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Google Moving Closer to Submitting Maps App for iOS as Eddy Cue Works to Improve Apple's Maps

As a London user, I've been quite happy with Apple Maps. I do feel that they are making improvements along the way too. I certainly do miss the sheer depth of the Google database in terms of finding things, but have learnt to consider the location or other landmarks around where I am heading (I guess this is useless for anyone visiting a new area though).

My two niggles which remain:
-I am frequently zoomed into another country, e.g. Italy, when looking for certain restaurant names. This I find unacceptable. Unless I've specifically entered "restaurantname, Italy", it should always prioritise the search to your immediate location.
-It thinks I live 500m down the road from my actual property. Numerous reporting of incorrect locations have proved unsuccesful - does anyone check these at Apple?

Looking forward to the future improvements though as I do think the maps are beautiful. There should definitely be a Google standalone app for those users who don't have the same preference as me. Variety is the spice of life.
 
MacRumors said:
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The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is continuing to make progress on a standalone mapping application for iOS, working toward submitting the app for inclusion in the App Store after Apple switched from Google to its own in-house Maps app in iOS 6.Unlike Google's Maps app that was included with iOS 5 and earlier, the upcoming version will indeed include free turn-by-turn navigation as has been available on Google Maps for Android and which Apple provides in its Maps app.

The report also notes that Apple is continuing to work hard on improving its Maps app, with Eddy Cue taking a very hands-on approach with regular team meetings since he took charge of Maps and Siri late last month.

Google's Maps app for iOS has been spotted in alpha testing, but some Google employees are reportedly pessimistic about its chances for acceptance in the App Store. But given the plethora of existing mapping apps and Apple's promotion of the web version of Google Maps as alternative to Apple's maps while it works to improve its own service, there may be little reason for Apple to reject Google's submission.

Article Link: Google Moving Closer to Submitting Maps App for iOS as Eddy Cue Works to Improve Apple's Maps
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Thank you Google!
 
Maybe someone has said this before but Apple replacing the google maps app with their own might have been a planned disaster forcing google to put out the maps app that apple has wanted on their devices all along. If they didn't do this then who knows how long, if ever, it would take google to provide turn by turn.
 
OtherJesus said:
I love my Apple maps experience. I don't miss Google at all.

I even got legitimately lost two nights ago when I was trying a new route home from the new gym I'm going to. Siri flawlessly found my way back home.
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You two should get a room. :p
 
Sixtafoua said:
It kind of surprises me that it's taking this long to get this release out. It took me less than a month to make my very first app. Sure it wasn't as complicated as google maps, but I was the only person working on it, where google has thousands of employees.
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They were dragging their heels, now because Nokia has got in there first suddenly the pace has changed. Competition is good ;)

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The Wedge said:
Maybe someone has said this before but Apple replacing the google maps app with their own might have been a planned disaster forcing google to put out the maps app that apple has wanted on their devices all along. If they didn't do this then who knows how long, if ever, it would take google to provide turn by turn.
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Could well be, Google were using maps as leverage against Apple refusing to let them do turn by turn, this has now forced the issue.
 
My biggest complaint has been the search capability and finding what I know exists.

I can search for UPS store and it will find all of them around town except the one closest to me.

Or if I'm looking for an Ikea it will give me one 2000 miles away. :confused:
 
I don't get it; would someone explain to me on what basis Apple would reject the Google app? Is it legal for them to reject an app just because it is competitive?
 
I actually don't see why Apple was so adamant against more Google branding. From the alpha screenshots, it's not like Google's logo is taking up half the screen or anything.

dfuerpo said:
I don't get it; would someone explain to me on what basis Apple would reject the Google app? Is it legal for them to reject an app just because it is competitive?
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I think based on the fact that it's their own AppStore, they don't have to even have a reason to reject it, though I doubt they will be unreasonable. It's not like there are no other maps applications on the AppStore. Google's will just be another one.
 
Dont care about this apple vs Google crap. Just give me a Google maps back apple. Pronto. Apples maps is useless to me. And it gets street names wrong. It even has my location wrong. My location is about 6 miles off.
 
nuckinfutz said:
Google Maps?

No Thanks. Pass
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Yeah, why would you want what is unequivicably the best apps out there for maps, and one of the best navigation apps out there?

Competition is dumb, Apple should be the only company allowed to sell overpriced stuff.
 
What happened to the thread that was here a few moments ago on the front page regarding Google working with Dish Network to possibly create its own wireless phone system?

Poof. It's now gone.
 
Nevzorus said:
I care about Flyover. It looks nice and lets me see EVERY side of the building and fly over the place instead of just one side of the building. I can look over roofs and see what's up there. Google Maps Streetview just looks cool and pretty though which Flyover does too sometimes.
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Sure, but when your not HIGH, Google maps will be more useful for you.
 
