Off-line Maps on iOS: When is it coming?

[saintforlife]

Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive: Makes the Lumia 920 pretty compelling for people who use GPS a lot and also for people who travel internationally:

Offline maps mean you get super-fast maps and can save on data costs, anywhere you go.

Additionally, Nokia Maps will also include:

- voice guided turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation to take you right to your destination
- augmented reality view to reveal the places around you so you literally see where you need to go
- venue maps to see what’s inside venues like shopping malls, airports and stadiums
- a link to Nokia Drive to start voice-guided car navigation directly from Nokia Maps

http://conversations.nokia.com/2012/09/06/nokia-maps-for-windows-phone-8-goes-offline/

 

[tann]

At most, they'd offer regional sections, but they get updated too frequently.

It wouldn't be hard to do it. I myself prefer offline maps. No need for TomTom software, which does provide the routing. Now, I can already use Siri to get directions using maps.

Regional sections is good too.

Just some form of offline maps! I too prefer them. Less of a battery drain too...

 

[AR999]

It's called smart business and maximising profits!

Eh? Who's profits are maximised? not apples.

 

[Jagardn]

Yeah I am not paying $50 for something that should be part of the phone to being with anyway seeing as how the competitors already have it.

The Free competitor navigation apps are not near as good. I'd rather pay $50 for something that works the way I want it to. If Apple map turns out to be better than Navigon, I'll have no problem switching. Unless it works with no data for many miles in the middle of nowhere, I wan't nothing to do with it.

 

[ct2k7]

Regional sections is good too.

Just some form of offline maps! I too prefer them. Less of a battery drain too...

Yeah, any form of offline maps is good.. Well not the whole planet I hope

 

[garybUK]

Android does not offer proper offline maps and its restricted to a certain region a a time.

I've looked into it as I drive between Manchester uk and Germany, I currently use tomtom on iPhone but apple maps in beta 4 is awesome it caches the whole route when I start it on wifi....

Nokias is by far the best for this though.

----------

Depends how long it takes for Apple to fire up the photocopier. Compare it with all the other features Apple "copied" off the competition and you'll get an idea.

Bitter? Why not actually contribute to the discussion rather than spread this fud??

 

[KnightWRX]

Bitter? Why not actually contribute to the discussion rather than spread this fud??

Bitter ? Fud ?

- MMS
- Copy/Paste
- Multi-tasking
- Home screen wallpapers
- Camera access from lock screen
- Notification pull down
- OTA updates
- Wireless syncing (works like crap I gotta say too).

There's no FUD or bitterness here, just sad truth. Apple is more and more playing catch up and taking its hints for new features from the competition. So offline maps is now available on Nokia devices and on Android, just get a delta of all those other features and apply it here to know what iOS version is getting offline maps.

Usually takes about 1-2 version depending on the importance of the feature, so around iOS 8, we should have offline maps.

What would I be bitter about anyway ? It's just a phone. If I didn't like, I wouldn't own it.

 

[MozMan68]

Bitter ? Fud ?

- MMS
- Copy/Paste
- Multi-tasking
- Home screen wallpapers
- Camera access from lock screen
- Notification pull down
- OTA updates
- Wireless syncing (works like crap I gotta say too).

There's no FUD or bitterness here, just sad truth. Apple is more and more playing catch up and taking its hints for new features from the competition. So offline maps is now available on Nokia devices and on Android, just get a delta of all those other features and apply it here to know what iOS version is getting offline maps.

Usually takes about 1-2 version depending on the importance of the feature, so around iOS 8, we should have offline maps.

What would I be bitter about anyway ? It's just a phone. If I didn't like, I wouldn't own it.

I think the point is though, these kind of posts are common (and not completely way off track), but why is there never any list of what Android or others took from Apple?

Let's start with the entire basic UI, swipe, pinch to zoom, .....

 

[KnightWRX]

I think the point is though, these kind of posts are common (and not completely way off track), but why is there never any list of what Android or others took from Apple?

Because the topic here is guessing when iOS will get offline maps. We're not discussing some useless topic like who took what from who, only a timeframe when Apple will implement a feature found in other devices.

From the feature list I posted earlier, we can arrive at the conclusion that it's usually between 1 or 2 iOS versions shipped after the competition added said feature.

Please don't turn this into a flamewar about Android vs iOS. It's not. We're discussing offline maps. A feature. Found in other platforms and something we as iOS users want to see in ours. garybUK is as guilty as you are of trying to make this into an us vs them argument. Stop it, both of you. Admit iOS has failings and move on. As long as Apple ends up implementing this functionality eventually, there is no bitterness or FUD in saying they weren't first, and they don't even need to be first.

 

[shandyman]

There's always skipping the next iPhone upgrade and moving to Android and getting it included.

We don't have to just blindly accept what Apple fails to give us.

so are you skipping and moving? i hope so...

False statement. I am driving down to Daytona Beach, FL from Columbus, OH next summer. Who knows where I'm going to hit the dead spots. I want the Apple Maps to cache onto the phone.

Apple, cache the maps/route, and if I lose reception, keep the map and route up, but have no siri turn by turn!!

Boom solved. (or at least I can hope)

routes appear to be cached, we were driving and totally hit a dead zone for data, but the turn by turn still worked, telling us when the next turn is, etc.

 

[MozMan68]

Because the topic here is guessing when iOS will get offline maps. We're not discussing some useless topic like who took what from who, only a timeframe when Apple will implement a feature found in other devices.

