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No Topo maps is the biggest issue for Ultra

iLounge2006

iLounge2006

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 27, 2022
2
2
For a watch that is for "extreme outdoors", why isn't there any native topo map support? I understand Garmin has always dominated this area but topo maps are freely available from US government, Apple just need some manpower to digitize it to their own platform.
Feels kind of rushed to release this watch with no topo support.

Otherwise I really like this watch, I own a S6 aluminum that is dedicated to outdoor activity, I may replace that. Daily will still be S6 Hermes in space black.
 
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I'm trying to figure out if they will have mapping in WatchOS 10 - and then, how they will limit it strictly to the Ultra models to separate them from the regular S series (and charge more)

Could see them making separate WatchOS for the different models eventually. Much like how they split iOS and iPadOS after a while... different features for different capabilities.
 
G.McGilli said:
I'm trying to figure out if they will have mapping in WatchOS 10 - and then, how they will limit it strictly to the Ultra models to separate them from the regular S series (and charge more)

Could see them making separate WatchOS for the different models eventually. Much like how they split iOS and iPadOS after a while... different features for different capabilities.
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I could see them releasing maps in a point update (kind of like what they did with iPad and cursor support).
They could also just have it as an app exclusive to the ultra like the depth or siren app.
 
Why is it every time someone doesn’t see an app or ability that said person deems should be in a product, the reply “it feels rushed” is thrown out?

At this point, it may be cheaper for Apple to use well- established apps like WorkoutDoors, than create topo maps, which could increase cost.
 
Cmd-Z said:
I have to believe that there is (or will be) a 3rd party solution.
Click to expand...

It's a $800 watch advertised and marketed as a tool for "extreme sports." Users shouldn't have to resort to a 3rd party solution, it should be baked in. Garmin users don't have to, and isn't that who Apple is competing against here? Also missing natively from Ultra is run routing and off-line maps, things that not only have been available on Garmins for years, they've been available in the App Store too. It's really half-assed that Apple didn't include these features at launch, or at least announce they will be "coming soon."

I'm 100% sure a future AWU or iOS version will support all of this, but for now, the UWU isn't truly an "extreme sports" watch, but rather an extremely sporty looking watch.
 
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Fiona FTW said:
It's a $800 watch advertised and marketed as a tool for "extreme sports." Users shouldn't have to resort to a 3rd party solution, it should be baked in. Garmin users don't have to, and isn't that who Apple is competing against here? Also missing natively from Ultra is run routing and off-line maps, things that not only have been available on Garmins for years, they've been available in the App Store too. It's really half-assed that Apple didn't include these features at launch, or at least announce they will be "coming soon."

I'm 100% sure a future AWU or iOS version will support all of this, but for now, the UWU isn't truly an "extreme sports" watch, but rather an extremely sporty looking watch.
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Exactly this.

If we all agree ultra is meant to compete with Garmin, I think we all agree on this. Then they missed a huge part of what makes garmin garmin for decades, and that is their map and topo solutions.
 
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Fiona FTW said:
It's a $800 watch advertised and marketed as a tool for "extreme sports." Users shouldn't have to resort to a 3rd party solution, it should be baked in. Garmin users don't have to, and isn't that who Apple is competing against here? Also missing natively from Ultra is run routing and off-line maps, things that not only have been available on Garmins for years, they've been available in the App Store too. It's really half-assed that Apple didn't include these features at launch, or at least announce they will be "coming soon."

I'm 100% sure a future AWU or iOS version will support all of this, but for now, the UWU isn't truly an "extreme sports" watch, but rather an extremely sporty looking watch.
Click to expand...
The SS AW8 is also an $800 watch and that doesn't have half the features a $1,100 Garmin has either. But hey, I can get a ballistics calculator on the AW without paying Garmin $1,600 for the Tactix 7 Pro Ballistics.

One of the very best features of the Apple ecosystem is the ability of developers, who are specialists in their fields, to create amazing apps that Apple does't have the in-house expertise for. Workoutdoors fulfils the needs of pretty much every outdoor enthusiast with way more customisation and integration, including offline topo maps, than Garmin's SDK allows.

IMG_2374.jpeg
 
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iLounge2006 said:
Exactly this.

If we all agree ultra is meant to compete with Garmin, I think we all agree on this. Then they missed a huge part of what makes garmin garmin for decades, and that is their map and topo solutions.
Click to expand...
It would also almost certainly invite anti-trust scrutiny.
 
I have WorkOutDoors. I don’t find it instantly initiative so I’ll have to spend a little time with it to really utilize it.

I agree though, apple needs some basic offline maps. It would be a game changer.
 
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