Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Roundup of Features in Google Maps for iOS: Better Design than Android Version, iPad Version Coming

kdarling said:
I've been surprised at how many "casual users" noticed the difference.

My wife, whom I never talk tech with, came home one day and brought up all on her own, how upset her fellow teachers were that their iPhone maps were so screwed up.....
Click to expand...

Same here, my wife, total non-tech person, used Apple maps once to find the dentist. It didn't take her there. She ended up calling me, I had to use the Find Iphone to see where she was and then get on Google Maps to direct her where to go. Apple maps had the location about 1/2 mile off.

She hasn't used it since.
 
Any way to turn down the voice navigation volume? I don't like how it lowers my music/podcast's volume to yell at me. Man is it verbose too, not sure how much I like that.

All in all a good app, excellent for a 1.0 with plenty to improve for 2.0.
 
theanimaster said:
I think iOS Maps will do the same. It's cr@p now at locations and points, but in the next version it'll make Google Maps look like unpolished turd.
Click to expand...

Next version ? You're misunderstanding the issue. The application itself is fine. There is no client side code that's really wrong here, no "version updates" are required.

It's their backend data is either very wrong on a lot of points, built from wrong assumptions about data and badly integrated 3rd party data.

There is no magic "Update to Apple Maps 2.0!" coming where everything will be magically fixed. Apple has a long road ahead fixing a lot of backend mistakes in their dataset.
 
comatose81 said:
It looks nice and works well on their area? That's why I'll continue to use it at least. I mean, Google doesn't even know what streets have no left turn in my area. Should I just keep using it anyways because the media and elitist forum members say Apple maps is a "disaster"?
Click to expand...

I'm hardly an elitist, just a customer, and I say Apple maps is a disaster. Try zooming out to get a better idea where you are going next - can't. Try to re-prompt the voice regarding when the upcoming turn is - can't. Accurate maps - doesn't.
 
Soulweaponry said:
So...huh? Didn't "apple maps" come into existence because google wouldn't include turn by turn? Now they're including turn by turn for free anyway? I'm super confused. This, aside from siri support, makes apple maps feel pretty useless. Even though i do like the look of apple's a little more
Click to expand...

I think the embarrassment that Google will cause to Apple, by straining to make their Google product far superior to the Apple Maps product would be regarded as a strategic win for Google. It's about building the brand. Apple is great at hardware and OS -- but Google is showing that Apple is pathetic at software as a service, and that this is Google's area of excellence.

Sure, maybe 2 years ago, Google could score points against Apple by crippling Google Maps for iOS --- but with Apple's disaster with Apple Maps, the nimble footed Google leadership realised it could better drag Apple's name through the dirt by showing how much superior its own Maps are compared to Apple's.

When it comes to beating Apple, no one strategy works all the time, and Google have shown adaptability at choosing how to embarrass Apple.

This could be a good thing since Apple, of late, has been getting ever so politely arrogant.

Apple has got so arrogant that the only way Apple will listen is if sales decline - but if we need Apple products, then that's hardly going to happen, so the consumer loses any meaningful ability to influence Apple. Hence, this is a golden opportunity to send a message to Apple.

I've downloaded the Google Maps app, and it's great. As Apple fans are used to saying, "I'm never going back".
 
theanimaster said:
Not the first time this has happened. Back when iPhoto was SUPPOSED to have facial-recognition -- IT DIDN'T WORK. AT ALL. IT WAS ABSOLUTE CR@P.

NO ONE COMPLAINED THOUGH!!

But in the next version -- BAM. They nailed it, and the facial recognition was just SO good... you wondered what they were doing all along!

I think iOS Maps will do the same. It's cr@p now at locations and points, but in the next version it'll make Google Maps look like unpolished turd.
Click to expand...

I see your logic there, but it wont happen, for the following reasons:

- Google have a decade lead
- Google own their own satellites which are mapping 24/7/365
- Google own a fleet of UAV style aircraft, which take ariel photos of everything.
- Google have 7,100 people working on Maps. Apple have 100.
- Google have a huge fleet of thousands of cars/vans and bikes doing streetview all over the world.
- Google have an API that lets 3rd party developers to manipulate the maps, and submit new data (which is generally added or fixed within 48 hours)
- Google serves a much larger base of uses, thus more users can report faults, an they get fixed a lot quicker. Most faults seem to be fixed within a day.


Unless Apple is about to put down about a $1bn, or give up and license maps from someone else, it wont happen.
 
rmwebs said:
Google now have a HUGE advantage. If Apple did turn around and say "you know what, we really screwed up here and we want to go back to Google Maps" Google could pretty much demand whatever they like.

It's actually pretty funny how screwed up this whole situation has become, and it boiled down to an arrogant Apple thinking launching their own service would be a walk in the park.
Click to expand...

In September Apple had a non-fix fix option for this problem. They could have continued to sign iOS 5.1.1. That would have given 90+ million iOS users downgrade option if Maps is primary concern. 10+ Million IP5 users have to live with Apple Maps, but that is a small %. Apple by their own doing, made this a bigger problem.
 
The comment about better designed is a bunch of bull. For the most part it looks identical to the android version. Sounds like the dev of this version is just proud of his work.
 
robjulo said:
Same here, my wife, total non-tech person, used Apple maps once to find the dentist. It didn't take her there. She ended up calling me, I had to use the Find Iphone to see where she was and then get on Google Maps to direct her where to go. Apple maps had the location about 1/2 mile off.

She hasn't used it since.
Click to expand...

Similar situation for me. We bought my mother a second hand iPhone 4 (she was still on the iPhone1 - a hand-me-down) and she wanted it reverted back to "the old one" (being iOS5) as the maps gave her wrong directions, and couldnt find one of the locations.

