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Side by side comparison of Google & Apple Maps at Kings Cross, London
- Thread starter b24pgg
- Start date
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I notice that Google shows traffic info at that level and there's none for Apple's map app. Hmm.
I turn on traffic for that exact location, but it didn't display. I guess its still bugs with it.
Yeah, hopefully we can chalk that up to just being in beta.
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Is it me, or is it missing a body of water between york way and caledorian(sp) st?
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Gosh, I really WANT to love Apples implementation more... but as I continue seeing more pics of it, I just don't like it.
I dunno, maybe it will turn out to be better in actual use or on the final release. But looking at that picture it's like night and day.
Google has much more detail regarding the water and greenery. The colors of the green and water and much more pleasant. The roads are much easier to see and gauge better perspective to relative size. And then of course more information.
I know Apple's implementation is a work in progress, and I will hold out final verdict till I actually play with it and see how it interacts... but right now I am a little let down. Especially now that I know navigation and flyover won't even be supported on my iPhone 4!! (doesn't bother me too much though because I'll be upgrading with the 5
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I dunno, maybe it will turn out to be better in actual use or on the final release. But looking at that picture it's like night and day.
Google has much more detail regarding the water and greenery. The colors of the green and water and much more pleasant. The roads are much easier to see and gauge better perspective to relative size. And then of course more information.
I know Apple's implementation is a work in progress, and I will hold out final verdict till I actually play with it and see how it interacts... but right now I am a little let down. Especially now that I know navigation and flyover won't even be supported on my iPhone 4!! (doesn't bother me too much though because I'll be upgrading with the 5
)I have to agree sadly that Apple's cartography and digitising standards are poor. I've seen examples of side roads in Hybrid mode that extend out to the centreline of the main road.
I work in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for a living and am highly critical of Google Maps, prefering OS Streetview (cartographically more elegant), but G Maps are way better than Apple's.
I work in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for a living and am highly critical of Google Maps, prefering OS Streetview (cartographically more elegant), but G Maps are way better than Apple's.
Just remember that maps is Google's playground for the last couple of years. Of course the first version of anything other "what's currently best" (and what people are used to) won't be as top notch, but give it some time.
Apples map looks terrible compared to Google, who has been at map making quite a bit longer than Apple. I'm sure Apple's maps will get better over time, but at tho time there is no comparison.
Apple map=fail
go ahead with the flames. I'm sure someone will like the Apple map better because it is from Apple. Never fails.
Apple map=fail
go ahead with the flames. I'm sure someone will like the Apple map better because it is from Apple. Never fails.
I think that's a poor excuse to be honest. It also means Apple have had plenty of time to watch and learn and hopefully improve on any of google maps mistakes just like they did with the iPhone.
Other people were making smart phones long before Apple and they then came out of nowhere with the iPhone and shook the competition.
Apple maps looks awful end of.
I agree that their maps look pretty ropey at the moment but hopefully that will continue to improve?...
Nice to see the curvature of the earth come into play as you zoom out though - for once maps aren't flat, more like google earth that google maps...
And I like the 3d contours even if not the buildings - again very google earthy but not very useful!
Nice to see the curvature of the earth come into play as you zoom out though - for once maps aren't flat, more like google earth that google maps...
And I like the 3d contours even if not the buildings - again very google earthy but not very useful!
Tim said that Apple is doing their on cartography. They are using TomTom and many other sources for data such as roads, streets, landmarks, etc. but they are drawing their own maps. The look of the maps is completely Apple's (except in satellite view where again they are using data from various sources.)
One thing to point out is Apples street maps are vector based with some clever street name scaling and display on zooming. Screen shots don't really do it justice. Sat imagery isn't as good though.
It's odd that portions of the waterways are simply missing from the Apple version, along with the rail lines. Hopefully, they will work this out before the final release.
For now, it looks just like a TomTom GPS map, and there's a reason I keep a Garmin in my car instead...
For now, it looks just like a TomTom GPS map, and there's a reason I keep a Garmin in my car instead...
Google maps have been vector based for a few years now. Maybe not on iOS but that's not Googles fault.
If you take a look at the edges of the maps they are at more or less identical zoom levels.