Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Nokia's Maps

[Caromsoft]

They don't have traffic radio stations in LA?

They do have traffic reports on local radio stations. They will tell me there is a problem on the 5.

What they won't tell me is if it will be faster for me to take the 210 to the 71 to the 91, or the 210 to the 15 to the 91, or the 10 to the 71 to the 91, or the 10 to the 15 to the 91, or the 60 to the 71 to the 91, or the 60 to the 15 to the 91...

Or the 10 to the 605 to the 91, or the 60 to the 605 to the 91, or the 210 to the 605 to the 10 to the 71 to the 91...and I can go on.

That's what I have to navigate on a regular basis, and anyone who lives in the Los Angeles area will tell you that the traffic alerts on the radio are at best barely useful. You can be sitting in dead stop traffic for 30 minutes and not have a single mention of what the problem is. If I have my navigation on I can see exactly where the problem is and how long it is is likely to last. I can see if it is worth trying an alternate route or waiting.

Navigation is a tool for me, like a hammer or a saw. I use that tool to get me home sooner, so I can spend more time with my family.

 

[MattInOz]

Yea, YOU do, I don't. Neither of us know what apple classes as mapping data. For example, The 3D is mapping data as they have to construct the buildings, rather than simple imagery.

This is the point,...
It isn't a single threaded problem.
There is various mapping data, data tagging, data hosting, on device filtering and rendering. who knows how many threads within each of those.

There could be a bottleneck in any of those threads that ends up constraining development of Maps (or already has).

Then again the combined effects of all those threads could amount to a massive improvement, in what we see. What will be interesting is improvement between now and release and the pace of that. It's only then we can make a solid judgement about how serious Apple really is.

 

[Cod3rror]

People are ranking iOS 6 Maps below Google Maps, but not really saying why. What, specifically, is wrong with it? I find them to be just as accurate around where I live, the satellite view is more up-to-date than Google's, "scrolling" around the map is very fast, and the turn-by-turn is outstanding. The other features are quite useful as well. Is it the lack of transit data? Still, we're talking maps here, it seems to me either they are accurate or they aren't, a pass/fail proposition. Everything else is just feature set, and aside from transit data, iOS 6 is a clear winner over iOS 5.

So where are these huge inaccuracies? I'm honestly asking, here, since there's none near me. Or, are you judging the Maps app on a different criteria I haven't thought of?

If you've got a 4S, you get a turn-by-turn navigation, however if you've got a 3GS or 4, you lose Google Transit, you lose Google Streetview and gain nothing in return. And even on the 4S, I'd gladly trade the above listed two Google services for the gimmicky 3D that is only available in like 20 cities... and no, Apple is not going to fix that problem in the beta.

I also prefer Google's tiles to Apple ones.



As for the original question, Nokia Maps feels the most like a proper GPS navigation application. You can download any maps you want, cities, countries, regions, etc... and use them offline this is very handy. However Nokia Maps lacks lots of functionality more advanced third party GPS apps like TomTom have, it cannot auto-switch Day/Night mode, it does not show you multiple routes to your destination and other are lots of other things missing too. However it being offline is a HUGE advantage and it's got a pretty decent POI database too.

If I've got Internet on the phone and I want to search for a place or a service, I'd use Google Maps.

 

[unobtainium]

Why is it so inconceivable to the people on this forum that sometimes someone doesn't agree with you? I don't use cell phone based maps. Never have. I've said it a billion times already that I have a GPS.

I dunno but you're the one who came into this thread complaining that people were making too big of a deal out of mobile maps. The thing is, most people don't really want to have an extra piece of equipment to worry about. For me, my iPhone has replaced my old cellphone, my iPod, and my camera. I never had a GPS, but if I did it would replace that too. That's part of the convenience of having an iPhone.

 

[MozMan68]

Hmmm...Google is moving fast...

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/27/google-earth-for-android-gets-new-3d-maps-for-some-cities/

 

[URFloorMatt]

If you've got a 4S, you get a turn-by-turn navigation, however if you've got a 3GS or 4, you lose Google Transit, you lose Google Streetview and gain nothing in return. And even on the 4S, I'd gladly trade the above listed two Google services for the gimmicky 3D that is only available in like 20 cities... and no, Apple is not going to fix that problem in the beta.

