Hands-On With Apple's Redesigned Maps App in iOS 10

[cmichaelb]

When they first released Apple Maps - the really disasterous release which nearly caused me to miss my daughters graduation by sending me to the wrong street initially - they removed Google maps from the app store

Since Google was the default map software on the iPhone, I didn't think there was a standalone version until Google released June after Apple Maps was released and became the default? Maybe I'm remembering wrong.
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I've not had the issues others appear to have with Apple Maps - maybe if I do I'll look elsewhere.

That said I generally have a rough idea how to get to most places in the UK, so only use Maps for finding locations in the last few miles.

I've had a few rural - and I mean RURAL areas where it took me to the property but didn't have the access drive in the right spot- and that was during the beta and soon after release, since then - nothing.

I've actually had more issues with Google Maps.
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And did you report this supposed fact, the nonexistence of your road, to Apple?
Or do you have thousands of calories of energy to burn on bitching, but not one calorie on solving the problem?

I've reported multiple Maps issues to Apple and they've all eventually been resolved.
(Except two, which Google also doesn't handle:
- locations of official mail boxes (ie places where one can drop off mail)
- decent walking directions. Walking directions need to be very different from driving directions because of issues like you can walk on both sides of a road, and traffic lights handle pedestrians differently from cars. Both companies right now serve up thinly modified car directions, and they could do a lot better.
)
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Actually it is (IMHO) a big deal, in that you simply don't think of it. The job of a computer is to conform to human behaviors and expectations, not vice versa. Apple is seriously screwing up with this one.

(And I don't know what their problem is. You have the same problem with St John Knits. Good luck trying to find one of their stores.
St John Knits gives you one thing, Saint John Knits gives you something else, St. John Knits gives you a third thing, you have to enter some variant of that now as St. John OUTLET to get the shop at the outlet malls, and a different variant (St John APPAREL) to get yet other stores. It's all stupid beyond belief.

Google shouldn't get too cocky. They're slightly (but only very slightly) better. Both companies are doing a truly lousy job of clustering an aggregate of name variants down to a single canonical name (and its manifestations as different stores).
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BS. This never happened.

Apple released iPhone Maps based Apple's data rather than Google's, with iOS 6 in Sept 2012 (announced June 2012). Google released Google Maps as a separate app in Dec 2012. There was no point at which Apple prevented Google Maps from existing in the app store.

But go ahead and believe that if you like. It seems to be a human trait to want to pretend that you are horribly persecuted regardless of your actual life situation...

Okay, thanks for explaining. I can see how that can cause some issues.

 

[Loco Emperor]

Nope its because people are lazy and don't want to bother looking in the App store for a better app that can't integrate with iOS due to Apples rules

Oh and my road still isn't on it even though I've lived there over 10 years

your logic makes zero sense...people are lazy? yet they have no issues going into the app store to download whatever app they so choose? Right...no logic and no basis.

I use Apple maps and it works great 99 percent of the time. I tried here(I prefer it on WP) but it wasn't google and I want nothing google on my phone outside youtube

 

[Col4bin]

Who would argue Apple maps stacking up against Google maps? But history is important. because it seems people here either forgot or don't know that Google maps was the default map on iOS. But Google withheld navigation, forcing Apple to come up with their own solution. Instead of arguing which is best (Google) why not ask this: If Google Maps had turn by turn navigation on iOS since its launch, would Apple even need to create their own? The answer would be... No.

The whole point is mostly everyone on this thread is arguing which is the better GPS option; Apple Maps vs Google Maps vs Waze vs etc. The history behind it all is an interesting anecdotal story, but irrelevant noise nonetheless.

 

[Altis]

It'd be really nice if the roads and background weren't nearly the exact same color. It's actually quite hard to see at a glance.

 

[chasemac]

I'll never use Apple maps again. It's not safe and I don't trust it.

 

[happosai]

Feels like Waze...

 

[iPadPublisher]

While the redesign seems nice, and the newer features do add some wanted functionality... my biggest gripes with Maps are mostly under the hood and database issues. Bad addresses for Points of Interest, weird directions (recently took me on an incredible 3 mile loop just to place me back where I was at). Things like that. I realize that Maps is many years younger than Google Maps, so I get some of this... but at the same time Apple Maps is now a few years old itself, and I'd love to see some of this clunky stuff finally corrected.

On a happy note... there have been a few times I noted something wasn't where it should be on the maps, or some roads were not labeled properly... and in those cases that I remembered to submit that information to Apple, it did actually get updated in the app within a few weeks. So that's good.

