

[FearlessFreep]

I'm one of the biggest Apple fans but there's no question that Apple Maps are just a flat out FAIL.

To all those saying - 'well, just use something else' the issue here is that they removed a highly useful application and replaced it with something unusable. I don't have an issue with them replacing Google Maps per se, but it should at least be on par with the product it replaced. It's far, far below that level. Definitely not up to past Apple standards.

 

[Tiger8]

you don't know which train to take by now? only time i look at the subway map is if i'm going somewhere i haven't been to before. mostly on some weekends. and then only in manhattan. and even then i only need a quick look at the station because anyone can figure out walking directions from the station

It's useful when I'm going somehwere I've never been. It also works great with Yelp and other apps for nearby restaurants. Also I travel quite a bit in the tristate area and it's super useful to find out train stations for things I don't use frequently such as MetroNorth or NJ Transit (or SEPTA in PA)

 

[slippperygoo]

Just a minute let me look at my calendar...yep just as I suspected, it's 2012, shouldn't we be used to some bugs by now. Time will help fix the issue.

In the meantime since you're using an iPhone I heard there is a really cool app, Safari, give it a try. To use it put your finger on the icon (not too long!!!, more like a tap) and then in the white bar across the top put www.google.com/maps.
It also has bugs so brace yourself, but it's been around quite a bit longer so it's a little more ironed out.

You're welcome.

 

[doelcm82]

I can't get excited about carto-gate. I supported Apple's decision to sever ties with Google, even though I knew it would have some growing pains. I'd like to see Apple add street-level views, in the future, but they have to come up with something that doesn't infringe on Google's IP with StreetView. (Although StreetView is suspiciously like QuickTime VR.)

Maybe they could have detailed image maps and geometry that only download when you zoom all the way down to street level. Maybe the imagery could be crowd-sourced. The iPhone 4s and 5 have panorama mode now. if you want street level imagery for your street, go stand on the yellow line and spin around.

This is not any worse than I expected, and I have workarounds available, so I won't be participating in the lynch mob, or writing angry letters to my congressmen.

I'll just use Apples Maps as much as it is useful to me, report any glaring errors, and look forward to it being better in the future.

 

[Oletros]

everyone and their uncle bogs up the systems yesterday trying to get iOS 6 on the first day, then turns around and tries out Passbook, Maps etc and wonders why things are messed up. couldn't possibly be due to the vastly increased traffic. nope, no way

I don't know how such things can be said without a very big smile in the face

 

[lilo777]

And now we know why Steve Jobs was so adamant about controlling the entire user experience from end-to-end.

See what happens when you don't own the backend service? Apple is losing control of its products because they became dependent on Google.

This is opposite of true. You are assuming that it is feasible in our days for company to be the best at everything. iMaps proves that it's not the case. Vertical integration was a good idea in the first half of last century but not anymore. All Apple services are and apps are decent but not as good as what the best solutions are.

 

[yusukeaoki]

This map outside US is HORRIBLE!
Incorrect naming of places, cant find airports, etc.
Tried it in Japan and the train station and mcdonalds were merged.
Game Store was mixed with train station, Korean writing in Japan...

If they dont fix these by 6.1, Im going back to iOS5

 

[daneoni]

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Also blame Google for not getting their Map app into the App store on time. But of course Youtube app was early since they can feed you ads with that and make money.

 

[brooklyn360]

people just don't get it...

this is a new way to see maps, the city, your town... this is like P. Picasso or Botero's way of replicating something we were used to seeing differently.

 

[lilo777]

everyone and their uncle bogs up the systems yesterday trying to get iOS 6 on the first day, then turns around and tries out Passbook, Maps etc and wonders why things are messed up. couldn't possibly be due to the vastly increased traffic. nope, no way

Are you suggesting that map data are screwed up because of overload? Good for you!

 

[DMinTX]

That's true, but honestly I cannot see this as Google cutting them off. After all, Google makes money from Apple licensing its maps (along with Google getting data from iPhone users).

Yes, Google made money from Apple. They also made sure the Android Maps app was light years ahead. And made sure everyone knew it. Google knows how hard it is to build the information data for a maps app - they have been living that for years now.

Someone earlier posted the license agreement wording for the Maps API with the restrictions it had. Look at how stagnant the Maps app has been. How much really changed from iOS 3 -> iOS 4 -> iOS 5?

Apple had to go this way in order to enable innovation for maps and better integration with other apps and iOS features. They had to bite the bullet to break free. It will take them time to mature the data, just like it did Google.

This is more than a Maps app to Apple I believe. It is about fully intergrating location services across the platform.

 

[James_C]

The issue I have with it is Apple in my view wasted a lot of time on 3D flyover eye candy, which might be nice when demonstrating the capability of the phone, but pretty pointless if the Maps lacks Google maps more advanced search facilities to actually find stuff you need. Hopefully Google's iOS Map App is not to far away, until Apple gets a much better product out there.

 

[MRU]

This map outside US is HORRIBLE!

I read this and thought...

What just outside you in particular ?

 

[lilo777]

This map outside US is HORRIBLE!
Incorrect naming of places, cant find airports, etc.
Tried it in Japan and the train station and mcdonalds were merged.
Game Store was mixed with train station, Korean writing in Japan...

If they dont fix these by 6.1, Im going back to iOS5

Relax! Maps inside USA are just as terrible too.