Maps: iOS 5 vs iOS 6

[el3ktro]

Here are two screenshots that show what I mean. In Google Maps, you can clearly see where there is a built-up area and where not. Also, the street labels are only for really major roads (blue labels for autobahns, green label for European roads and yellow label for county roads). Also it shows the different city districts.

In Apple maps, Cologne doesn't look like a large city at all, it's all the same color. You have no idea where built-up areas are. Also, al street labels have the same colors, no matter if it is an autobahn (all autobahns have blue signs in Germany) or a county road (which always have yellow signage). Also, some really minor roads are labeled for some reason and the smaller inner-city roads are really hard to see on the map.

I an see them, but I'd guess my fatherwho is a little older and needs glasses won't be able to see them at all!

 

[Grolubao]

Here are two screenshots that show what I mean. In Google Maps, you can clearly see where there is a built-up area and where not. Also, the street labels are only for really major roads (blue labels for autobahns, green label for European roads and yellow label for county roads). Also it shows the different city districts.

In Apple maps, Cologne doesn't look like a large city at all, it's all the same color. You have no idea where built-up areas are. Also, al street labels have the same colors, no matter if it is an autobahn (all autobahns have blue signs in Germany) or a county road (which always have yellow signage). Also, some really minor roads are labeled for some reason and the smaller inner-city roads are really hard to see on the map.

I an see them, but I'd guess my fatherwho is a little older and needs glasses won't be able to see them at all!

Amazingly bad indeed...

 

[dissdnt]

Yah I'm pretty worried about this map switch. I'm not digging it so much in the beta.

The only saving grace is that Apple will allow google to make there own iOS app so we can at least choose.

 

[Broph]

Yah I'm pretty worried about this map switch. I'm not digging it so much in the beta.

The only saving grace is that Apple will allow google to make there own iOS app so we can at least choose.

Yeah, but iOS maps will be the default. Things like looking at contact addresses etc / addresses from websites will open up iOS maps.

I highly doubt you'd be able to change the default maps application, since Apple is pushing this hard.

 

[Grolubao]

So much effort from Apple with a crappier maps experience for the end user. They really made an effort in the last keynote to make people believe this was better than google maps

 

[shawnwich]

I've heard a lot of people talk about the issue of how much detail is on the map as you scroll in. I was worried too, but I've found that the details all there, you just have to scroll in a bit more some times - most of the time though, its surprisingly accurate about what it thinks you need to know the name of (streets, parks, restaurants).

I think the biggest detractor for me, so far is the sub-par map imagery. I work with maps for a living and they're pretty terrible as far as mapping solutions go when you compare to google/bing. I've heard somewhere that they're not allowing high-res imagery in the beta yet - has anyone else heard this? If so, I will be very pleased to know that they have better imagery than this.

 

[sakau2007]

the quality of the cartography between apple and google is night and day. arguing otherwise is senseless. we all have eyes. those of us without apple goggles on can see it pretty clearly.

and lol @ people who think that being in beta is an excuse for it being an inferior product. siri is in beta too. can we not complain about it either? i'm comparing google's offerings as of july 13, 2012, to apple's on july 13, 2012. advantage: google. and it isn't a small edge here or there.

the turn by turn may end up being as good or even better on apple... but the maps app as a whole is a joke in comparison. i've already got a navigation unit in my car so i don't find turn by turn to be that compelling (though i do welcome it). the loss of street view isn't even that big of a deal to me... but the overall loss of detail and ease of reading the map is quite stark.

 

[dba415]

let's stop beating around the bush here guys.

Apple Maps is a DISASTER.

Apple needs to pay Google what it wants or realize that Google is the best in the business and Apple users demand the best services available.

 

[MozMan68]

Hmmmmm....I don't seem to have Apple Maps on my iPhone, only Google Maps.....

Oh...that's right...Apple Maps isn't even out yet....I guess I can't fairly compare the two yet...

 

[KdParker]

Hopefully Apple maps will get better in upcoming releases.

At this point google maps is better than apple's version.

----------

Hopefully Apple maps will get better in upcoming releases.

At this point google maps is better than apple's version.

Also...hope apple can do something with the real time traffic stats.

 

[Sh4wN]

Do you know what I always think when I see posts and threads like this? I think: "What the **** guys, this is a f*ckin' beta."

So here it is: What the ****? iOS 6 is beta. The changelog even says that high res satellite imagery is not integrated yet and will be provided later. Beta 2 has already shown immense progress in terms of labeling and map accuracy and there will be at least 2 or 3 betas more.

 

[SMIDG3T]

Every opinion is voided until we see the final product. Let's compare them when it's actually released.