She's the least techy person you'll ever meet too.

----------
blackhand1001 said:
The comment about better designed is a bunch of bull. For the most part it looks identical to the android version. Sounds like the dev of this version is just proud of his work.
Click to expand...

The key part of your contradiction being 'FOR THE MOST PART'.
 
comatose81 said:
Unless I'm missing something, there is no way to avoid part of a route or set specific routing options (fastest, fuel efficient, scenic, etc) in either Google or Apple maps. Long story short, that means neither is an enterprise navigation app. Anyone who wants serious navigation needs to buy TomTom or the like.
Click to expand...

You're right that the stock standalone map apps out there are often not suitable for enterprise usage, especially in the NJ/NY area with its parkways that don't allow commercial vehicles.

However, if you write your own enterprise app and directly access the map sources, you can pass parameters such as this flag in Bing Maps API:

avoidLimitedAccessHighway

In other words, this isn't as big a deal as people are making it out to be.
Click to expand...

Apparently it is to many people, who have different needs.
 
Requires log in?

Google Map app requires log in with a Gmail account? Does this mean they're tracing movement? That's a deal-breaker.
 
mcdj said:
Goodbye to the toothless senile drunken old man on acid that was Apple maps.
Click to expand...

It will be interesting to see how many will not use the Google Maps program because of the Android vs. iOS debate. I bet there are some that will stick through thick or thin with the Apple Maps product not because it is a superior product, but because it was made by Apple.
 
Google Maps:
Search - for local Baskin Robins
Answer - In a local housing community, 1/4 mile away from the location

Apple maps:
Search - for local Baskin Robins
Answer - In the shopping center where it's located

Conclusion:
Neither are perfect. In areas where Apple has good POI data, it can match Google.

On a side note, Google Maps has a terrible UI, imo. To each his own I guess.

I'm happily sticking with Apple maps and rolling my eyes at all the people who got upset about Apple maps that live in the U.S.
 
turn-by-turn question

Can someone tell me if directions require a data connection after the route is planned?

I know google Maps does not contain the maps database but for a planned route do you need an active data connection? this is a problem in built-up areas and I'd like to switch away from TomTom.
 
SREO said:
Google Map app requires log in with a Gmail account? Does this mean they're tracing movement? That's a deal-breaker.
Click to expand...

No, it doesn't require login. It's provided as an option so you can basically map it on your computer, then access your map from your phone. It syncs it basically.
 
I dont really like the turn by turn directions I'm getting from the Google app.....
"Turn right, then turn right". Its like my mother is sitting in the back seat of my car yelling at me.

The Apple app says...."in .2 miles turn right, then turn right onto smith street".
 
robjulo said:
I'm hardly an elitist, just a customer, and I say Apple maps is a disaster. Try zooming out to get a better idea where you are going next - can't. Try to re-prompt the voice regarding when the upcoming turn is - can't. Accurate maps - doesn't.
Click to expand...

The "accurate maps" argument is garbage. I just pointed out two streets that are no left turn in my area that Google tells me to turn left at. Apple maps does not. So whose maps are inaccurate? Depends on where you live.

Lets put to rest the accuracy argument. It's pointless.
 
bboucher790 said:
Neither are perfect. In areas where Apple has good POI data, it can match Google.
Click to expand...

There's the problem. Outside the US, nowhere really has any good POI data.

One such example, according to Apple Maps, we have a McDonalds Restaurant in our town center.

It shut 18 years ago.
 
Battery life

Ok, I'll ask once more -

Does anyone else notice that this new Google maps is a serious battery killer?

My iphone 5 went from 100%-96% in about 5 minutes of exploring it - not even trying out the turn by turn yet.

I usually have about 50% left after a full day out.... I'm not so good at math to extrapolate this speed of battery drain over a whole day, but that seems like a dangerously fast drain!

This could be a problem. (for me at least - as I'm not always stationed next to a charger)

Also, I've "calibrated" my iphone 5 battery when I first got it: Drained it fully the recharged it fully - about 3 times)
 
comatose81 said:
The "accurate maps" argument is garbage. I just pointed out two streets that are no left turn in my area that Google tells me to turn left at. Apple maps does not. So whose maps are inaccurate? Depends on where you live.

Lets put to rest the accuracy argument. It's pointless.
Click to expand...

The difference:

Report that error to Google, it's fixed within 2 days.

Report it to Apple, you might get a fix in 2 months if you're lucky.
 
justperry said:
Apple Maps is not free, you paid for it when you purchased the phone, and even on older iPhones which came without iOS 6 you paid for it in the form of future development.
And, there are plenty of people happy with Apple Maps so it is not wasted money.
Click to expand...

I should have said "don't profit directly from making Maps". You could say it increases sales of new iPhones because people want them or it strengthens loyalty by offering a new service for free to existing customers, but unlike Google Maps, the app itself doesn't do anything to generate profit.

It's like if you compared a free bundled Mac app like TextEdit to a free (but profit-generating) data-mining web app like Google Docs. Google Docs lets you do much more, but Google are not some kind of saints with the goal of pleasing customers for the hell of it. They must offer some competitive advantages in their free app to compensate for the fact that they spy on you. Otherwise there would be no point for customers to give away their data.

Google are free to mine data if they want, as long as customers are aware of it. Let's just not pretend that their ultimate goal is not profit.
 
For the straight Maps: Google >>> Apple

For turn-by-turn: Apple >>> Google

Tried the Google turn-by-turn one twice today, it's fine but annoying and Apple's is actually significantly better right now.

But at least we have options now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back