Google Maps for iOS Now Live in App Store

[laurim]

Turn-by-turn and vectors? Looks like Apple and its users finally got what they wanted

I'd like someone to tell me whether it recalculates the turn by turn directions if you intentionally take a different street (e.g., to avoid the highway) or decide to make a side stop en route like Apple Maps does. THAT really impressed me about Maps.

 

[haruhiko]

where's the street view??

tap and hold; swipe up from bottom address bar

 

[Small White Car]

You lie - what practical time did u use fly over to find something over using street view?

dude put down the koolaid

See my post above

 

[atthecross]

When on an address, swipe up from the bottom.

thanks found it on page 14

 

[nilk]

Is turn-by-turn fully functional on the 3GS? Does it have voice?

 

[Krafty]

Update to a compatible operating system first [5.1]

I really don't want to. I thought there was a tweak to fake your iOS version. I stayed on 4.1 up until last September, and going to 5.0.1 was no fun. Even now, bits of my theme isn't working and there's images I can't find.

 

[Daveoc64]

why does it blur and refresh when i zoom out and in then?

Think about it. If you zoom out to the absolute farthest level (i.e. where you can see the entire world), do you think it loads absolutely every map detail in the world? Every road? Every lake? Every POI?

Of course not.

As you keep zooming in, more and more detail will be downloaded. That doesn't necessarily mean that the same thing will be downloaded over and over again, but some things aren't going to appear at every zoom level.

This will inevitably result in "refreshing" when you zoom in.

 

[TrenttonY]

It's really laggy.

 

[i-John]

Can it be set as "Default" map ? so that apps and websites using address links open up in google maps instead of apple @%@% map ?

Nope... thanks Apple

 

[ECUpirate44]

No comparison.

 

[i-John]

I'd like someone to tell me whether it recalculates the turn by turn directions if you intentionally take a different street (e.g., to avoid the highway) or decide to make a side stop en route like Apple Maps does. THAT really impressed me about Maps.

That's standard on every turn by turn nav app

 

[thomamon]

tap and hold; swipe up from bottom address bar

Doesn't work for me

 

[gbuc95]

No comparison.
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Agreed!!

 

[Born Again]

This just hit Engadget, nice.



http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/13/google-launches-maps-sdk/

http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/12/3760770/google-maps-iphone-available-features-navigation-transit

i prefer the Verge's thoughts better

Google has released a native maps app for the iPhone and it's fast, full-featured, and quite frankly the best-looking mobile maps experience on the market today. After months of problems and a formal apology in the wake of Apple's own Maps app on iOS 6, many have been waiting for Google to offer a solution that could serve as a viable replacement. If the brief demo we saw earlier this week is any indication, Google has delivered.

The majority of maps features that matter are all here: traffic, turn-by-turn navigation, transit directions, walking directions, satellite view, street view, indoor photos, Zagat restaurant reviews, and a bit of integration with your Google profile. Unlike many of Google's other, earlier efforts on iOS, Google Maps is a fully-native app instead of a "web wrapper." It also utilizes vectors instead of graphical tiles, which translates into faster load times and lower data costs.

 

[i-John]

No comparison.
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Hopefully this will give Apple the motivation to get working on the details on their maps. Google have a LOT of years head start on them though

 

[SolRayz]

Google maps UI is utter crap compared to Apple maps, I'm sorry but that is undeniable....Street View is very smooth, however, the poor placement of directional arrows kind of kills it for me, unfortunately.

It was rushed, undoubtedly...they should have modeled more closely to there Google Earth app, which is quite nice imo.

 

[atthecross]

Doesn't work for me

drop a pin at the location, then swipe the address that is displayed

 

[janderson0719]

Still like Apple Maps better. It's more integrated within the OS (Siri, contacts, lock screen)

Never had a problem with Apple Maps and really don't think it is bad as most of you make it seem. Goodnight.

 

[Buildbright]

Not sure I follow?

I ment to say it makes the iphone the best device.

 

[iOzzie]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/12/3760770/google-maps-iphone-available-features-navigation-transit

i prefer the Verge's thoughts better

My comments were around the changing of the default mapping app within IOS.

Verges comments around this -

Speaking of APIs, Google is providing two options to developers of other apps. The first is a "URL Schema," where developers who want to link addresses to Google Maps instead of Apple Maps can easily do that — if users don't have Google Maps installed, the URL would direct them to the App Store. Presumably Google's other iOS apps — including Search, Gmail, and Chrome — will be updated soon to support the Maps integration. The second is a full API for third party developers to integrate Google Maps fully into their app instead of using Apple's Maps. Neither is a perfect solution — Google will need to compete directly with Apple on its own iOS turf to convince developers to switch over.

There are a few hidden features to note. A two-finger swipe to the left will bring up a menu with toggles for traffic and satellite view (there's also a small button on the lower-right). From anywhere within the app, a shake will bring up an option to send a report to Google detailing some problem with the map or with the app itself.

One thing curiously missing from Google Maps is advertising, though there's no shortage of ways it could be integrated in the future. For now, Graf told us, "We wanted to nail the main uses cases, and get an app out as soon as possible."

 

[Marlor]

I'd like someone to tell me whether it recalculates the turn by turn directions if you intentionally take a different street (e.g., to avoid the highway) or decide to make a side stop en route like Apple Maps does. THAT really impressed me about Maps.

Which GPS doesn't do that?

Every GPS I've ever used does the same thing. Take a turn that isn't on the list, and within a few seconds it recalculates a new route for you based on that side street. My 2004-vintage TomTom GPS does that perfectly.

 

[rlcornelous]

For those trying alternate methods, I can confirm that the following will not work if the original method does not work:

1. Finding related apps under Google Earth (or another Google App). While you will be able to find Google Maps, you will not be able to download it.

2. Opening the link from this thread. Same as above.

If it's not working via one method for you, it's unlikely another will work either.

Los Angeles, CA.

Tried downloading first time around 8:30 and was unsuccessful. Been trying ever since then with no success.

**Well, I downloaded it through Google Earth and it worked just fine for me.**

 

[Rockondevil]

Probably download for ***** and giggles but the new iPhone maps are working perfect for me and I love the look over the old Google ones.

 

[lke]

Why macrumors don't put this link to download google maps in the main page

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-maps/id585027354?mt=8

 

[Beeplance]

Not bad, on my 3GS, I can use 2 fingers to change the camera angle, making it look sort of "3D". Couldn't do so with Apple Maps. Nice addition