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Google Maps Gains New Navigation System, Crowd-Sourced Transit Info, and More

Razeus said:
Exactly why Google is succeeding and us Apple users still complain about Maps & Siri even after several years.
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Apple Maps absolutely uses iPhone users' locations to calculate traffic and routing. Difference is, Apple takes a bunch of steps to make the crowdsourced data anonymous.

From what I've noticed, many of the people complaining about Apple Maps online used it like 4 years ago and have kept complaining ever since. It's come a long way since then.
 
sunwukong said:
This is the key point. I don't mind all the info-gathering in itself, so long as it remains STRICTLY in service of the app's usefulness to ME --- not PRIMARILY in service to sell me and everything about me to all comers for whatever reason, in order to more finely target me with ads, along with any and all nefarious other uses of said data. Were Apple to mine finely grained data about me, keep it encrypted and locked away from others, including themselves, (i.e. basically anonymous), then I don't care.
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You know you can turn off ad personalization in your Google Account settings, right? Also, it's extremely unlikely a Google employee will take a peek into your data.
 
ignatius345 said:
From what I've noticed, many of the people complaining about Apple Maps online used it like 4 years ago and have kept complaining ever since. It's come a long way since then.
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I’m looking forward to the updated mapping coming to Europe. All I know is that every so often I click on Apple Maps to see how it’s doing and the POIs are dreadful. I don’t know where they are sourcing the data, but even last month a restaurant that closed 10 years ago on my street was added to Apple Maps. They are using some data source in the UK which is seriously weird. I prefer the interface and I prefer the security and integration, but at least in my part of the UK it’s not where it needs to be. I’ll keep checking.
 
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ignatius345 said:
Apple Maps absolutely uses iPhone users' locations to calculate traffic and routing. Difference is, Apple takes a bunch of steps to make the crowdsourced data anonymous.

From what I've noticed, many of the people complaining about Apple Maps online used it like 4 years ago and have kept complaining ever since. It's come a long way since then.
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unfortunately not. Just last week I used Apple Maps to navigate us to a major hotel in Manhattan. It took a non-optimal route to get us into Manhattan. Ok, I kind of like that route sometimes anyhow. Then it deposited us on the wrong side of the block from where our destination actually was which took surprisingly long for me to correct given the traffic at that time of day.

I agree the interface is better, unfortunately Google routing is still the best by far.
 
MacRumors said:



This week marks 15 years since Google Maps first launched, and Google is celebrating with some notable new features and updates for the mapping service app on iOS and Android.

google-maps-updated-feb-2020.jpg

The five tabs on the new Google Maps navigation screen​

Starting today, the Google Maps will feature a new navigation system across the bottom of the interface including five icons, two of which are completely new: Saved, which is home to all the lists and locations you've bookmarked, and Contribute, which prompts you to add photos and reviews to places you may have visited.

The change means Google has gotten rid of the side-loading menu that was previously accessible from the search bar.

In the transit directions screen, Google has also brought in some new features crowdsourced from Maps users. These can include details shared by other passengers, like how crowded it is, how hot/cold it is, accessibility, women's-only carriages, the presence of security onboard, and how many cars a train is pulling.

There are also some notable changes to the AR-powered Live View that Google launched last year. The big blue directional arrows showing you where you're going have become optional, and Live View can now drop a big red pin on your destination and tell you how far away you are from it instead.

Lastly, the Google Maps app has a new icon - it's a four-color take on the location pin that the mapping service has used for years.

The new-look Google Maps update should be rolling out to iOS and Android users today, with the exception of the Live View changes that Google says are coming soon. Google Maps can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Google Maps Gains New Navigation System, Crowd-Sourced Transit Info, and More
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Some cool stuff here. I think Apple needs to adopt something new into maps as well. Apples new maps seems old. I like how google maps is almost becoming a suggestion entertainment destination as opposed to just a map
 
Now they need to fix the Gmail icon to have the color and I'll be happy. Gmail looks out of place now.
 
dallardice said:
I’m looking forward to the updated mapping coming to Europe. All I know is that every so often I click on Apple Maps to see how it’s doing and the POIs are dreadful. I don’t know where they are sourcing the data, but even last month a restaurant that closed 10 years ago on my street was added to Apple Maps. They are using some data source in the UK which is seriously weird. I prefer the interface and I prefer the security and integration, but at least in my part of the UK it’s not where it needs to be. I’ll keep checking.
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yeah their business database is not great. They do respond very quickly to submitted corrections but very much need to find a better stream of place data.
 
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sulpfiction said:
Real headline: Google updates navigation to obtain even more information about where u are and what ur doing.
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Small trade off considering how useless Siri/Apple Maps are with showing local search results that are several states away.
 
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