Apple's New iOS 6 Maps App Drawing Significant Criticism

[citi]

Hmm... This sounded horrible, so I typed "East 12th st, new york, ny" in the maps app and it sure found it. I also tried it with E instead of East. What am I missing?

What you are missing is that some areas aren't displaying the proper information. I'm in Southern California and everything I have put in placed it correctly. Public transit is definitely not important in the land of Cars. I do understand the frustration though, but there are work arounds for that piece. Strangely, I hated using maps when google had them, and most of my friends used alternative nav apps. But the moment Apple takes them away people are acting like it was the holy grail.

And stop comparing Android Google Nav, I had the first droid when it came out and guess what? Google Nav had a BETA tag right next to it. A lot of things initially were crappy but they worked on it. Nobody is perfect, Google just got a headstart.

 

[Silverado]

Looks like Apple arrogantly (or stupidly) thought they could get into this completely new area (mapping) and replace a giant (google).

They have done it VERY successfully before, but not this time.

I think I will be using maps.google.com for google maps (it has transit directions, BTW, for those who need it) and continue to use Waze and mapquest apps for navigation. Let's see how Apple can try to patch this one.

 

[votdfak]

What you are missing is that some areas aren't displaying the proper information. I'm in Southern California and everything I have put in placed it correctly. Public transit is definitely not important in the land of Cars. I do understand the frustration though, but there are work arounds for that piece. Strangely, I hated using maps when google had them, and most of my friends used alternative nav apps. But the moment Apple takes them away people are acting like it was the holy grail.

And stop comparing Android Google Nav, I had the first droid when it came out and guess what? Google Nav had a BETA tag right next to it. A lot of things initially were crappy but they worked on it. Nobody is perfect, Google just got a headstart.

FYI Google Nav is still in beta. Still not even close to well known navigation apps. Btw, I am using "patched" version, because Google Nav is USA only, almost like every other Google service which is major pain in the ass.

Anyway, Apple should've tagged Maps with Beta status also.

 

[Habakuk]

…miserable…lousy…image damage…massive damage…will hurt…significantly…

Don't you feel that you are exaggerating a tiny bit? Come on! For years nobody talked ever about the maps app and now since they have fired Google spyware (very appreciated!) you are mesmerized and hopeless like that?

It's version #1.0. Google's first version was even worse. Stop whining and wait for some weeks, they will fix the worst flaws soon. And later on it will be the best maps app ever.

You can argue that the change came some months too early. Maybe you'd be right. But I hate Google. The sooner I get rid of it the better.

 

[dec.]

Don't you feel that you are exaggerating a tiny bit? Come on! For years nobody talked ever about the maps app and now since they have fired Google spyware (very appreciated!) you are mesmerized and hopeless like that?

It's version #1.0. Google's first version was even worse. Stop whining and wait for some weeks, they will fix the worst flaws soon. And later on it will be the best maps app ever.

You can argue that the change came some months too early. Maybe you'd be right. But I hate Google. The sooner I get rid of it the better.

Yes, you are right. Nobody talked about it - and now everyone is talking about it.
To be honest, I never really did think much about the maps app, I used it and was happy with it. And I think many people handled it in a similar way. Being confronted with a lousy alternative with a simple "sorry it will be great in a year" as an excuse is stressing the customers patience a lot. Don't take away something that is working that well if you do not have an alternative ready. And it is irrelevant if Googles version 1 was worse, people will remember the latest version, that is what Apples maps will be compared to, not V1.0.

 

[AnonMac50]

Now I know why the icon has directions to drive off a bridge!

 

[Tomtoon]

It is purely apples implementation, they should just ask TomTom to use their app natively. TomTom's app is better by a mile.

Especially when apple's is asking people to drive off a bridge. http://gizmodo.com/5917925/apples-new-maps-app-wants-you-to-drive-off-a-bridge

 

[coolfactor]

Apple has over 100 billion dollars. Why don't they just buy Google Maps and overlay their UI on top of it? Why buy mapping data that is years old?

A friend of mine recently found my house on Google Maps and sent me a capture of it. It was OLD! So it's not just Apple using old imagery.

I really like the smoothness and amazing performance of Apple's new Maps app, so it can only get better. Mapping the planet is a huge task (!) so they probably should've launched the new app as a "beta" alongside the older app. That would've been smart, since now Google is just going to reclaim the user base after the bad publicity.