On Sep 21/12 The Sydney Morning Herald panned Apple Maps @ http://www.smh.com.au/technology/te...pple-maps-app-loses-users-20120921-26aue.html , and an Apple spokesperson said they were working on it.

Apple has now released turn-by-turn navigation for Australia, yet the town Cairns (a very popular tourist destination) is still in the wrong location.

How long does it take for these really bad errors to be corrected? It's no wonder Forstall got the boot.

Bring on Google Maps.

-ITG
 
ArchAndroid said:
The awkward moment when you realise you're dependent on Google to make your Apple phone functional.

:eek:
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wonder how many people are still having the same issues when maps first came out?

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OtherJesus said:
I love my Apple maps experience. I don't miss Google at all.

I even got legitimately lost two nights ago when I was trying a new route home from the new gym I'm going to. Siri flawlessly found my way back home.
Click to expand...

I have the same experience. We will see how fast Apple can get the rest of the world going.
 
SeniorGato1 said:
If apple rejects it, I'm switching back to android. Apples map is garbage
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mazz0 said:
I'm surprised by this -doesn't the forum tag edited posts? Personally, I think it should.

I was just typing another long rant about how terrible Apple's maps are, but then I figured that's been said plenty already. I would, however, like to assure, if I can, those who say "maps is fine in my area" or "maps is nowhere near as bad as everyone makes out" that it is in many areas, such as my own, absolutely terrible. And I'm an Apple fanboy, look at my posts if you don't believe me. And the idea of linking to other apps rather than including public transport data in the map is a terrible, TERRIBLE idea from a customer point of view.
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Hawkeye411 said:
Dear Google,

Please save us from Apple Maps and submit your Google Maps app A.S.A.P.

Signed,
Lost in an Infinite Loop.
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tech4all said:
So you like seeing broken images and running into random things with Apple Maps huh? Whatever floats your boat. Course Apple Maps might sink your boat into an ice burg.
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krigsmakten said:
Please tell me what you're smoking - Apple Maps is so dysfunctional that I fish out my old 3GS (that still has the old Google Maps app) when I need to find something. The old one works like a charm.
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Mark Booth said:
I'm still on iOS 5 and I have no plans to upgrade for the foreseeable future. I have my doubts that Apple's maps will EVER get to a level of sophistication and accuracy that matches Google's Maps data. Why? Because Google is a moving target. As Apple improves, so will Google. And since this is one of Google's areas of expertise, its map data is simply the best "tool" for the job.

Apple would probably save a lot of money by abandoning its whole reinvent-the-wheel maps folly and simply work out an agreement with Google.

Mark
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MH01 said:
Turn by turn is getting a bit advanced, the basics is where is fails.... the MAP. You can have the worlds best turn by turn navigation, without the map data its useless.
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theluggage said:
As several other people have already pointed out to deaf ears, the old Maps app was written by Apple (using Google's data), not Google. I don't recall any features ever being "removed". Yes, Google refused to license the turn-by-turn data but if you read beyond the headline you'll see that was largely because Apple refused to allow them in-app branding and 'Latitude' social networking (hint: Google doesn't make money by just giving away free maps).
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Konrad9 said:
Yeah, why would you want what is unequivicably the best apps out there for maps, and one of the best navigation apps out there?
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Do any of you actually have any statistical evidence to support that claim? Because it doesn't appear that Apple Maps is *actually* any worse than Google Maps was.

http://blog.tabini.ca/2012/09/old-maps-vs-new-maps/

tl;dr version: Google Maps is more likely to return a result (*any* result) for a search, but those results are *less* likely to be accurate than the results returned by Apple Maps. (At least for Ontario, Canada.) If anyone else has seen any other analysis other than "Hey this web site says Apple Maps sucks!", let me know.
 
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The Phazer said:
It's not showing. Maps is still an embarrassing disaster.
Maybe Cue's time would be better spent trying to stop Game Center from falling apart under the stress of Letterpress' popularity.

Please save us Google. I appreciate the need for proper testing (unlike Apple with Maps and Podcasts), but my phone is heavily damaged by this rubbish :-(
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Apple maps and navigation work perfectly for me. I'm perfectly content.
 
Siri/Apple/Google - same problem for me

With all this fancy-schmantzy integration of Siri and "amazing turn-by-turn" directions. I have yet to experience the simplicity of asking Siri:

"Where is the intersection of Menaul and Candelaria?"

It spells it right, but always comes up with some non-sensical location. Is there any map app on the market that I can look up a !@#$ INTERSECTION!?

...Sorry... It just bugs me when someone says they're near x and y, and I don't have an address, it SHOULD route me there, but can't...
 
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