My biggest gripe though, and this is with all mapping apps that I know if, is what happens when you're in an area with NO cell coverage or WiFi. It would be nice if you could choose to store a certain amount of mapping data offline on your phone, so in those cases you can still see where you're going. It hasn't happened to me often, but it has happened twice where I was driving a route... but the signal got scarce and the map didn't update... so my screen was just showing the grid as I drove. One of those was an extended middle-of-nowhere event, and at that point if I'd wanted to detour or explore around, I'd have been flying blind. Maybe choosing to store your metro, state, or a larger region wouldn't be so bad?

 

[iOSFangirl6001]

Nice job getting it started.

To be fair someone had to I guess that guy just decided to be the 1st

what I really like, and Apple Maps doesn't have, is Satellite view as you can see points of reference. I guess Apple would have to be out photographically documenting, which would take some time.

"traffic information en route" - I can't believe that Apple Maps doesn't have this. I just took a trip through several states in the US and it was a pain to keep exiting the turn-by-turn navigation just to see current traffic conditions, then resume turn-by-turn...

I guess a logo or marketing phrase ( parody ) for this could be
"Apple we just aren't that dedicated yet to being the next Google "

 

[akash.nu]

still not better than Google maps

How are you comparing it?

 

[digger10]

While the redesign seems nice, and the newer features do add some wanted functionality... my biggest gripes with Maps are mostly under the hood and database issues. Bad addresses for Points of Interest, weird directions (recently took me on an incredible 3 mile loop just to place me back where I was at). Things like that. I realize that Maps is many years younger than Google Maps, so I get some of this... but at the same time Apple Maps is now a few years old itself, and I'd love to see some of this clunky stuff finally corrected.

On a happy note... there have been a few times I noted something wasn't where it should be on the maps, or some roads were not labeled properly... and in those cases that I remembered to submit that information to Apple, it did actually get updated in the app within a few weeks. So that's good.

My biggest gripe though, and this is with all mapping apps that I know if, is what happens when you're in an area with NO cell coverage or WiFi. It would be nice if you could choose to store a certain amount of mapping data offline on your phone, so in those cases you can still see where you're going. It hasn't happened to me often, but it has happened twice where I was driving a route... but the signal got scarce and the map didn't update... so my screen was just showing the grid as I drove. One of those was an extended middle-of-nowhere event, and at that point if I'd wanted to detour or explore around, I'd have been flying blind. Maybe choosing to store your metro, state, or a larger region wouldn't be so bad?

Re your gripe, one can do offline mapping in Google Maps. Good sized areas too (click link).

http://i.imgur.com/cHkXRRc.png

 

[sofila]

I've been through all the whole Maps threads and can count on my fingers users being happy with the chance of actually having choices. It doesn't matter where the service comes from as long as it's useful for your personal needs. Needs and habits and locations obviously similar or different to those of many others.
Instead of giving advice to others for a better consumption (this does this, this does that) the race here is bashing.
I use 4 gps helps depending on the situation, being Waze the best for local traffic, CityMapper in my area for public transport works well, Google mostly in places I don't know, and Apple as a back-up.
Anyway if my need is an important meeting, both personal or for work, I always check both the maps just to find me ready whatever it happens

 

[Ketsjap]

I was a big Waze user in the beginning but it have gotten so bad, the only thing I would it for now is police ahead notices… but I don't break the speed laws anymore, so basically Waze is useless. Glad Apple didn't buy them. They have nothing special to offer, Apple maps warns of traffic jams ahead and offer alternate routes with minutes saved. Pretty sweet.

But does Apple Maps do this while you are driving as well?

It's the 'dynamic rerouting' that Waze does so well (and that Google also incorporated some time ago) that was sorely lacking in Apple maps.

I never had Apple maps telling me, while driving: 'a traffic jam suddenly appeared, here's another, faster alternative.'

Has this changed?

 

[baryon]

How exactly does it know that you parked your car? I assume it looks at how fast you're moving, but I doubt that would be accurate - what if you're in a traffic jam and you're moving slowly anyway before parking?

It would be a useful feature but I'm more curious about how they implemented this without you having to press a button when you parked your car (which you'll forget every time it matters).

 

[vikingjunior]

But does Apple Maps do this while you are driving as well?

It's the 'dynamic rerouting' that Waze does so well (and that Google also incorporated some time ago) that was sorely lacking in Apple maps.

I never had Apple maps telling me, while driving: 'a traffic jam suddenly appeared, here's another, faster alternative.'

Has this changed?

Yes, especially living in NYC it asks me quite often if I want to save X amount of minutes and I either hit the big GO button on top or not. Apple has gotten much better with rerouting. WAZE may be a smidgen better but then again it will take you around the world to save 2 minutes.

