Roundup of iOS 6 Launch Day News and Reviews

[k995]

There's nothing wrong with the interface. It's the data that needs work. Google has done a good job compiling lots and lots of data, and also analyzing it (which is how they estimate traffic data) that was lost when they transitioned to Tele-Atlas.

There clearly is, both sources of the maps show it correctly yet apple maps shows it wrong.

As for trafic, public transport and POI's: tomtom and others all have them but apperently apple didnt want to buy that or only part of it. And even if they have the POI they are in some cases wrong .

 

[leerichards1]

UPDATE

HA - found LIVE STREET VIEW app which itself advertises as "Get Street View back in iOS6"

iFindYou and StreetViewer are two other (free) apps that provide this functionality.

An Android using friend of mine took great pleasure in sharing a screenshot of the city of Zlín, which during Communist times and up until 1990 was known as Gottwaldov. Suffice to say, Apple maps still show the city as Gottwaldov , though weirdly if you search for Zlín it takes you there anywhere. I used the 'Report a Problem' function to advise them of it. Hopefully they are fully manned on that team to deal with all these reports.

Incidentally, TomTom maps show the city correctly on their http://routes.tomtom.com/ site.

 

[Gr8fulMac]

App Store on ios6

Anyone else having the problems with the App Store on ios6? Sometimes, "categories" appear & when I click on it, I get a message that it "cannot connect to iTunes"? WTF?

 

[rsocal]

Reinsert SIM card

After installing over wifi my iPad 2 is telling me there isn't a SIM installed. Ideas?

First, maybe a dumb question but is your iPad a WiFi only? I ask because a friend had a problem like that and his was a WiFi only.
If in fact it does have cellular 3G, shut it down & take Sim out and reinsert it, then turn on. I have had this happen to me once on my iPad 3 and several times with my iPhones 4 & 4S in the past. Reinserting the SIM has always solved it. Also it could be a bad SIM card?

 

[koruki]

This.

Do not upgrade to iOS 6 if you use Maps and don't live in a major (preferably US) city.

- No Street View
- No public transport routing (unless there's a 3rd party app for your neighbourhood)
- Poor satellite imagery.

+ Gimmicky 3D flyovers of selected cities - cool but no practical use (and when you zoom in too close it looks like a scene from Inception)
+ Turn-by-turn, which is as much use as a chocolate teapot if (a) you don't have GPS (b) you don't have mobile internet, or ever drive out of a coverage area or (c) you've bought TomTom or CoPilot because of (c).

Sorry Apple - fail. The Maps App in my 3-year-old Android Phone now has more useful features than the one in my iPad 3. If you're going to write your own maps, don't launch it until it's got all the key features.

Apple is as good in writing maps as Google is at writing a smartphone OS

 

[rsocal]

WOW, 19,000 songs

Really happy to say that it seems like iTunes Match is snappier. (Seriously)

Updated my iPhone 4 to iOS 6 yesterday, and after about a 5-minute iCloud initialization of some sort, scrolling through artists and such in the Music app is definitely smoother. (My library is about 19,000 songs...) Perhaps they have done something differently with the way the iCloud information is cached on the phone.

Can't say if anything is faster about actually cueing up music and playing it, but from a user experience perspective, I applaud even the slight improvement in scrolling.

Maybe off subject but 19,000 songs that's awesome!
I thought my brother had it made with over 5,000 songs!
It must be nice to go through and make lots of play lists.

Anyways very cool!


----------

Anyone else having the problems with the App Store on ios6? Sometimes, "categories" appear & when I click on it, I get a message that it "cannot connect to iTunes"? WTF?

I get the message sometimes, but it goes away instantly and it's connected.

 

[Marshalp]

As an original iPad & iPhone4 user I have to say I'm extremely disappointed with this update.

 

[fatboyslick]

Really happy to say that it seems like iTunes Match is snappier. (Seriously)

Updated my iPhone 4 to iOS 6 yesterday, and after about a 5-minute iCloud initialization of some sort, scrolling through artists and such in the Music app is definitely smoother. (My library is about 19,000 songs...) Perhaps they have done something differently with the way the iCloud information is cached on the phone.

Can't say if anything is faster about actually cueing up music and playing it, but from a user experience perspective, I applaud even the slight improvement in scrolling.

iTunes match is definitely better.

