Everyone needs to calm down about Apple maps.

[sakau2007]

I just reread through all your posts on this thread, and you main complaint seems to be that the iPhone 4 doesn't get Flyover or Turn by Turn and thus you have a worse experience. Fair enough. They implanted a new mapping scheme and the 2 main benefits of the Apple Maps aren't available on a legacy device.

And while this may suck, this happens every year. Legacy devices get less updates in the currently sold device and the new device usually has 1 or 2 exclusive features. This is an enticement to upgrade, every company does this with their products.

As a comparison to Android, many of the handset sold in the last year won't get updated to ICS, even though they were released after ICS was announced, let alone get upgrades to Jelly Bean. But thats the manufactures planned obsolescance of their device to entice people to upgrade.

To see the full benefit, you will need to upgrade, either to a 4S or 5. You can either use this as enticement to upgrade or look elsewhere, but again in about 6 months when you find out for sure your brand newish Android phone won't get Jelly Bean, I'm sure you'll get a less sympathy from the Android community.

I don't disagree with this. However, Apple does the same thing... its just their planned obsolescence is a little more drawn out. I was using the Siri app on my 3GS and 4 before Apple did away with their 3rd party app. I continue to use Vlingo on my 4. For Apple to try and tell people that the hardware couldn't handle it and that's why the older devices didn't get Siri is total hogwash. Apple knows as well as anyone that the only real difference between the 3GS, 4 and 4S has been marginally improved hardware. Without Siri exclusivity, there would have been very, very little to compel people to upgrade to a 4S over a 4. One could argue that even with Siri exclusivity it isn't really a big upgrade.

They are doing the same thing with turn by turn navigation. Anyone who believes that the iPhone 4S, or even 4, or maybe even the 3GS don't have the "power" to handle turn by turn navigation are kidding themselves. It's just something to make you want to upgrade to the latest and greatest. From a business standpoint, it is brilliant in the short term. And maybe in the long run, too. But for the educated consumer, it is one thing that Apple blew the competition away on and now is just a little better than.

So yeah, Android's planned obsolescence is awful... but Apple does the same thing. I would to if I wasn't adding any truly killer features to my device.

 

[Sh4wN]

Again I'll state that FlyOver seems to be a USA only feature ... this is NOT Maps but FlyOver.

Look at any city in Canada (we're just north of USA - Alaska we're East), and look at a city in 3D ... compare it to what you see demo'd at WWDC 2012 ... you'll understand.

So you're telling me you believe Apple won't be able to let the camera fly around a bit outside of the US?

 

[solarguy17]

That's the whole point though, the problem wasn't the back-end data, it was the app all along. The back-end didn't need changing. There never was a Google Maps on iPhone app, there always was an Apple app that used Google's mapping data.

Now Apple chose to tie their upgrade of their own app to a change in backend technology which is removing accuracy, features and changing the look to an inferior experience (narrower street lines, bad choices of colors resulting in worse readability and label sizes that are questionable).

You are somewhat correct, the backend data was provided by Google and the app to use the data was created by Apple (for the most part). But notice that Street View and Transit wasn't included until Google gave Apple access to that data. The same applies to Turn by Turn and 3D mapping. Apple couldn't do it until Google gave them access to the data, which Google wouldn't do because Maps was one of the key advantages that they had over Apple.

Apple had to replace the back end data to be able to get the features they wanted to give to the users.

Yes, there are problems with accuracy at this moment, but the maps and OS is still in beta.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Again I'll state that FlyOver seems to be a USA only feature ... this is NOT Maps but FlyOver.

Look at any city in Canada (we're just north of USA - Alaska we're East), and look at a city in 3D ... compare it to what you see demo'd at WWDC 2012 ... you'll understand.

Oh is THAT where Canada is hiding?!

It's not that only USA is getting the feature.. it's that only very few select cities have received it so far PERIOD in the beta (most of them in the US). But cities are added all the time and I expect the current number to at least double by launch.

Here is the most updated list I have seen of flyover enabled cities. You said look at any city in Canada? Try Montreal. Sure there are only 4 known cities outside the US to have Flyover right now, but it's pretty slim pickings in he US too!! There's no NYC, Houston, Dallas, Washington DC, the list goes on...

 

[DaffyDuck]

Oh is THAT where Canada is hiding?!