I don't think Google Maps is going to disappear. None of the navigation apps are going away just because Apple is starting their own mapping platform. The only thing that's changing is Google losing its prime real estate as a built-in app.

My takeaway from the hastily thrown together Google Maps presentation a few weeks ago was that Google has no intention of abandoning the iPhone.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Correct me if I'm wrong but we haven't actually seen Apple's maps nor Nokia's maps for Windows 8 yet now have we? Your comparison is quite a few months too early.

Nokia Maps for Windows Phone 7 already exists. It's bloody good. But when they own one of the biggest mapping agencies in the world, I'd expect it to be.

----------

Also I can understand the person who likes paper maps.

As a digital cartographer I love paper maps. Sometimes they are far better. For example when you're outside of your mobile coverage area or your phone battery dies, a paper map is a very good fallback. It only requires the Mk1 human eyeball to read it (no signal or battery required). Sometimes I'll use an A-Z around London rather than use a sat nav or google maps on my phone.

 

[JoeShades]

Hmmm...Google is moving fast...

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/27/google-earth-for-android-gets-new-3d-maps-for-some-cities/

competition is a great thing

 

[shandyman]

Hmmm...Google is moving fast...

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/27/google-earth-for-android-gets-new-3d-maps-for-some-cities/

True. Tho when apple bought C3, they had 100 cities in 3D, hopefully they have even more now for when iOS launches.

 

[Ayemerica]

Google is way ahead in maps. Apple will have to throw a couple more billion dollars and time to catch up.

 

[tech4all]

What in God's Holy Name is the deal with maps these days? Is it just another way to brag about your choice of hardware? Really? I've said it a thousand times. If you ****ing don't know where you're going in the place you live or the town you live in, get a real GPS that uses actual satellite GPS location services or do it the old fashioned way. Look at a freakin map and remember where you're going. This has done me fine for 30 years.

Stop it with the ****ing maps already.

I've been an iPhone user since the 3G. I've also had GPS a few years before that. Plus I know how to read an actual map. Maybe just the young people don't know what a real map is.

You're missing my point. People are bragging about Maps applications on cell phones. My point is, stop bragging about whose maps app is better. Who gives a ****. If you have to have a maps app every time you get in a car, then you are totally lost.

Chill dude.

 

[Brazuca]

Is someone at Apple's geo team doing their homework?

Look at the incredible effort to get Google maps' colors and cartography right:

http://www.core77.com/blog/case_study/google_maps_designing_the_modern_atlas_21486.asp

I really hope that Apple has its A-game.

 

[MozMan68]

Look at the incredible effort to get Google maps' colors and cartography right:

http://www.core77.com/blog/case_study/google_maps_designing_the_modern_atlas_21486.asp

I really hope that Apple has its A-game.

One of the Google maps designer writes a story on how great the design is? Pass.

 

[bozzykid]

One of the Google maps designer writes a story on how great the design is? Pass.

Based on what we have seen from the Apples maps design, Apple could learn a thing or two from the way Google handles the colors/cartography.

 

[shandyman]

Based on what we have seen from the Apples maps design, Apple could learn a thing or two from the way Google handles the colors/cartography.

We've seen the beta. Not the final product.

 

[John Adams]

I dont think anyone will beat Google when it comes to maps. Not even Apple.

If Apple wants to top Google for maps/navigation, they have their work cut out for them. Nothing comes close. It's the best. Nothing in the App store is nearly as good. I said in another thread, I love my iPhone but miss Google Maps for navigation. I didn't know when I got the iPhone that Google didn't navigate or I may have stayed with Android.

I'm hoping Apple gets it right.

 

[John Adams]

In your opinion.

Of course it's his opinion. Why did you feel the need to point out the obvious? Everything posted here is the poster's opinion.

 

[virginblue4]

Of course it's his opinion. Why did you feel the need to point out the obvious? Everything posted here is the poster's opinion.

Because of the way he said it. He said "we will be getting a HUGE downgrade". He said that as if it is true for everyone. With the majority of posts over the interne, this is not true.

 

[garybUK]

I'm not sure what Google map's everyone is on about, but the old map's application was basically, useless.