Previously it took 5-10 minutes for mine to load up with only a spinning dotted circle in the top bar to tell me it was doing something.

Now thed music app loads with a Cloud image with a loading bar - took about 3-5 mins but i do have about 300GB of music in the cloud.

Scolling through the music is faster but as someone said, there's no way to tell if you've downloaded a track when in "itunes Match" mode.

Still destroys the battery though - my iPad 3 lost nearly 10% in 10 minutes

I wish they'd sort out the playslists - i want to keep my Cloud Playlist when Match is turned off so at least i can play the songs in the playlist ive downloaded

 

[Rogifan]

Whoa! Maps really does suck! Shame on you Apple!

I'm really surprised Tim Cook allowed iOS to be pushed out with such a %^#! maps app. Who upgrades their phone and/or operating system to receive something inferior? I don't know all the behind the scenes with Google but as an end user I don't really care. I just want the best map apps possible and that's certainly not Apple's maps app. Major fail Mr Forstall.

 

[jwkay]

Maps is now front page BBC News

Not a good news day for Apple. Has there been no quality control of the cartography data? (http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19659736)

* A search for Manchester United Football Club directs users to Sale United Football Club, a community team for ages five and above.

* Another screenshot showed a furniture museum that was apparently located in a river.

TomTom is very keen to point out the extent of their involvement: "A spokesman told the BBC that its maps provided only a "foundation" to the service." So, what gives Apple?

EDIT: Seems they can't even get their own stores in the right location, according to this article. (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/20/apples-ios-6-maps-app-review_n_1899430.html) And listing businesses that closed 15 years ago?!

 

[RedRaven571]

If Maps only finds 3, then you shall only eat at those 3!

I'm pretty sure Steve said that 3 restaurants is the optimum number of eateries within a 5 mile radius.

 

[pmz]

Speaking as a self admitted Apple fanboy (iPhone 5 bought, iPad 3, Mac), I don't think there's anything wrong with what he said. If the map is not finding something 2.5 years old, that's not good. I have already read other posts saying that apple maps satellite view is missing something that's been there for over 2 years, while google's images seem to be less than 6 months old.

Some people will always have a want/need for google street view, so they will probably have google maps installed too. Until this all gets fixed, some will use Apple Maps just for navigation, and google maps for all else. And that's ok.
I use apple stuff (hardware, apps) because I do feel that it is the easiest/best. If something is better, especially if its an alternate map app, we should be using it. There is no reason to use an inferior product just because. Apple can improve this and I think their track record shows they eventually will.

I hope Apple is gathering all of this feedback and taking it into consideration for iOS 6.1 update.

What is everything else? Maps is there for Navigation. Getting Places. Period.

Its not there for checking out what color the local grocery store's sign is. I'm glad that **** is gone.

 

[dwb]

Maps...

Maps is a real problem. No more integrated mass transit? That's annoying for people living in cities (like me) but the social/environmental implications are far worse. Apple adds turn by turn directions for drivers, while taking away mass transit directions? This sends a really dreadful message. I'm deeply disappointed in Apple for this.

Also, I understand the Apple-Google rivalry, but Apple has made the user pay a price. It took away Google Maps, which worked very well, and replaced it with something that is simply inferior. Flyover is cool, but not especially useful. Google Streetview has a practical use for exploring neighborhood--even more now that they're doing building interiors. Google Maps is more useful than Apple Maps and is very likely to remain that way for several generations.

Hopefully Google will release a iOS Maps app, but either way, I think it's time Apple is forced to give users choices for what browser, email app, and now map they want to use.

Apple is increasingly reminding me of late 1990s Microsoft, using it's massive (monopolistic) user base to serve its own commercial interests rather than providing users with the best products.

 

[cfc]

In Apple's own forums developers have been warning Apple not to release the Maps app for months. I even sent an email to Tim Cook (or whichever minion reads such emails, if any) last month, entitled "Potential PR Disaster" and detailing all the reasons not to release it internationally.

 

[fatboyslick]

Not a good news day for Apple. Has there been no quality control of the cartography data? (http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19659736)

* A search for Manchester United Football Club directs users to Sale United Football Club, a community team for ages five and above.

* Another screenshot showed a furniture museum that was apparently located in a river.