From the feature list I posted earlier, we can arrive at the conclusion that it's usually between 1 or 2 iOS versions shipped after the competition added said feature.

Please don't turn this into a flamewar about Android vs iOS. It's not. We're discussing offline maps. A feature. Found in other platforms and something we as iOS users want to see in ours. garybUK is as guilty as you are of trying to make this into an us vs them argument. Stop it, both of you. Admit iOS has failings and move on. As long as Apple ends up implementing this functionality eventually, there is no bitterness or FUD in saying they weren't first, and they don't even need to be first.

I think most are happy with at least offline directions...I'm sure full regions of offline maps will be available either directly from Apple in a future update or by some go around. Doesn't seem too difficult since it is just saved data.

 

[KnightWRX]

I think most are happy with at least offline directions...I'm sure full regions of offline maps will be available either directly from Apple in a future update or by some go around. Doesn't seem too difficult since it is just saved data.

Yes, and from the usual timeframe they usually take to implement features they take from other platforms, it's 1 or 2 versions out. iOS 7 or at most iOS 8.

Offline maps would've been great this summer on my trip to New Hampshire. I have don't 3G data in the states and wifi is a bit iffy out in the country side. Still have to rely on paper maps tucked into my tank bag.

 

[garybUK]

Please don't turn this into a flamewar about Android vs iOS. It's not. We're discussing offline maps. A feature. Found in other platforms and something we as iOS users want to see in ours. garybUK is as guilty as you are of trying to make this into an us vs them argument. Stop it, both of you. Admit iOS has failings and move on. As long as Apple ends up implementing this functionality eventually, there is no bitterness or FUD in saying they weren't first, and they don't even need to be first.

No, you are the guily one here, by taking over a simple iOS 6 question and brining Android into it.... Google were not the first to do this.

Of course no one is saying they were first, but what i was saying is Google's implementation is far from ideal... in fact Nokia's implementation is much better and brings the user experience more closer to that of the standalone sat nav providers like TomTom and Navigon etc. If Apple were to do this the stand alone manufacturers should be very worried.

 

[KnightWRX]

No, you are the guily one here, by taking over a simple iOS 6 question and brining Android into it.... Google were not the first to do this.

Hum, I didn't take over anything nor did I bring Android into it. Check the first word of the first post and then please apologize for still trying to make this into an us vs them argument please and move on. Here let me help so you don't have to click "first page" :

Android has it [...]

(emphasis mine). Why must everything be a fight ? This thread started out as a comparison, no need to get into partisanerie.

Of course no one is saying they were first, but what i was saying is Google's implementation is far from ideal... in fact Nokia's implementation is much better and brings the user experience more closer to that of the standalone sat nav providers like TomTom and Navigon etc.

That is all besides the point. The question was when, like Android (first word of first post), are offline maps coming to iOS according to us. Well according ot me, all we need is to check the history of other such features that are cues Apple took from Android, Windows Phone/Mobile, Symbian, etc.. 1 to 2 iOS versions.

If Apple were to do this the stand alone manufacturers should be very worried.

I shouldn't have to pay 60$ for a feature free on other platforms because some 3rd party manufacturers don't have a viable business proposition. If the free version available on platforms such as Android and Nokia have them worried and if such a thing coming to the iPhone worries them that much, they need to start innovating and bringing more value into their proposition so that people do plop down 60$ for their stuff. Otherwise, move over.

 

[shandyman]

Well according ot me, all we need is to check the history of other such features that are cues Apple took from Android, Windows Phone/Mobile, Symbian, etc.. 1 to 2 iOS versions.

So you claim not to be turning things into an argument over iOS bs the rest of mobile OS's but then try to subtly do it yourself with this quote? not so sneaky....

Also not even remotely a worthwhile comparison for guessing the answer to the question.....

 

[MozMan68]

I shouldn't have to pay 60$ for a feature free on other platforms because some 3rd party manufacturers don't have a viable business proposition. If the free version available on platforms such as Android and Nokia have them worried and if such a thing coming to the iPhone worries them that much, they need to start innovating and bringing more value into their proposition so that people do plop down 60$ for their stuff. Otherwise, move over.

You're absolutely right...and guess what? You don't have to.

Enjoy your Android or Windows phone.

Unless of course, offline maps isn't the only reason one might buy an iPhone?

 

[akac]

iOS 6 has offline maps already, but in typical Apple fashion you don't control it. I've tested this by setting a route that's not short, and then turning off all data. iOS maps, directions, and turn by turn worked the entire way.

In other words iOS caches the data already. Because its vector it's incredibly small. You don't have to worry about downloading 2-30MB of map data.

So going somewhere? Look it up in maps first. Then just go there. It should "just work".

 

[viewfly]

International data is pretty cheap now (ATT $30 for 120Mb; $60 for 300Mb).

But still offline maps would be useful overseas...since the GPS still works but wouldn't have to download the maps and use data.

 

[aloharaz]

it's here

Android has it with offline cached Google Maps. Windows Phone 8 is getting full-fledged downloadable Maps for over 110 countries through Nokia Maps (which renders standalone GPS devices obsolete). Both platforms tout these as major features.

Questions - When could iOS get off-line downloadable Maps? Does Apple's new mapping technology in iOS 6 allow for such a feature?

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15704052/

 

[ct2k7]

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15704052/

What if you needed to take a diversion?

 

[VirtualRain]

Have a look at "Cartographer"... It's the best offline map app I've come across, especially if you like to use Google Maps on the desktop to plan a trip.


http://cartographer-app.com/