iOS 13 'Look Around' Maps Feature Expands to Los Angeles and New York City

[MozMan68]

No... that’s not what that means. Apple Maps is much better than Google in mapping detail, actual navigation prompts, and navigation UI visuals.

As others mentioned traffic is much better in iOS 13 since they are real-time crowdsourcing traffic data from every iPhone currently on the road. Apparently Look Around data will be used to build out in-house data points in the future.

I agree in the sense that I “prefer” Apple Maps to others, but Google and Waze also utilize crowd sourced data for traffic and in the case of Google, they utilize an algorithm based on data history to predict traffic patterns when the crowdsourced data is not there.

At the end of the day, it comes down to what people prefer and from a UI perspective, Apple beats all others hand down for me. I HATE the Google UI, including the satellite view. Others say they use it just for that option.

 

[Alan Gordon]

Plus the amazing new look around feature that's definitely much better than street view currently only works in 4.5 cities around the world.

I knew you'd think it was amazing after you tried it out!

I take it you have actually tried it out, haven't you? You're not calling it amazing sarcastically, without having tried it out yet, are you?

 

[Khedron]

I knew you'd think it was amazing after you tried it out!

I take it you have actually tried it out, haven't you? You're not calling it amazing sarcastically, without having tried it out yet, are you?

Maps aren't a theoretical exercise. I've actually travelled all around the world for a decade with Google maps. Unless I visit one of the literal handful of cities Apple supports then it's just a worthless tech demo.

 

[sidewinder3000]

The new Maps data is scheduled to be rolled out to the U.S. by the end of the year, and rolling out to other countries next year.

There has been no announcements for when Look Around will be available nationwide in the U.S., but I wouldn’t expect it by the end of the year.

Why? From what I’ve seen, Look Around seems to be working in many of the areas where the new Maps data has been rolled out. is this not the case? Are there a lot of areas with the new Maps data that don’t have LookAround functionality?

 

[bigchrisfgb]

Yup. It’s very impressive, but it’s going to take decades to catch up with street view at the current rate.

Street view was launched in 2007, and was pretty much mature by 2010. Apple has been surveying streets in 1st world countries for years now. What makes people think Google can do it in 3 years but Apple will take at least 20, especially when they already have a large portion of the data?

 

[Khedron]

Street view was launched in 2007, and was pretty much mature by 2010. Apple has been surveying streets in 1st world countries for years now. What makes people think Google can do it in 3 years but Apple will take at least 20, especially when they already have a large portion of the data?

Apple Maps was launched in 2013. What makes you think they can do 5 cities in 6 years but have most of the world done after another few?

 

[MozMan68]

Apple Maps was launched in 2013. What makes you think they can do 5 cities in 6 years but have most of the world done after another few?

Yeah...because that’s how it works...stop trolling.

 

[Khedron]

Yeah...because that’s how it works...stop trolling.

Stop defending. These post-AirPower days you can't trust Apple to deliver something until it's actually in your hands.

 

[MozMan68]

Stop defending. These post-AirPower days you can't trust Apple to deliver something until it's actually in your hands.

“Wow...Apple only launched its owned data mapping one year ago and will have the whole US covered by the end of this year with Look Around available in almost all major cities.

It took Google 5 years to do that...and that’s just with crappy pictures versus Apple’s 3D smooth Look Around!”

See how easy that is to do.

 

[Khedron]

“Wow...Apple only launched its owned data mapping one year ago and will have the whole US covered by the end of this year with Look Around available in almost all major cities.

It took Google 5 years to do that...and that’s just with crappy pictures versus Apple’s 3D smooth Look Around!”

See how easy that is to do.

Good news for people who live in some major U.S. cities in the future I guess. Reality: Google Maps is usable almost everywhere right now.

BTW can someone actually explain why look around is supposedly better than street view? The only thing I noticed was the images were nicer. I had to do a test with a random street in New York because of course look around is useless for 99.995% of the world.

 

[MozMan68]

It’s based on Lidar and is 3D representation versus Google’s “pictures”....more seamless than Google while using....clearer image....images are newer...it’s an integrated part of the mapping and not a separate “street view” application...Apple’s technology reads street signs, store signs, store hours. Etc for more accurate updates, Apple tech lets the user access images from multiple parts on the road/highway lane/etc for a more accurate representation of what you will experience (should tie well to future automated driving experience)....more???

Quoting myself from just above which also indicates you are just trolling since you didn't even read the thread...just came in here to tell us how great Google is and how much coverage they have since we are idiots and didn't know that already...being first at something rarely means you are best at it. As Apple has proven over and over again, vastly improving on good ideas is what they excel at.