 

[baryon]

Wow, sounds like you just need to buy a GPS device. Maps are the least important for me. Oh, and th new app works great for my area in the US, which is all that matters to me.

Well, a GPS device as good as the iPhone would cost… the same as the iPhone, and wouldn't have all its other functions. So the iPhone is a great GPS in itself, but that function is overwhelmingly important to many, which means Apple can't just screw it up (but I don't think they will, actually).

Before the iPhone, getting lost somewhere would mean panic and hours of trying to find your way asking people, trying to find where the hell you are on hundreds of pages of maps ("Oh! I finally found that street we were on 30 minutes ago!"), etc… Now you press a button and you know where you are and how to get home, it's quite amazing.

Yeah tweeting and sending emails and playing games is amazing too, but it's less likely to save your life. Yeah, and of course making calls, but that's been around for a while...

 

[Tomtoon]

Apples great excuse again for a awful product (first time I've ever thought anything apple is truly awful)
http://engt.co/PYVHBg

 

[kas23]

It's version #1.0. Google's first version was even worse. Stop whining and wait for some weeks, they will fix the worst flaws soon. And later on it will be the best maps app ever.

This isn't "version #1". They released this app as a beta months ago and it has gone through extensive revisions during the beta period. Not only that, the first beta was not even version #1. Remember, Apple is the one who produced the iphone's Maps app, not Google. They just used Google's data. So Apple has had experience in putting a Maps app together for some time (they just are using different maps data).

 

[coolfactor]

It's version #1.0. Google's first version was even worse. Stop whining and wait for some weeks, they will fix the worst flaws soon. And later on it will be the best maps app ever.

Some good perspective. Their launch plan may have been poor, but I'm confident they will address the issues quickly.

Team on Lockdown - good to hear.

 

[lilo777]

ugh, again... maps.google.com will give you the same information that maps did. You guys are acting hysterical. Yes it sucks that it's not "native" but it works pretty damn good.

It does not do navigation and has other major disadvantages compared to native app.

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What you are missing is that some areas aren't displaying the proper information. I'm in Southern California and everything I have put in placed it correctly. Public transit is definitely not important in the land of Cars. I do understand the frustration though, but there are work arounds for that piece. Strangely, I hated using maps when google had them, and most of my friends used alternative nav apps. But the moment Apple takes them away people are acting like it was the holy grail.

And stop comparing Android Google Nav, I had the first droid when it came out and guess what? Google Nav had a BETA tag right next to it. A lot of things initially were crappy but they worked on it. Nobody is perfect, Google just got a headstart.

This line of arguing misses very important points. It was OK for a smart phone map application to suck in 2002 (or so). The technology was in its infancy and all such apps were not that good yet. But in 2012 everyone expects certain level of quality from a map/navigation app on a smart phone. Apple maps is way below the acceptable quality level. Do you expect iPhone buyers to suffer while Apple is developing their skills? Have you seen any special cars with "Apple" signs driving past your house lately? They have not even started yet and there is no indication that they will.

 

[G51989]

Upgraded my work phone, 4S, and I can say, it doesn't um work.

My house is supposedly about 18 miles from where it actually is

My place of work, doesn't exist ( its only been there for 32 years I guess )

Turn By Turn seems to lead you in circles

the Map data is REALLY old, some buildings arent even in existence anymore, but show up on the Map App/

This is pre Alpha, at best.

 

[kavlo26]

I feel that there should have been some sort of a transition with the maps (which I am hoping that google will put up an iOS map app for us to use while they bring the Apple Maps up to par). Taking google maps away completely has left a large shoe to fill. Taking tours of universities were easy with google maps since nearly all the buildings were labeled. Apple maps..there is absolutely nothing. What were they thinking?

 

[28monkeys]

beta? just like siri.

 

[citi]

It does not do navigation and has other major disadvantages compared to native app.

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This line of arguing misses very important points. It was OK for a smart phone map application to suck in 2002 (or so). The technology was in its infancy and all such apps were not that good yet. But in 2012 everyone expects certain level of quality from a map/navigation app on a smart phone. Apple maps is way below the acceptable quality level. Do you expect iPhone buyers to suffer while Apple is developing their skills? Have you seen any special cars with "Apple" signs driving past your house lately? They have not even started yet and there is no indication that they will.

