It showed and verbally informed me of roadwork ahead. It may have not realized (during beta) that I'd be exiting before the posted roadwork but it was good to know. I haven't seen new directions yet as I rarely get stuck in gridlock or have no better way to get around an incident.
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Google Maps for iOS Updated With Spoken Traffic Alerts
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I get the normal verbal directions - but I wonder if I don't get these verbal options because phone is muted? With normal directions it doesn't matter so I doubt that is it. Maybe I haven't used it in traffic alert. It would only be because of traffic and not road work on my routes.
Does this update add the ability to navigate to locations along your route, like gas or food? I thought I read that feature had come to the Android version.
Why let brand loyalty prevent you from using the superior solution?
Where did I imply that this is about brand loyalty?
Apple's privacy policy. For instance, they don't use persistent identifiers when you use Apple Maps and they attempt to separate queries from each other to ensure that they don't have a complete picture of your journeys. In addition they don't tie this to your Apple ID, rather random non-persistent identifiers. You can opt out of analytics in the settings app.
It's not the best guarantee, admittedly, but so far Apple has a much better track record with wee incentive to do it and we know for a fact that Google meticulously collects data and doesn't let go of it.
That's reason enough for me. I don't need this and if I miss out on a good maps app then so be it.
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Apple maps has done this since 9.0. No mention but it gives a warning on the top of the screen in yellow and verbally informs you of congestion and the distance.
It does for me and displays it since 9.0
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Spectacular! I can hardly wait to go out and try the new Google Maps tomorrow. As much as I'd like to use Apple Maps, it too frequently wants to take me to the wrong destination, or along an illogical route. The former weakness with Google Maps was that accidents needed to be viewed on Waze. Waze is just too hard to use while driving.
I personally don't like or trust Google, because of their statements and actions regarding privacy and IP unless of course it's theirs.
The only times I have had Apple send me a way I didn't want was when there was a major traffic jam on the highway I usually take and it sent me the really long way, so I thought. Saved me 2 hours if sitting in traffic. The only 2 times I thought it was taking me to the wrong address I later realized that the address I had entered was wrong. Once corrected it was right on the money.
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Lol. Thanks for this
I also saw tube lines in London map yesterday. Very nice and easy to see. Way better than google maps implementation (opened google maps after months just to check this.). I use HERE as its timing for voice prompts during driving is good. And Apple maps for short distance walk/travel.
Apple Maps Traffic data is only available in the following countries..:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- UK
- USA
Apple has a long way to go. The centre of Brussels, Belgium has become one of the largest pedestrian zones in Europe. The city council informed both Apple and Google about these changes urging them to update their maps in order to avoid traffic jams. Google Maps was immediately updated. After 5 months, Apple Maps is still showing the old situation... Too bad.
Good to see Google adding more Waze features. Unfortunately Apple Maps just works decently in US.
Waze is the best (you can see by its ratings) but I HATE having to give the option to ALWAYS use location services. The app is always sneaking your location in the background. Even when you put it to sleep, saying the app won't use data or battery. That's a big lie since you can see the arrow on the top right corner.
Since Waze don't have the option ONLY WHILE USING, I have to turn on before using and disabling after so it doesn't drain my battery and keep giving Google my locations all the time.
That gives you an idea how Google operate. Hoping for Apple to catch up soon so I can give Google the finger ASAP.
Waze is the best (you can see by its ratings) but I HATE having to give the option to ALWAYS use location services. The app is always sneaking your location in the background. Even when you put it to sleep, saying the app won't use data or battery. That's a big lie since you can see the arrow on the top right corner.
Since Waze don't have the option ONLY WHILE USING, I have to turn on before using and disabling after so it doesn't drain my battery and keep giving Google my locations all the time.
That gives you an idea how Google operate. Hoping for Apple to catch up soon so I can give Google the finger ASAP.
There are a few things I would really love to see from Google Maps....hopefully soon...
- REAL 3D perspective navigation. Even Apple Maps has the edge on this.
- Speed limits. That would be awesome and a warning if you exceed them. Most other navigation apps such as Sygic offer this.
- Speed camera warnings. This would be a lifesaver.
