iOS 9's Upcoming Transit Addition to Maps May Be Limited in Scope at Launch

[flat five]

I'd really like to know how they select their "selected cities." Tokyo has one of the biggest -if not the biggest- public and private transport system in the world and yet it's not included as a "selected city." Japan is also the market where iOS enjoys the biggest market share.
I guess we'll continue using Google which somehow has had fully working maps and transit information for years.

maybe (hopefully) it's because the new maps will offer more beyond routes and schedules as seen in google maps.

the mta knows exactly where all of their vehicles are at all times.. apple couldn't gather this data on their own so they must work in conjunction with local agencies to get better information for their app.. which (probably) isn't anywhere near being as easy as providing non-real-time dumb maps.

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You're drawn to the looks of it? Really? Not the reliable transit directions, via walking, driving, subway, bus, etc? Not the superior functionality? The look of the app is certainly a personal choice, but as someone who has driven nearly the entire North American continent via the assistance of Google Maps without ever facing wrong directions (whether I'm in NYC or a super rural town in Saskatchewan), I'll gladly take Google Maps. Besides, since I'm driving or walking with headphones, it's actually the SOUND that is most important.

but you're still dealing with apple maps sometimes too.. from a user pov, it'd be better to have just one maps app that does everything well..

like, if someone texts you a pin, what does it open in?
to me, i'd rather it all open in one application..as well as seamlessly move in/out of osx.

 

[citysnaps]

why is everything Apple does ... "not ready" or "delayed" or "production problems" or "supply constraints"

this is software ... they aren't building a time machine. Hire more software engineers!

It's much more than just "software." All companies, no matter what size, have resource constraints. Apple is no exception.

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Totally sick of Apple releasing new software features which are only available in the US and/or very select areas. They're a huge international brand, they just shouldn't release these features until they can do a much wider launch. Still no sign of Apple Pay in Europe or anywhere else. Don't get me started on iTunes Radio!

Buy a Dell and be thrilled?

 

[2010mini]

This is slowly getting quite annoying. Here in the UK we pay a premium for our apple products compared to US and some EU prices, and we don't always get all the features we pay for?

I know just how you feel....

Here I am in the U.S. I spend my hard earned money to get an iPhone only to find my Apple maps is laughingly subpar to Apple maps in China!

 

[crisss1205]

I hope northern suburbs of NYC get it. I'm somewhat connected to their transit system. If not, I'll just continue using the Transit app and Google Maps.

Thats why I fell like New York is a unique situation since there are several connecting transit authorities. You have Subways, buses, the LIRR, Metro North, NJ Transit and PATH. And all are actually in NYC.

 

[dannyyankou]

Thats why I fell like New York is a unique situation since there are several connecting transit authorities. You have Subways, buses, the LIRR, Metro North, NJ Transit and PATH. And all are actually in NYC.

Yeah, I live in Westchester and the Bee-line system is connected to the Bronx. Hope that counts as a NYC transit system.

 

[a0me]

Totally sick of Apple releasing new software features which are only available in the US and/or very select areas. They're a huge international brand, they just shouldn't release these features until they can do a much wider launch. Still no sign of Apple Pay in Europe or anywhere else. Don't get me started on iTunes Radio!

To be fair, I can't think of any other company that is able to release products/services globally reasonably soon after the US release.

 

[-BigMac-]

They better be quickly integrating other cities without needing to present it in an upcoming keynote.

And they also better be integrating Montreal and the surroundings.

or what bruh

 

[Cityboy89]

Australia will be nice

 

[nickhutson]

They should just buy CityMapper and be done with it. THEE best public transport app out there. Lord knows how they make money!

 

[n-evo]

It shouldn't be a problem for Apple to incorporate public transit directions in the Netherlands. More than enough third-party apps out there that already give me up-to-date departure times of trains, metros, trams, busses and ferries in all cities and even show me the exact location of individual vehicles. Doubtful Apple will ever incorporate something as powerful as this:

 

[peterdevries]

An 64GB iPhone 6 costs 799 euros in the Netherlands Apple store. The sales tax in Amsterdam is somewhere around 21%, based on a quick search, and I'm pretty sure VAT is included in the advertised price, so the phone is 631 euros before tax, or about 686 USD.

An unlocked 64GB iPhone 6 costs 749 USD in the US Apple store, before tax.

Am I doing the math wrong somewhere?

No, but you are assuming that I bought that iPhone and I bought it today. I bought my 128GB iPhone somewhere in November last year and paid anout 75 euros more than an American in NYC would have done when leaving out all sales or VAT tax.

I have no problem with that at all. However people keep reminding us how difficult the licensing etc situations are when there are ample examples of other companies that managed to make the necessary arrangements. Examples are Spotify, while we are still waiting for iTunes Radio, and Android which had transit notifications years ago.

It's true that for some services it might be much more complicated such as Apple Pay to roll out globally, but I absolutely do not understand why the difference between introduction in the US and other markets such as Netherlands, Denmark etc. in some cases needs to be more than 5 years.

 

[Woyzeck]

Better to have a slow rollout (for software) than to have another situation like the original apple maps rollout.

The point is that there are some Apple products that we pay for but who's rollout never happens at all here in Europe.

