I get that Apple knows Google Maps exists and is a superior application. That doesn't mean I don't wish (as a user) that they would pony up out of their $350B+ war chest and make Apple Maps at least somewhat close to Google Maps. Enjoy the negatives
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Google Maps Gaining More Detail With New Color-Mapping Algorithmic Technique
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I get that Apple knows Google Maps exists and is a superior application. That doesn't mean I don't wish (as a user) that they would pony up out of their $350B+ war chest and make Apple Maps at least somewhat close to Google Maps. Enjoy the negatives
I don't about US, But outside the US nothing even comes close to Google Maps. It's a fantastic app and it keeps improving. The one app Google did a great job and didn't mess up.
I live in the UK and I use Apple CarPlay maps to navigate to unfamiliar places. It hasn’t let me down yet.
But when I’m out and about on foot, it’s hard to beat the Ordnance Survey maps app. The maps are gorgeous, and build on decades of tried and trusted cartography. I’d give an arm and a leg if the OS Explorer maps could feature on CarPlay. The only downside is you have to pay a subscription to use them.
But when I’m out and about on foot, it’s hard to beat the Ordnance Survey maps app. The maps are gorgeous, and build on decades of tried and trusted cartography. I’d give an arm and a leg if the OS Explorer maps could feature on CarPlay. The only downside is you have to pay a subscription to use them.
If they haven’t gotten to it in 10 years, I think you can pretty much stick a fork in it. I’m shocked that after a decade, they’re still playing catch up to Google maps. I thought Apple maps would surpass Google maps within a decade, the way Google maps surpassed mapquest in just a few years. But here we are, more than a decade later, and Apple is just as far behind as they were when they started. Tim Cook = John Sculley 2.0
Apple has closed the gap with Google maps a bit. But Google is still well ahead. If only they could close the digitial assistant gap...
Well, if only Apple can sell more ads and mine more user data for sale in Apple Maps, I'm sure it will go a lot faster. Currently, the Apple Maps budget is coming from hardware sales R&D fund, which people don't really like overpaying into it.
Are we talking about the same Apple? 😉
Apple’s 2020 Q3 earnings =
$59.7 billion
Alphabet’s (Google) for the same period = $31.6 billion
Source:
The Big 4 tech companies — Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, worth $5 trillion combined — just crushed their earnings reports
Four of the most valuable companies in the world reported second-quarter earnings, one day after testifying in a grueling Big Tech antitrust hearing.
www.businessinsider.in
As for “Currently, the Apple Maps budget is coming from hardware sales R&D fund, which people don't really like overpaying into it.”, who are “the people” in this sentence?
If they are the customers, I think they do not mind how Apple allocates the budget, as long as they get the best product/service out of their investment. If you are talking about Apple’s admin/workers, what prevents them from allocating more resources to improving Maps, one of their strategically important products?
I am only writing all of this because I would also want Apple Maps to improve. It has a great potential and I wish Apple could really do more there and much faster.
You do realize that is not how capitalism works right? Budget decisions are made based on RoI or Return on Investment, not how the customers can get the best product or services out of the investment.Are we talking about the same Apple? 😉
Apple’s 2020 Q3 earnings =
$59.7 billion
Alphabet’s (Google) for the same period = $31.6 billion
Source:
The Big 4 tech companies — Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, worth $5 trillion combined — just crushed their earnings reports
Four of the most valuable companies in the world reported second-quarter earnings, one day after testifying in a grueling Big Tech antitrust hearing.
As for “Currently, the Apple Maps budget is coming from hardware sales R&D fund, which people don't really like overpaying into it.”, who are “the people” in this sentence?
If they are the customers, I think they do not mind how Apple allocates the budget, as long as they get the best product/service out of their investment. If you are talking about Apple’s admin/workers, what prevents them from allocating more resources to improving Maps, one of their strategically important products?
I am only writing all of this because I would also want Apple Maps to improve. It has a great potential and I wish Apple could really do more there and much faster.
How much additional price customers on average are willing to pay for an iPhone if we invest one more dollar on Apple Maps?
A rich company is not obligated to use that extra cash to better your life. If you can give more back, sure, they will think about it, otherwise, it's never gonna happen.
Really they're both fine. Google Maps is better at finding POIs and has way more features like biking directions. Apple Maps uses less battery, has a better UI, and gives better directions with more accurate ETAs. I tend to rely on Apple Maps.
Of course, one of Google Maps's great features is broader international support. You can't use Apple Maps in Armenia.
Last edited:
Well, your original post seemed to imply that the reason Apple were falling behind in their mapping efforts was due to the poor funding and that the Maps did not bring in enough money by itself. To which I replied that Apple have way more money than Google, which is a fact.
Now it is true that I have no idea on how Apple allocate their resources, but I believe it is fair to expect Apple to up their mapping game, if they want it to remain competitive. Let’s also not forget that Google has about 80% of mobile OS market worldwide and all these users, at least passively, help to improve Google Maps.
I use Google Maps AND Apple Maps 7 hours a day 4 days a week for delivering in Cornwall in the UK - Two years ago night and day. Now very minor differences And almost down to personal preferences.
The red line outlines the location that you've entered in the search bar. When you empty the search bar (click the x on the right in the search bar), the outline will disappear.
I really want to switch to Apple Maps, but Google have a massive edge for features, but especially reliability. I've tried giving AM a go in my Golf with CarPlay, but man even if well established areas it's giving me incorrect directions and puts me in weird spots sometimes (in Ontario, Canada).
I would just like to be able to add multiple waypoints in Apple Maps, otherwise works pretty well as far as I’m concerned.
Nope, nor do I like being tracked by a company that has repeated ignored do not track, so I use Apple Maps. These new Google maps look closer to what Apple delivered last year.
(A) is still valid --- marginal return and RoI?
(B) still doesn't make sense. --- they do have money, but why spend on you?
(C) is not relevant. --- it's about ads, platform ecosystem and data mining.
If you understand business and economics, you will be able to see what I mean.
Google Maps is a bloated mess for me now. So many buttons and options that demonstrates its product managers are now fighting each other at Google HQ to have their feature given more prominence than the actual reason for the app — clear, easy to follow maps with decent navigation.
I’ve switched to Apple Maps and couldn’t be happier. They just need to throw some money behind the product and speed up support globally, it’s taking them way too long.
I’ve switched to Apple Maps and couldn’t be happier. They just need to throw some money behind the product and speed up support globally, it’s taking them way too long.
Apple is just focusing on selling hardwares globally. The quality of their services is not the priority.
I understand basic economics and appreciate that Apple needs its business to be profitable (it is already), but Apple still offer plenty of free products (Photos, Pages, Notes, Numbers, Garage Band, etc.) and keep on developing them.
This brings extra value to their existing customers and keeps us buying Apple products. This conversation is not about that. It is about wanting Apple to ramp up their efforts with one of their important products - Apple Maps, which had a bumpy launch and still needs to make some big leaps to catch up with competition. And Google just made another mega-leap. I like Apple Maps and want to use it as much as possible, thus actively reducing Google’s data mining, etc. However, to encourage more people to choose Apple Maps over Google Maps (worldwide), the former need to get much better.
Not quite. Apple positioned itself historically as a company offering the smoothest integration between their hardware and software. Remember, “With Apple it just works” or their iPhone ads, while Yve was still narrating them. 🖐