You're probably too young to remember. Google map was shipped in the original iPhone and it's the only map. The app and experience was co-developed with Apple that's the very reason you love your google map on your mobile phone. Obviously Google map is way better than Apple map, because of years they invested to it and they bought a lot of companies to integrate their technology into it. But Apple is not happy how Google collects data on iPhone users. So they put limitations to it by developing their own map. If only Apple developed their own map from the beginning then we probably not complaining that much. But hey having all the options is always a good thing. Or else Google would be stalking you all the time while you're enjoying your iPhone.
I also hate how Waze location services option is 'ALWAYS USE'. This was even after the newest update. I have to use Waze because of how it routes around traffic for me in DC metro.
I too am eager to reduce my Google footprint. I have gone away from Gmail, Chrome and Google calendar. Until Google becomes transparent to the user about what they collect, how they use it and allows users to delete the collected data, I don't want to support Google. I use adblockers everywhere.
Only time I use Google maps is inside a mall to look up store locations, and that still needs lot of work from Google.
Here is a decent maps comparison
http://www.macworld.co.uk/review/re...googles-maps-still-better-apple-maps-3464377/
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I just hope there are ways to configure what it alerts you to, and with more granularity that just turning the entire feature off.
In particular, I've found that Google Maps highlights sections of road in red (meaning slow traffic) around nearly every traffic light in town. I don't need to have the app disturbing me with "traffic jam ahead" every time I stop for a red light (or worse, when the light is green and it's alerting me because other people have stopped for prior red lights.) But I do want it to let me know when the highway is jammed up for the next 10 miles and I should plan an alternate route.
Will it be this smart? Maybe eventually, but I'm not going to count on it for at least several updates.
Funny you mention this. Last week, I was navigating with Apple maps. They apparently never got word about the fact that a massive cloverleaf interchange was built (completed about a year ago) on the state highway I was driving on. So it directed me onto the wrong exit ramps (because the right ones were not in the map) and wanted me to make a left turn off the top of a bridge. Google's map was correct.
As much as I'd like to put my faith in a single source, no mapping company is able to keep completely up to date. But I do think there's little excuse for a major interchange not being on the map when it's been more than a year since the completion of construction.
WRT "false destination" what do you mean? I've had plenty of occasions where the address I was given doesn't show up in the right place - with both apps. They can be very particular about spellings (e.g. you'd better abbreviate "lane" as "ln" and not "la") and if you don't type in what they expect, you can end up getting directions to some place hundreds of miles away. This doesn't mean you swear off of using navigation, but it does means you should double-check the destination and route before you start driving. If what you see doesn't smell right, try again, consult a different app or just use a map.
(OK, I'm showing my age here, but I think everybody should keep a road atlas in the car, just for those situations where GPS navigation screws up or is otherwise not available.)
More
After writing the above, I realize that there are a few more issues with Apple Maps that continue to give Google the edge.
Foremost is the fact that Google has options for configuring navigation - like "avoid tolls" and "avoid highways". Apple Maps really needs something like this. Right now, there is no such option. You can select from a few alternate routes, but if it only suggests toll roads, you have to pick one. Of course, you can refuse to get on the toll road and let it recompute, but that could be a problem if the best time to deviate from the route is many miles prior to that point. And you'll have to drive blind for a while until its recompute algorithm stops telling you to make a U-turn and get on the toll road.
Even better, they should provide a setting so these flags can be set by default for new routes. With Google, I need to manually select "avoid tolls" for every route.
Even better than that, they should allow me to specify criteria for when to avoid and not avoid tolls. For instance, when I take a long road trip, I may want to pay for one toll when the amount is low and the time saving is great, but I may want to avoid others where the amount is high and the time saving is low. Maybe a (persistent, of course) setting so I can configure it for something like "avoid tolls that cost more than $3" or "avoid tolls unless doing so will increase travel time by over 30 minutes" or "avoid tolls unless doing so will increase travel time by 10%", etc.
I'd immediately switch over to whatever app lets me set criteria like this (and where the app doesn't screw it up, of course.)