TomTom is very keen to point out the extent of their involvement: "A spokesman told the BBC that its maps provided only a "foundation" to the service." So, what gives Apple?

i'm really glad for this article as Apple surely can't ignore the damning reports that are coming in. Man united as Sale Under 5s is laughable - they're one of the biggest sporting teams in the world and (arguably) have the biggest world wide fanbase for any sport....how can they get it so wrong.

Apple need to either quickly bring back Google Maps into the App Store - aint gonna happen - or Google need to get their new app out quickly

I also totally love the compairson image on the BBC website - it encapsulates the whole farce.

Interesting to see how good the map is in the USA - if it is pitch perfect then Apple can go suck eggs as I'm sick of them releasing US-centric services outside of the US

 

[Riversen]

iOS 6 Release Notes...

I did not see these anywhere, so I thought I would post them...


iOS 6 Software Update

This update contains over 200 new features, including the following:

• Maps
◦ Apple designed vector based maps
◦ Turn-by-turn navigation with spoken directions on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (2nd and 3rd generation)
◦ Real-time traffic information
◦ Flyover for photo-realistic, interactive 3D views of major metro areas on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd generation), and iPod touch (5th generation)
◦ Local search results with Yelp photos, ratings, reviews, and available deals
◦ Siri integration for requesting directions and finding places along a route
• Siri improvements
◦ Sports: scores, player stats, game schedules, team rosters, and league standings for baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey
◦ Movies: trailers, showtimes, reviews and facts
◦ Restaurants: reservations, reviews, photos and information
◦ Send a Tweet
◦ Post on Facebook
◦ App launch
◦ Eyes Free in supported automobiles
◦ Local search available in Siri supported countries (availability may be limited during initial rollout)
◦ Additional country and language support for Canada (English and Canadian French), China (Mandarin), Hong Kong (Cantonese), Italy (Italian), Korea (Korean), Mexico (Spanish), Spain (Spanish), Switzerland (Italian, French, German), Taiwan (Mandarin), US (Spanish)
◦ Supported on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd generation) and iPod touch (5th generation)
• Facebook integration
◦ Single sign-on from Settings
◦ Post from Photos, Safari, Maps, App Store, iTunes, Game Center, Notification Center and Siri
◦ Add location and choose audience for any post
◦ View up-to-date Facebook profile photos and contact information in Contacts
◦ View Facebook events and birthdays in Calendar
◦ Like content and see your friends' Likes in App Store and iTunes Store
• Shared Photo Streams
◦ Share selected photos with the people you choose
◦ Friends can view shared photos in Photos app, iPhoto and Apple TV
◦ Friends can like and make comments on individual photos
• Passbook
◦ One place for boarding passes, store cards, movie tickets and other passes
◦ Barcode display for boarding flights, buying coffee, getting into movies and other actions
◦ Passes displayed on Lock Screen based on time or location
◦ Passes can be automatically updated
◦ Supported on iPhone and iPod touch
• FaceTime improvements
◦ FaceTime over cellular support for iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (3rd generation)
◦ Receive FaceTime calls, sent to your iPhone number, on your iPad and iPod touch
• Phone improvements
◦ Do Not Disturb to suppress incoming calls and notifications
◦ 'Reply with message' option when declining a call
◦ 'Remind me later' option based on time or location when declining a call
• Mail improvements
◦ VIP mailbox to quickly access mail from important people
◦ Flagged email mailbox
◦ Insert photos and videos when composing email
◦ Open password protected Office docs
◦ Pull down to refresh mailboxes
◦ Per account signatures
• Safari improvements
◦ iCloud tabs to see open pages on all your devices
◦ Offline Reading List
◦ Photo upload support
◦ Full screen landscape view on iPhone and iPod touch
◦ Smart app banners
◦ JavaScript performance improvements
• App Store and iTunes Store improvements
◦ Updated store design
◦ iTunes Preview history
◦ Complete my season
◦ Complete my album
• Game Center improvements
◦ Challenge friends to beat high scores and achievements
◦ Post high-scores and achievements to Facebook and Twitter
◦ Friend recommendations based on your Facebook friends
• Accessibility improvements
◦ Guided Access to limit device to one app or restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen
◦ VoiceOver integration with Maps, AssistiveTouch and Zoom
◦ Support for Made for iPhone Hearing Aids for iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S
• Improved privacy controls for Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Photos and data shared over Bluetooth
• Reminders can be reordered in the Reminders app
• Custom vibrations for alerts on iPhone
• Clock app for iPad
• Clock alarm with song
• Search all fields in Contacts
• Automatic movie mode for improved video sound quality
• Definitions of a selected word for Chinese, French, German and Spanish
• New keyboard layouts for French, German, Turkish, Catalan, Arabic and Icelandic
• Keyboard shortcuts shared across devices via iCloud
• Bluetooth MAP support
• Global network proxy for HTTP
• Features for China
◦ Baidu web search
◦ Sina Weibo integration
◦ Share videos to Tudou
◦ Share videos to Youku
◦ Improved text input for handwriting and Pinyin
• Bug fixes

Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas. Please visit this website for more details:
http://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

 

[imageWIS]

maps is a real problem. No more integrated mass transit? That's annoying for people living in cities (like me) but the social/environmental implications are far worse. Apple adds turn by turn directions for drivers, while taking away mass transit directions? This sends a really dreadful message. I'm deeply disappointed in apple for this.

Also, i understand the apple-google rivalry, but apple has made the user pay a price. It took away google maps, which worked very well, and replaced it with something that is simply inferior. Flyover is cool, but not especially useful. Google streetview has a practical use for exploring neighborhood--even more now that they're doing building interiors. Google maps is more useful than apple maps and is very likely to remain that way for several generations.

Hopefully google will release a ios maps app, but either way, i think it's time apple is forced to give users choices for what browser, email app, and now map they want to use.

Apple is increasingly reminding me of late 1990s microsoft, using it's massive (monopolistic) user base to serve its own commercial interests rather than providing users with the best products.

+1!

 

[Worldinmii]

Very Dissapointed With Maps!!!

I love my Apple, and I would have to admit to being a fanboy, not embarrassed to do so! But the new maps is very un Apple like! On an iPhone 4S my position moves all over the place when I'm sitting at the office? On my iPhone 4, turn by turn does not follow your progress? And yes, living outside of the US of A, there is SOOOO much info that is missing! This is the first day after the update, I'm hoping within the coming days a lot of this gets solved!

 

[cfc]

I love my Apple, and I would have to admit to being a fanboy, not embarrassed to do so! But the new maps is very un Apple like! On an iPhone 4S my position moves all over the place when I'm sitting at the office? On my iPhone 4, turn by turn does not follow your progress? And yes, living outside of the US of A, there is SOOOO much info that is missing! This is the first day after the update, I'm hoping within the coming days a lot of this gets solved!

Developers have been hoping for that for the last 3 months!

 

[psac]

Apple is as good in writing maps as Google is at writing a smartphone OS

Sweet.

 

[Greg McBride]

Manual Entry for Passbook

It would be nice if you could manually enter loyalty cards, gift cards, etc. into Passbook. I've got a wallet full of cards that I'd love to get rid of. I guess I could always scan them and have a photo album that I could pull up whenever necessary. But, it would be nicer if Passbook would allow me to just plug in the data. I'm sure it'll be more useful in the coming months as more apps start supporting it.

 

[faroZ06]

The panorama mode is really cool. I was expecting some normal thing where you keep taking pictures in the right spots, but all you have to do is swivel and keep the arrow on the line, and it takes them for you. Great use of the accelerometer!

Do Not Disturb is a feature that I really needed. I was trying to do it by assigning all of my contacts to ringtones, but it's too annoying. I'm going to leave Do Not Disturb on constantly and only accept calls from people in my contacts (to block advertisers) and also block all calls during school hours.

This is the first iOS update that I've been excited about.

 

[Greg McBride]

The panorama mode is really cool. I was expecting some normal thing where you keep taking pictures in the right spots, but all you have to do is swivel and keep the arrow on the line, and it takes them for you. Great use of the accelerometer!

Agreed! They did a really good job with this feature.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

I haven't installe iOS 6 on my iPhone yet but seeing as I'll hopefully be upgrading to a 5 tomorrow, I'll end up being forced into using 6.

I've got iOS 6 on my iPad and love nearly everything about it. Apart from the maps application. The 3D is a nice gimmick but it is slow and juddery - this is on an iPad 3 connected to a 75mbps internet connection.

I use Streetview and Google Maps on my phone all the time, this is a significant downgrade for me. I know Google said they would be releasing their own native maps app for iOS but obviously they're going to hold off on it while they bask in the glory of this negative PR for Apple.

 

[trevorde]

Map

Map is crap