I used the Beta 2 turn by turn to get me 50km away to pick up a parcel from a DPD depot... it was awesome, very fast, it cached the entire journey when i searched for it, it recalculated way quicker than my Navigon stand alone unit does and it just worked --- very accurate too and easily readable maps and signs whilst in use.

Remember we are on BETA 2 of this map software - how long have the competing systems had to develop? i'm certain this won't be the last of the development so chill.

Some glaring omissions from the maps app:

1) i'm set to British but i use KM/miles i don't know what a foot is, i can use miles but i prefer km... why not give me the option to set the units?

2) No speed camera poi nor any max speed warnings.

3) Siri didn't know my home address, even though the contact card was entered.... it did work very well using siri to dictate a destination, though.

I'm excited to see where this goes, i don't think it's near the competition, but i wouldn't expect it to be in it's 0.2 iteration.

 

[Dr McKay]

Correct me if I'm wrong but we haven't actually seen Apple's maps nor Nokia's maps for Windows 8 yet now have we? Your comparison is quite a few months too early.

Nokia Maps is already present on all the Nokia Lumia Windows Phones, they'll make it part of Windows Phone 8, so yes I have seen Nokia Maps.

 

[newagemac]

Nokia Maps is already present on all the Nokia Lumia Windows Phones, they'll make it part of Windows Phone 8, so yes I have seen Nokia Maps.

No, you've only seen Nokia Maps for Windows 7. You don't know what's in store for Windows 8. If the OP wanted to compare Google Maps to the current Nokia Maps then he shouldn't have said "...so we've already seen Nokia Maps for Windows 8". Likewise for Maps in iOS6. Neither have been released yet.

 

[Soulstorm]

There are many reasons why Apple decided to implement its own map services.

Maps by any company include not only what you see, but also what you can do with it, namely Geocoding services, which s the ability to identify your address based on your coordinates and vise-versa. So far on iOS, although there were alternative to Google Maps, like OpenStreet maps and companies based on ArcGIS, only google was able to offer a complete, fully functional and easy to use native API for developers to implement in their applications.

However, while geocoding and reverse geocoding works like a charm in Google, it is bound by the terms and conditions by google, and poses limits to how many requests a user can do per day on Google's servers, unless you buy the full package, which costs several thousands of Euros/Dollars per year. Those restrictions apply even if you use iOS' MapKit.

So, a company like the one I am working in has many restrictions in order to develop something that uses Geocoding services. On the contrary, Android doesn't have those limitations and since the APIs are coming directly from Google, you don't have to pay to use geocoding services when using their native frameworks on Android. Geocoding requests on their servers are limitless, and their API is as great as in iOS.

Apple's Maps solve our hands, since we will be able to have an equivalent Maps API in our disposal without having to Pay 10000+ euros in order to have our service running each year.

As you can see, there are many factors to take into consideration when deciding which API is best. For me, the best Maps implementation is the API that has the best Geocoding/Reverse Geocoding services and at the same time feeling native and can be taken full advantage of in my iOS programming environment. For my point of view, creation of a separate Maps API for iOS devices was a necessity, not a luxury for Apple, since developers were always complaining about the restrictions they had to deal with comparing to Android.

I must admit that Apple's Map API needs more refining at this point, but if it continues to grow and be stabilized at the rate it does now, then the developers will certainly abandon MapKit for iOS and use Apple's new Maps services. I'm eager to see how it goes.

 

[Dr McKay]

No, you've only seen Nokia Maps for Windows 7. You don't know what's in store for Windows 8. If the OP wanted to compare Google Maps to the current Nokia Maps then he shouldn't have said "...so we've already seen Nokia Maps for Windows 8". Likewise for Maps in iOS6. Neither have been released yet.

Nokia maps isn't on Windows, its on Windows Phone.

 

[Morrus]

1) i'm set to British but i use KM/miles i don't know what a foot is, i can use miles but i prefer km....

Britain officially uses miles, not kilometers. Apple are going to go with the official units. I haven't a clue what a kilometer is, and no roadsigns refer to them.

 

[futbalguy]

Britain officially uses miles, not kilometers. Apple are going to go with the official units. I haven't a clue what a kilometer is, and no roadsigns refer to them.

Still seems reasonable to allow people to see what they wish. Its not like the metric system is unpopular or the math is hard...