It's not that only USA is getting the feature.. it's that only very few select cities have received it so far PERIOD in the beta (most of them in the US). But cities are added all the time and I expect the current number to at least double by launch.

Here is the most updated list I have seen of flyover enabled cities. You said look at any city in Canada? Try Montreal. Sure there are only 4 known cities outside the US to have Flyover right now, but it's pretty slim pickings in he US too!! There's no NYC, Houston, Dallas, Washington DC, the list goes on...

If it doubles then approximately .25% of the cities in the US would be covered. I'm pretty sure no rural areas are covered yet. For many, flyover won't even be a potential alternative to streetview.

 

[Brazuca]

Mark me down as one of those people who will never understand why someone like you seems to feel personally betrayed by Apple's decision...forced or not..to provide an alternate solution to Google.

Google IS a direct competitor and that alone is a good enough reason for Apple to want/implement their own solution And avoid having their biggest competitor's brand name on Apple's product. That's business and their right no matter how much you feel it personally screws you. Get over it.

This.

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If it doubles then approximately .25% of the cities in the US would be covered. I'm pretty sure no rural areas are covered yet. For many, flyover won't even be a potential alternative to streetview.

C3, which creates the 3D images, had over 100 cities back when Apple bought them. I expect at least that many at launch.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

If it doubles then approximately .25% of the cities in the US would be covered. I'm pretty sure no rural areas are covered yet. For many, flyover won't even be a potential alternative to streetview.

3 points

A) "double" was something I pulled out of my butt

B) Apple will choose the most populous cities so even if it covers 0.25% (I'm assuming this also comes from the buttocks region) of cities it could possibly be as high as 5-10% of the population. Sure, still a small amount but more relevant than the 0.25% figure

C) Flyover is in no way meant to be a replacement for street view... It's like a pen vs a highlighter. They can serve similar functions in some sense, but the highlighter isn't meant to replace the pen. (also street view has been out for over 4 years. It's a bit unfair to compare it's range to a beta product)

 

[8a22a]

The problem with Apple's Maps app in iOS 5 and previous was the app itself, the front-end, not the backend and its data.

The fix proposed by Apple in iOS 6 is to swap out the back-end.

Google doesn't "obviously keep a better version" for their own OS, Google never made one for iOS to begin with. The front-end Application was under Apple's responsibility. All the features it lacked was Apple's own fault for not implementing them from Google's data.

Basically, they replace the only part of the app that was good : the actual Map data. That is the issue people have with it.

Google's vector based map data must only be available on Android though. It's not available on the web.

 

[Cybbe]

So you're telling me you believe Apple won't be able to let the camera fly around a bit outside of the US?

Apple is known for putting first, second and third priority on the US market. I fear many countries will end up with inferior maps come fall.

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Google's vector based map data must only be available on Android though. It's not available on the web.

Not correct.

http://support.google.com/maps/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1630790

 

[DeepIn2U]

Oh is THAT where Canada is hiding?!

It's not that only USA is getting the feature.. it's that only very few select cities have received it so far PERIOD in the beta (most of them in the US). But cities are added all the time and I expect the current number to at least double by launch.

Here is the most updated list I have seen of flyover enabled cities. You said look at any city in Canada? Try Montreal. Sure there are only 4 known cities outside the US to have Flyover right now, but it's pretty slim pickings in he US too!! There's no NYC, Houston, Dallas, Washington DC, the list goes on...

Thank you very much for that update and the link. I'll continue to monitor that to see whats new.

 

[kemo]

I have to say that Im really pleased with Apple maps as well and even Im living in the Czech Republic I did try to use iPad side by side with Garmin navigation for couple of travels in our country. And I got to say it was brilliant, except there could be a couple of improvements or better say additional functionalities - choose faster/shorter way or even exclude roads with tolls etc. But I guess this will be implemented soon or later as well. Keep up the good work Apple, it looks really promising.

 

[Lukeyy19]

I already have a navigation app on my iPhone, the only reason I used Maps was Streetview to see exactly what the place where I'm going looks like, so I can find the right building and know where I can stop etc before I get there, take that away and the app is useless to me, I hope Google release their own Maps app or improve Google Earth with Streetview and Directions.