 

[Khedron]

What is the "separate street view application" supposed to mean. Street view is a toggle inside Google Maps just the same as Look Around is in Apple Maps.

Google already has information like store hours.

And Google Maps is available from any browser or phone, not restricted to Apple OSs just so they can track you. I especially don't appreciate how I have to remove my home and work addresses from my Contacts app just to stop Apple Maps broadcasting it to everyone on the main Map screen.

 

[Alan Gordon]

Why? From what I’ve seen, Look Around seems to be working in many of the areas where the new Maps data has been rolled out. is this not the case? Are there a lot of areas with the new Maps data that don’t have LookAround functionality?

Apple Maps has new Maps data in all or some of 20+ states either publicly available, or in limited release.

Look Around is available in 4 metro areas, and one island.

 

[Khedron]

Apple Maps has new Maps data in all or some of 20+ states either publicly available, or in limited release.

Look Around is available in 4 metro areas, and one island.

Which is pathetic for a mapping app even for people who live in the U.S., let alone those of us in Europe and travelling around the world for work.

The only problem I've ever had with Google Maps is in some locations you can't pre-download maps for offline use. With Apple Maps the data doesn't even exist in the first place for most cases. Useless.

Also, Apple has started with places like New York and L.A. Are these honestly difficult places to navigate? Were people struggling to locate Times Square or Hollywood before Apple, Inc. came to the rescue in late 2019?

 

[Alan Gordon]

Maps aren't a theoretical exercise. I've actually travelled all around the world for a decade with Google maps. Unless I visit one of the literal handful of cities Apple supports then it's just a worthless tech demo.

Congratulations on having travelled all around the world, and I'm happy Google Maps has treated you well.

I haven't travelled the world. I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and I use both Apple Maps and Google Maps, and have spent years adding and editing information to both in order for them to be more accurate.

Currently, Google has things for my area like building outlines and Street View, which Apple does not. They are going to have building outlines for my area before the end of the year, but Look Around is probably a ways off. The information is mostly a wash... some information on Google is incorrect, and I can't get it changed, and the same is true of Apple.

I have friends who live and work within one of the Look Around areas though, and I have enjoyed testing Look Around at multiple famous locations, so to me it's a little more than a "worthless tech demo", but even if that wasn't the case, I could still manage to get a good idea of what the service will be like when it hits my area.

Good news for people who live in some major U.S. cities in the future I guess. Reality: Google Maps is usable almost everywhere right now.

Good news for everyone in the future I guess, but yes, Google Maps is usable for almost everyone right now, which is one of the reasons why I still use Google Maps Street View.

In the future, when Apple does offer Look Around here, it'll primarily be where I go, but I'll still probably use both.

BTW can someone actually explain why look around is supposedly better than street view? The only thing I noticed was the images were nicer. I had to do a test with a random street in New York because of course look around is useless for 99.995% of the world.

Glad you finally tried out the "worthless tech demo". The images are indeed one of the reasons why I think it's better than Street View. I'm sure Google will probably work to improve their image quality in the future as well to provide a better experience for Street View.

Google already has information like store hours.

So does Apple if the information is available to them.

And Google Maps is available from any browser or phone, not restricted to Apple OSs just so they can track you. I especially don't appreciate how I have to remove my home and work addresses from my Contacts app just to stop Apple Maps broadcasting it to everyone on the main Map screen.

I'm not a spy or anything, so I honestly don't care if Apple or Google track my location. In fact, if it helps them provide better data, I'm happy to let them. However, I hate to break it to you, but Google isn't exactly known for their privacy beliefs.

 

[Khedron]

Congratulations on having travelled all around the world, and I'm happy Google Maps has treated you well.

I haven't travelled the world. I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and I use both Apple Maps and Google Maps, and have spent years adding and editing information to both in order for them to be more accurate.

Currently, Google has things for my area like building outlines and Street View, which Apple does not. They are going to have building outlines for my area before the end of the year, but Look Around is probably a ways off. The information is mostly a wash... some information on Google is incorrect, and I can't get it changed, and the same is true of Apple.

I have friends who live and work within one of the Look Around areas though, and I have enjoyed testing Look Around at multiple famous locations, so to me it's a little more than a "worthless tech demo", but even if that wasn't the case, I could still manage to get a good idea of what the service will be like when it hits my area.



Good news for everyone in the future I guess, but yes, Google Maps is usable for almost everyone right now, which is one of the reasons why I still use Google Maps Street View.

In the future, when Apple does offer Look Around here, it'll primarily be where I go, but I'll still probably use both.