The native app prior to yesterday didn't really do navigation either. Even though it followed you, you still had to move it forward. But you are right, there is an excepted level of quality and maps is definitely below the Apple standard but you don't need apple cars driving by, you need open street cars driving by. I would just wait and see what happens in a couple of months. I don't think they will let this stand as is. The benefit to it being in the cloud. They can update without you knowing. They are probable updating right now.

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Looks like Apple arrogantly (or stupidly) thought they could get into this completely new area (mapping) and replace a giant (google).

They have done it VERY successfully before, but not this time.

I think I will be using maps.google.com for google maps (it has transit directions, BTW, for those who need it) and continue to use Waze and mapquest apps for navigation. Let's see how Apple can try to patch this one.

I don't think it was arrogance, I think the world is a pretty big place with a lot of things in it. They contracted with a source that they thought would provide accurate maping data. They were wrong but it can be fixed. The more people bring up incorrect data the quicker it will be fixed. What I'm more curious about is why none of this came up during the testing phase. There were thousands of people using the iOS6 beta and none of this came up. Either no one said anything, or Apple didn't care.

 

[ayembee]

Total cluster****...

Can't even find MAJOR metro stations here in Tokyo (for instance Harajuku). "No results found" every time, even if you are right next to the damn thing, and if you click on the icon on the map you can see it knows about it! (The right name comes up anyway...)

Not that it would matter, since, even if it was able to FIND a metro station, it can't tell you where to go now anyway!!

Somebody needed to say "No" to this iteration.

 

[rocknblogger]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Apple's license on Google Maps was up. They had to do something, so it's not like Apple just decided to slap something together because they felt like it.

Now, whether or not Apple could have negotiated a re-licensing agreement, I don't know... but given that Maps hadn't changed (and was nowhere NEARLY as advanced as the Android Maps app) I suspect Google was holding out on Apple... and Apple got tired of it.

Maps 2.0 seems to be working beautifully for me and my area but I feel bad for you guys with the goofy stuff shown in the OP. Best of luck to you.

The old Google maps app was developed by Apple not by Google. It was Apple that had to update it and to include turn by turn navigation and they chose not to. They only licensed it and decided that they didn't want to renew it but rather build their own and it has more to do with wanting to track their users than giving them a better experience. Now they have to live with that decision and all the criticisms that come with it.

This is a golden opportunity for Google and Android smartphone makers to win over consumers who rely heavily on Google maps. It will be interesting to see how Apple reacts to all this in the near future.

 

[AppleWarMachine]

Come on Apple, Steve wouldn't have put out this crap.

 

[Texran]

A friend of mine recently found my house on Google Maps and sent me a capture of it. It was OLD! So it's not just Apple using old imagery.

I really like the smoothness and amazing performance of Apple's new Maps app, so it can only get better. Mapping the planet is a huge task (!) so they probably should've launched the new app as a "beta" alongside the older app. That would've been smart, since now Google is just going to reclaim the user base after the bad publicity.

Google can't drive by your house on a regular basis.

 

[KnightWRX]

Come on Apple, Steve wouldn't have put out this crap.

No, you're right! Steve gave us perfect products like the G4 Cube, Ping, MobileMe, the iPod Hi-fi. He'd had never let this Maps thing ship.

Steve probably had a lot to do with Maps, which has probably been worked on since before his death. Heck, Apple finalized the C3 acquisition only a month after Steve's death. That alone must have had been in discussion for a while.

 

[prezasti]

Not sure if it has been mentioned, but I noticed the Satellite Maps of my home area are the same maps that Bing has. Is one of Apples Map companies the same company Microsoft uses for Bing?

 

[Rocketman]

I have read 37 pages of whining. It's true a well debugged critical technology we were using yesterday is broken today and won't be fixed for three years.

If you need maps and haven't upgraded, avoid it like the plague. Apple publish a downgrade procedure for mission critical customers.

Google maps is available on the web with Safari. Google maps will have an iOS map soon.

Apple needs massive useful feedback on what's wrong on their app. Specific details is one thing, but classes of errors would certainly be more helpful.

Apple, see my prior post for your corporate policy change request.

Where's the app for the active map updates.

 

[Funkmasta]

Am I the only one who the maps work fine for? Strange...