What I would love to see on Apple is the ability to take a photo at your destinations and upload it for other users. WAZE has this and it's nice to look at a photo of you destination beforehand. Google has photos also but their not user generated.

Besides that give us BIG buttons, sure we're not suppose to be playing with device while driving but many of us do and it would be safer if we weren't fumbling with tiny buttons.

 

[sofila]

How exactly does it know that you parked your car? I assume it looks at how fast you're moving, but I doubt that would be accurate - what if you're in a traffic jam and you're moving slowly anyway before parking?

It would be a useful feature but I'm more curious about how they implemented this without you having to press a button when you parked your car (which you'll forget every time it matters).

The phone sensors capture your different body movements, gyroscope and accelerometers detect your change of position (sitting and driving / walking away from the car)
Even the very basic Google "Fit" app on a low range smartphone detects if you're standing or walking or running or cycling

 

[actinide]

If you live in the US, then apple maps is a great tool; it has its flaws, but it does get the job done. But lets be honest using it elsewhere in the world, that is one frustration after the other. Google maps is way ahead.

 

[MH01]

Siri intelligence : we mine your data and track you and your possession, like your car.....
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Here come the Apple Maps suck/I use Google Maps comments...

Guess what? Software improves, it's not 2012 anymore.

So what's the logic there?

In 2012 Google maps was awesome and it's even better in 2016.

Are you suggesting apple have caught up to Google in 4 years going from awful launch to superior? Do tell ;

 

[organic bond]

If you live in the US, then apple maps is a great tool; it has its flaws, but it does get the job done. But lets be honest using it elsewhere in the world, that is one frustration after the other. Google maps is way ahead.

Exactly, way ahead, no game. I don't live in the US and never use Maps. I tried, but no thanks, pure frustration.

BTW, Maps still spells Indonesian names the wrong way. For example, Jakarta is spelled Djakarta. This spelling was Dutch and is now obsolete, in fact it was abolished in 1945. Perhaps someone could tell Apple that the Dutch colonialism is over. Of course Google spells Indonesian names correctly.

 

[Nicksd84]

The best map combo will always be Apple UI + Google back end. Unfortunate we won't ever get it back.

 

[A MacBook lover]

Also don't forget that with C3 technologies Apple has been mapping our world both from the sky and from vans.

While google has 2D streetview, Apple is 3D mapping everything and creating a virtual world which could later integrate with Apple car.

 

[anomie]

Not sure why Apple still tries to make Apple maps a thing... I only use it because CarPlay doesn't support google maps

Boy, how about you keep doing that and **** in the meantime?

 

[dk001]

Very strange results you have there. I did a search for "Hospital" from LA and got much better results.

View attachment 638617

Do you have Siri active?
I took a iPad Mini 4 we use at home as a portable TWC/Netflix.
Added the Google Maps app.
Opened Apple Maps and selected Okay when asked about locations.
Went into Apple Maps and typed "hospital". Then I went into Google Maps and typed "hospital".

Not only relevancy, accuracy, but also additional information.

I asked about Siri as a fellow coworker (iPhone 6+) did the same on his device and his mapped looked similar to yours. He is a Siri user. Now mind you, Apple Maps when I play with it does this "general non-location" result infrequently. It does it enough I have found that I cannot trust the results implicitly.

btw: I queried in the map apps and screenshot the results. No scrolling, no zooming, etc...
If I take my Apple Map SS and zoom into LA, I can get exactly what you are displaying. My question is why does AM at times default to a regional view instead of a "My Location" view.

ME YEMV.

 

[nightcap965]

I don't insist that Apple Maps be as good as Google Maps. All I want is for Apple Maps to acknowledge my multiple emails and error reports and correct its location of my home. It's not like I live in the back of beyond. Google Maps pinpoints me to within about 10 feet. Apple Maps is off by over 200 yards. There's an Airport Extreme in my living room. Apple knows exactly where I am, it just gives me the address of a building half a mile away. What's the use of accepting corrections if you never, ever act on them?

 

[dukebound85]

finally, avoiding tool roads. Way to be apple.......6 years later

 

[Precision Gem]

Do most of you use your cell phone as navigation in car? I find that either a Garmin navigation or the one built in on my BMW Z4 much nicer and safer to use in the car. I would only consider using the phone if I rented a car an forgot to bring the Garmin. Trying hold the phone and us a touch screen is not really a safe way to drive, and I wonder if you get get a ticket doing this, as the police would think you are either talking on the phone or texting, both of which are illegal in my state.
On the Z4, the navigation is a much bigger screen, out by the windshield where you can keep your eyes on the road, plus the control to zoom the map is on the arm rest where you hand naturally rests on it.