Glad you finally tried out the "worthless tech demo". The images are indeed one of the reasons why I think it's better than Street View. I'm sure Google will probably work to improve their image quality in the future as well to provide a better experience for Street View.



So does Apple if the information is available to them.



I'm not a spy or anything, so I honestly don't care if Apple or Google track my location. In fact, if it helps them provide better data, I'm happy to let them. However, I hate to break it to you, but Google isn't exactly known for their privacy beliefs.

I hope Apple gets better so that the competition will improve one or both services.

Apple isn't known for its privacy beliefs either, Tim just lies about it more. I'll trust Apple with my location when they finally stop openly tracking children in apps and passing Siri information to contractors without opt-out.

Apple makes a big deal in the "About location services" about how location data is end to end encrypted. That means precisely zero when Apple has control of the OS on one end and the servers on the other end.

Apple admit in their legal documents that they will track and profile you. The only thing they promise is not to give the data to other companies, but they'll use it for their own commercial benefit.

 

[Alan Gordon]

Which is pathetic for a mapping app even for people who live in the U.S., let alone those of us in Europe and travelling around the world for work.

Apple will have the entire U.S. covered with new Maps data by the end of the year, and they're in the process of collecting data for Canada and Europe, which will most likely have new Maps data next year. They're also in the process of collecting updated data for the U.S.

Look Around will probably be coming at a slower pace, and it'll probably start with major metro areas.

Also, Apple has started with places like New York and L.A. Are these honestly difficult places to navigate? Were people struggling to locate Times Square or Hollywood before Apple, Inc. came to the rescue in late 2019?

Los Angeles and New York City are the two most populated cities in the U.S., as well as two of the biggest in regards to tourism. Two of the other places Look Around is available are also very big tourist locations. All three really, but Las Vegas and Hawaii are probably more known as tourist destinations than the California Bay Area, which made sense as a testing ground for Apple since it's their home turf.
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I hope Apple gets better so that the competition will improve one or both services.

On this we agree. Competition is good!

Apple isn't known for its privacy beliefs either, Tim just lies about it more. I'll trust Apple with my location when they finally stop openly tracking children in apps and passing Siri information to contractors without opt-out.

Apple makes a big deal in the "About location services" about how location data is end to end encrypted. That means precisely zero when Apple has control of the OS on one end and the servers on the other end.

Apple admit in their legal documents that they will track and profile you. The only thing they promise is not to give the data to other companies, but they'll use it for their own commercial benefit.

It's not that I believe Apple is 100% altruistic. They're not. But neither is Google.

 

[I7guy]

....

Apple isn't known for its privacy beliefs either, Tim just lies about it more. I'll trust Apple with my location when they finally stop openly tracking children in apps and passing Siri information to contractors without opt-out.

Tim is not lying, you are spinning the truth. There’s a difference. I trust Apple with my location data and how the hell is Apple supposed to know the age of iPhone user? What balderdash.

Apple makes a big deal in the "About location services" about how location data is end to end encrypted. That means precisely zero when Apple has control of the OS on one end and the servers on the other end.

Means precisely zero to you, but to me it means I can trust Apple treats my data accordingly and the location data can not be hacked.

Apple admit in their legal documents that they will track and profile you. The only thing they promise is not to give the data to other companies, but they'll use it for their own commercial benefit.

Yes they do, but a certain amount of customer data is needed to make interacting with Apple work. And Apple won’t stop that. I have no problem with Apple using my data to alert me to new sales opportunities.[/QUOTE]

 

[I7guy]

What is the "separate street view application" supposed to mean. Street view is a toggle inside Google Maps just the same as Look Around is in Apple Maps.

Google already has information like store hours.

And Google Maps is available from any browser or phone, not restricted to Apple OSs just so they can track you. I especially don't appreciate how I have to remove my home and work addresses from my Contacts app just to stop Apple Maps broadcasting it to everyone on the main Map screen.

Google maps tracks you and saves the results.

I dont know your situation but the crowd that sees me Apple maps are friendlies. I guess a use case is if one has a livery service or similar one wouldn’t want their home address in maps.

 

[sidewinder3000]

Apple Maps has new Maps data in all or some of 20+ states either publicly available, or in limited release.

Look Around is available in 4 metro areas, and one island.

Just a guess, but I’m betting Look Around is almost everywhere in the US by mid 2020

 

[tennisproha]

Maps aren't a theoretical exercise. I've actually travelled all around the world for a decade with Google maps. Unless I visit one of the literal handful of cities Apple supports then it's just a worthless tech demo.

Google Maps is about 15 years old. Apple Maps is about 7 years old and around 90% comparable.