 

[darabo]

maybe (hopefully) it's because the new maps will offer more beyond routes and schedules as seen in google maps.

the mta knows exactly where all of their vehicles are at all times.. apple couldn't gather this data on their own so they must work in conjunction with local agencies to get better information for their app.. which (probably) isn't anywhere near being as easy as providing non-real-time dumb maps.

To be fair the Tokyo metro system has the same features and it's easily the most accurate in the world, bar none. Unlike MUNI in San Francisco...

 

[littyboy]

You're drawn to the looks of it? Really? Not the reliable transit directions, via walking, driving, subway, bus, etc? Not the superior functionality? The look of the app is certainly a personal choice, but as someone who has driven nearly the entire North American continent via the assistance of Google Maps without ever facing wrong directions (whether I'm in NYC or a super rural town in Saskatchewan), I'll gladly take Google Maps. Besides, since I'm driving or walking with headphones, it's actually the SOUND that is most important.

Should just leave that guy alone. You can tell he's a total idiot for judging an app by the "looks" and not by the usability or reliability. Some apple fanboys just cannot accept other things.

 

[Maxwill]

I don't really care about the first release cities/countries, speaking of Apple Pay, I don't think it goes well in the competition with Alipay. So let's just wait and see...

 

[attila]

Apple Maps is already limited in scope.

 

[Wanted797]

Didn't Steve Jobs say that Apple isn't always the first to do something because they will only release it if it's right and good product or service.

Seriously if it's not ready, don't ship it.

 

[MacrumoursUser]

Didn't Steve Jobs say that Apple isn't always the first to do something because they will only release it if it's right and good product or service.

Seriously if it's not ready, don't ship it.

Apple Maps is not ready. In Denmark its useless. I tried it a few ties an it sent me on a wild goose chase. I don't like Google, but Google Maps is the only reason i make exception, because it works much better even though it has many problems itself.

 

[Chomp81]

Apple is becoming very LIMITED

Everything Apple is doing nowadays is becoming LIMITED.

I don't understand the need of having a new iOS each year... they could just make improvements to the current version and launch them throughout the year.... and when an iOS is launched, to make it FULL version...

I'm terribly disappointed of how they are managing the iOS....

 

[Ries]

Quality over quantity.

Perfection takes time.

Almost 2 years since apple maps release, still useless where i live. Perfection my ass.

 

[bennibeef]

I really dont get the justification why the international services like transit worldwide is a thing its okay here if apple doesnt get it right.

And I dont believe the stories about regulations, laws etc in other countries.

And lets just speak the countries Apple releases products the same time like France,Germany, UK etc

There is nothing what should stop them to get transit right there. Regulations and laws? Yeah I would say okay for iTunes radio and the supposed TV service but come on, Netflix can stream movies and series in those countries and they have the real pain here with Hollywood and TV Networks with crazy geo licensing worldwide and they get it done with a couple millions funding

 

[numlock]

No, but you are assuming that I bought that iPhone and I bought it today. I bought my 128GB iPhone somewhere in November last year and paid anout 75 euros more than an American in NYC would have done when leaving out all sales or VAT tax.

I have no problem with that at all. However people keep reminding us how difficult the licensing etc situations are when there are ample examples of other companies that managed to make the necessary arrangements. Examples are Spotify, while we are still waiting for iTunes Radio, and Android which had transit notifications years ago.

It's true that for some services it might be much more complicated such as Apple Pay to roll out globally, but I absolutely do not understand why the difference between introduction in the US and other markets such as Netherlands, Denmark etc. in some cases needs to be more than 5 years.

so true.

no itunes radio for me yet (although i wish i could just get rid of it since siri often launches it), no maps directions yet, even the new macbook wont have a localised keyboard so i sure as hell wont expect apple pay or transit from them or a native siri.

would be interesting if someone set up some sort of graph on how much less of a device international users were getting.

 

[rekhyt]

Almost 2 years since apple maps release, still useless where i live. Perfection my ass.

And Google Map's been in business for 10 years now.

Meanwhile, Google's flailing on the hardware front.

 

[Mactendo]

Why do people expect products to be available across the world all at the same time? It's never been that way in history... There's always been a "roll out". And very often there's a pilot first. You start in one corner and spread.

I suppose they could have waited to give the feature to NYC until after every 'burb in Romania was covered, but that would be senseless. Nobody benefits from the delay.

What's interesting now is that they aren't launching in a few US cities, they're launching in a few cities around the globe. It could have been SF, NYC, Chicago, Miami, Boston.

The worlds a big place folks-- gotta start somewhere.

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**sigh**
http://ycharts.com/companies/AAPL/market_cap

Yes, Apple is sinking because they haven't mapped your bus stop yet...

Read better, there're many more issues.

 

[luckydcxx]

It's not that simple. Regulations, suitable data, acquisition laws, manufacturing issues from building something cutting edge... among other issues with new products and doing new business in a new area. Not to mention team integrity and the profit/cost dance they have to do to impress investors...
It's a lot more complicated than just hiring more software engineers.
But oh wait... You know better. My bad.

it doesn't really sound like you know any better then i do with some of these terms that don't apply to a delayed software release.

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Better to have a slow rollout (for software) than to have another situation like the original apple maps rollout.

i would rather them not roll it out at all until it is completely ready.