I might just not bother upgrading right away, i'll weigh up how useful the other features are compared to what I lose with the loss of Streetview, and decide wether it's worth it.

 

[mattaus81]

Apple maps is a disaster!!! Why they would throw out such a seamless experience from Google Maps to preload such an unbelievably poor map service on iOS6 is beyond me.

First Siri and now Apple Maps. Apple is getting a reputation for releasing beta products thats simply don't work.

I picked up my iphone5 today and am extremely disappointed in the above + the absense of NFC. I feel like I am using technology that is 10 years old.

I never thought I would say it but think it's time to those this "smart" phone in the bin and invest in a Samsung Galaxy S3. Saves me reaching for my GF's one every time my iphone can't complete a simple task.

 

[rappr]

Apple maps is a disaster!!! Why they would throw out such a seamless experience from Google Maps to preload such an unbelievably poor map service on iOS6 is beyond me.

First Siri and now Apple Maps. Apple is getting a reputation for releasing beta products thats simply don't work.

I picked up my iphone5 today and am extremely disappointed in the above + the absense of NFC. I feel like I am using technology that is 10 years old.

I never thought I would say it but think it's time to those this "smart" phone in the bin and invest in a Samsung Galaxy S3. Saves me reaching for my GF's one every time my iphone can't complete a simple task.

You didn't know the phone didn't have nfc before you bought it? How about you do your research before you just blindly buy something.

 

[rorschach]

You didn't know the phone didn't have nfc before you bought it? How about you do your research before you just blindly buy something.

And registered today just to tell us.

 

[mattaus81]

You didn't know the phone didn't have nfc before you bought it? How about you do your research before you just blindly buy something.

No I didn't, I just hit the preorder button assuming the iphone 5 would have at least SOME of the latest technology. To date I have just ordered the latest iphones (except the 4S), something I assume most of Apple's customers do based on sales results.

Now I am certainly researching and the future does not look good for Apple.

I'm sick of Apple trying to force sub standard products on me Siri, Safari, Apple Maps, Passbook ect ect ect. Time for some freedom

 

[ethana]

An upgrade or change should never be considered a downgrade by users, even if it's a small group of users. It's just plain wrong morally in my book. You took these people's money because you promised certain tasks, and then you break them because of spite, in this case against Google?

If the Maps are up to par with what at least was given with Google Maps, it should have NEVER been released.

WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Ethan

 

[mattaus81]

And registered today just to tell us.

Yes, as above, I don't typically research this crap. My iphone 3 and 4 just worked - happy days.

Not anymore. Jobs is dead, Apple is on its way IMO.

 

[Stropaganda]

No I didn't, I just hit the preorder button assuming the iphone 5 would have at least SOME of the latest technology. To date I have just ordered the latest iphones (except the 4S), something I assume most of Apple's customers do based on sales results.

Now I am certainly researching and the future does not look good for Apple.

I'm sick of Apple trying to force sub standard products on me Siri, Safari, Apple Maps, Passbook ect ect ect. Time for some freedom

What?

No I didn't, I just hit the preorder button assuming the iphone 5 would have at least SOME of the latest technology. To date I have just ordered the latest iphones (except the 4S), something I assume most of Apple's customers do based on sales results.

Whaaaat?

No I didn't, I just hit the preorder button assuming the iphone 5 would have at least SOME of the latest technology.

WHAAAAAAT?!

I don't understand some people.

Get over it. Google Maps will now longer be included on the iPhone. If that is a deal breaker, go to Android. I'm sure they will love the crying and complaining when you can't even upgrade your brand new phone to KLP in 6 months.

Google Maps has the better mapping experience. It's had a much longer time at polishing their service. It's not perfect (I'm still waiting for offline navigation, Google!), but it would be very hard to go toe to toe with it with a beta. That is fine. The problem is that Apple is practically force feeding their customers a worse experience. Apple and Google are competing in a market worth hundreds of billions of dollars and the customers are getting the brunt of the damage. Maybe it had to happen. Maybe it must happen eventually for Apple to grow so they decided to take it off really fast like a band-aid. It's just too bad.

As for the KLP comment, a true droid lover knows how to get around manufacturer's stubborn upgrade schedules. Root and flash, my friend. Or you could just by a Nexus device. That's a bit easier.

 

[Kalvin00]

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