In particular, I've found that Google Maps highlights sections of road in red (meaning slow traffic) around nearly every traffic light in town. I don't need to have the app disturbing me with "traffic jam ahead" every time I stop for a red light (or worse, when the light is green and it's alerting me because other people have stopped for prior red lights.) But I do want it to let me know when the highway is jammed up for the next 10 miles and I should plan an alternate route.
Will it be this smart? Maybe eventually, but I'm not going to count on it for at least several updates.
Funny you mention this. Last week, I was navigating with Apple maps. They apparently never got word about the fact that a massive cloverleaf interchange was built (completed about a year ago) on the state highway I was driving on. So it directed me onto the wrong exit ramps (because the right ones were not in the map) and wanted me to make a left turn off the top of a bridge. Google's map was correct.
As much as I'd like to put my faith in a single source, no mapping company is able to keep completely up to date. But I do think there's little excuse for a major interchange not being on the map when it's been more than a year since the completion of construction.
WRT "false destination" what do you mean? I've had plenty of occasions where the address I was given doesn't show up in the right place - with both apps. They can be very particular about spellings (e.g. you'd better abbreviate "lane" as "ln" and not "la") and if you don't type in what they expect, you can end up getting directions to some place hundreds of miles away. This doesn't mean you swear off of using navigation, but it does means you should double-check the destination and route before you start driving. If what you see doesn't smell right, try again, consult a different app or just use a map.
(OK, I'm showing my age here, but I think everybody should keep a road atlas in the car, just for those situations where GPS navigation screws up or is otherwise not available.)
More
After writing the above, I realize that there are a few more issues with Apple Maps that continue to give Google the edge.
Foremost is the fact that Google has options for configuring navigation - like "avoid tolls" and "avoid highways". Apple Maps really needs something like this. Right now, there is no such option. You can select from a few alternate routes, but if it only suggests toll roads, you have to pick one. Of course, you can refuse to get on the toll road and let it recompute, but that could be a problem if the best time to deviate from the route is many miles prior to that point. And you'll have to drive blind for a while until its recompute algorithm stops telling you to make a U-turn and get on the toll road.
Even better, they should provide a setting so these flags can be set by default for new routes. With Google, I need to manually select "avoid tolls" for every route.
Even better than that, they should allow me to specify criteria for when to avoid and not avoid tolls. For instance, when I take a long road trip, I may want to pay for one toll when the amount is low and the time saving is great, but I may want to avoid others where the amount is high and the time saving is low. Maybe a (persistent, of course) setting so I can configure it for something like "avoid tolls that cost more than $3" or "avoid tolls unless doing so will increase travel time by over 30 minutes" or "avoid tolls unless doing so will increase travel time by 10%", etc.
I'd immediately switch over to whatever app lets me set criteria like this (and where the app doesn't screw it up, of course.)
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Unfortunately there are more than likely quote a few more people with the exact reverse of that experience.
You do realise that obeying the speed limits would even be more of lifesaver ;-)
at the SF Bay Area, CA, Apple Maps has always been reliable for me from day one. i do like Google Maps better except for two things that in my experience are dramatic differences: battery usage and data usage. i haven't checked in a while, but if i recall, in my testing, google maps was 3x more hungry for both of these. these factors have contributed to me using Apple Maps 95% of the time. (i use Google Maps if i want the lane assistance feature or better traffic routing)
Not necessarily. Many cities (well, at least Washington DC, which I'm personally familiar with) sets up countless photo speed traps. Like when they decide stick a 35MPH sign on an interstate highway in order to issue several thousand $100+ tickets a day to everybody who is (safely) driving 55-65 on that road.
Slamming on your brakes to obey that limit would be far more dangerous than going through at 55 and getting the ticket.
Of course, avoiding Washington DC altogether is an even bigger lifesaver, but that's not always an option.
Understandable. Mapping experience is heavily influenced by the datapoints for where you live and/or regularly visit. For me Apple Maps has yet to disappoint since i started using it.
It was a local garage. Used Google maps which i trusted fully at that point but it got it wrong. Typed the same address in Apple maps and it nailed it.
The last straw for me though, was when Google maps app crashed mid-transit on the highway on more than one occasion and i had to pull over to solve the issue.
I'm sure its still a very good app (which is why i still have it installed). But i'm happy with Siri/Apple Maps...for now anyway.
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