 

[el3ktro]

Do you know what I always think when I see posts and threads like this? I think: "What the **** guys, this is a f*ckin' beta."

We all know that it's a beta. But that doesn't mean that we can't speak out what we dislike with the current state of the product, or does it?

 

[Sh4wN]

let's stop beating around the bush here guys.

Apple Maps is a DISASTER.

Apple needs to pay Google what it wants or realize that Google is the best in the business and Apple users demand the best services available.

This is not speaking out about "what you dislike" (about a beta product, lulz ).

This is condemning a product that won't be released for at least 2 months and has made tremendous progress in only 1 beta update.

Constructive criticism should go directly to Apple via Bug/Feature reports but reviewing an application that is not nearly done and then bitching about it on a public forum...

 

[yliu]

I will be really missing the transits on google maps. I use a lot of public transport and with the iOS5 maps app was very useful to me.

Since I don't live in the US or any major city. I don't expect Apple's map service to be very useful to me.

 

[TheRainKing]

I am very worried about this new map service as well. It might improve over time but right now it looks very poor. Apple should just hold it off until it can properly compete with Google Maps.

 

[32KFJ]

lets see what the new beta will bring us... i'm absolutely sure that apple will NOT throw a unfinished map app on the market. they know that the users won't use their maps but rather google maps...and so they will lose that "map-fight" against google...

 

[Sh4wN]

I will be really missing the transits on google maps. I use a lot of public transport and with the iOS5 maps app was very useful to me.

Since I don't live in the US or any major city. I don't expect Apple's map service to be very useful to me.

I live in Munich and sadly, Google never bothered to implement public transit here... I'm hoping that Apple will come up with a usable implementation of third party apps.

 

[unobtainium]

I was recently in London and ended up having to log into google maps through Safari since Apple maps couldn't tell me how to get from place to place unless I walked or hired a car.

So there's a real world example of how Apple maps is a downgrade in functionality and experience.

 

[chrisu91]

I will be really missing the transits on google maps. I use a lot of public transport and with the iOS5 maps app was very useful to me.

Since I don't live in the US or any major city. I don't expect Apple's map service to be very useful to me.

Subway stations in Toronto were never listed in Apple Maps with beta 1. They have since been added to the map. They are improving as time goes. Report map issues so Apple can correct them. Hopefully everything is great in 3 months when this launches.

 

[MonkeySee....]

So much effort from Apple with a crappier maps experience for the end user. They really made an effort in the last keynote to make people believe this was better than google maps

Are you serious or just trying wind people up?

 

[bterry1]

Personally, I prefer the new one.

--
B Terry
b.terry@gmx.com

 

[Grolubao]

Personally, I prefer the new one.

--
B Terry
b.terry@gmx.com

Seriously? Or are you being ironic?

 

[212rikanmofo]

I'm loving the new Apple Maps. It's progressively getting better as we speak and I really love the overall appearance of the maps. Clean, simple, elegant just like you'd expect from Apple!

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

Although it's still a beta and there are still some things that will hopefully change (i.e. more detail in non-satellite view as has been mentioned above), the big problem for me is the loss of Streetview. Although the 3D view that will hopefully get rolled out over all major cities will be fine as a replacement for about 1 in 10 streetview uses (e.g. looking to see if there's a parking lot), it can't help the rest of the time.

I can understand Apple's desire to move away from Google based services but there's no way they can compete without sending little cars out across the globe snapping 360 photos - something I doubt they'll waste their time and money doing.

In terms of polishing off the maps app as it stands, it needs:

• More colours in the non satellite view denoting buildings etc
• Higher resolution satellite imagery
• Something that actually works as a POI source (Yell is really awful, maybe Bing would be a better non Google source?)
• A plethora of corrections
• A serious increase in 3D cities
• A major performance boost.

I would of course be very surprised if the last three of those aren't addressed by release as they are basic beta issues. The others though I don't expect to be fixed.

My personal impression is that the new Maps app is not meant to be a replacement for Google Maps - Apple expects everyone to download Google's third party maps app when it comes out. They're only doing this in order to cut Google branded stuff out of their core system. It won't matter for third party apps, they'll just use the newer maps system without much issue as the loss of Streetview and the other negatives compared to Google won't matter.

Anyone actually wanting to use a map to plan routes, check out areas etc will use the free third party Google Maps app. It should be better than the current maps app as Google will be able to submit updates and feature additions whenever they want rather than wait for Apple to release a new OS. Although iOS 6 maps has superior route planning, I don't see anyone actually using it as a sat-nav - a good third party app such as TomTom will be far better.