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Side by side comparison of Google & Apple Maps at Kings Cross, London

I know it's a Beta but unless there will be vast improvements by release time this will be a big step back to me....

I don't see how removing features and tell people it will come in the future is an upgrade.



Clinteastman said:
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.
Click to expand...
 
I to want to like apples maps better but it's clear GM is more detailed and useful.

Perhaps if you zoom in a bit more Apples map gets more detailed. However, it is a beta and it should only be judged as such. Let's reserve judgement til the fall.
 
I like Apple's color scheme, it's warmer. I do think that Google Maps displays too much info, and Apple's Maps too little info. Apple should add a little more info in this view. They need to balance it out.
 
WordMasterRice said:
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.
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Your right, I think Apples problem was that to roll out these kind of features and keep up with Google/Bing/Nokia they needed to take it in house which leaves them at a disadvantage feature/data wise.
 
naltst* said:
Here's a helpful view of Bristol...
Click to expand...

So I have the exact same view pulled up on Google Maps on my iPhone, and I have to admit GM isn't exactly amazing looking either.

Don't get me wrong, GM is definitely better. But I think that particular view is tough because it's crammed with so many streets.

Although I'm surprised Apple's map doesn't have Cheltenham Rd listed at all... GM seems to think it's a pretty dominant road. Cranbrook Rd too. Apple seems to have listed a few small streets randomly with no apparent reason.
 
I have to say (on the understanding this is a Beta release !) that the Maps application is really bad.

Not sure if it is only in the UK that it is so bad - but wow it is terrible..
 
can anyone pull up some side by sides in america?

maybe the rest are coming. like how the app store is showing US for UK users
 
I really thought that Apple would have waited until they were closer to Google before going live with their mapping efforts. Was there really a rush after so many years? Yes, I know iOS6 is beta, but I'd imagine that the mapping project is an entirely separate venture from iOS, and I can't imagine it improving all that radically in the next 4-5 months when iOS6 (and Apple's maps) go mainstream.

I've no problem with Apple replacing Google's maps, but at least wait until you've got something as good to replace it with!
 
naltst* said:
Here's a helpful view of Bristol...
Click to expand...

lol, that's funny and depressing at the same time. During the keynote I was really impressed with the maps app of course forgetting that they have the likes of san francisco well covered. Shame about the rest of the world.... they can't possibly compete with Google maps who have been doing this for many years developing and improving coverage.
 
I agree that they're not going to be redrawing their maps of the entire world in 4 months but there are a few things that could be adjusted surely...

Displaying each road at a more legible thickness rather than an accurate relative thickness would be a good first step - A map doesn't have to be a perfect scale representation of the real world it has to be legible and usable.

And if they're a bit thicker maybe we could squeeze in a few more names.

The vast major it of major mapping stems all have roads of multiple colours because it is helpful!

My local train line is marked on the map (if you zoom in enough) but not the stations, at any zoom level.
 
New for 2012: Crippled Maps from the 80's!

See the house your parents raised you in, exactly as it was back then!

This magical time window brought to you by Apple :apple:
 
oli356 said:
But it's provided by TomTom not Apple...
Click to expand...

The mapping data is from TomTom (Tele-Atlas), however the cartography is Apple's.

If you've ever seen cartographic rendering from TomTom you would know it isn't their style.
 
Here are some of my comparisons of Petersfield in Hampshire...

Of the Standard views. the OS StreetView is IMO the best, Apple the worst.

In the Hybrid, Google is the best without question. Apple's suffers from poor quality imagery and extremely poor digitising. If I produced work like that (I digitise maps for a living) I would be sacked.
 

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GoGa said:
I much prefer apples version. (you can zoom in to see the street names btw.)
Click to expand...

Typical fan boy reply. Seriously dude? Anybody that looks at the two maps above and says that the Apple one looks better needs to learn to put down their Apple colored glasses and think objectively for a change. The Apple version looks pathetic. Something like a map from the cold war era.
 
I really wish that Steve Jobs was alive. I know that the maps app is in beta (i'm not complaining about its stability) but I think that it's poorly designed. Just like the recent update to the Apple TV's UI.
 
Sensamic said:
Apples version looks like from the 80s.

Lets not be fanboys here people. Google Maps is better.
Click to expand...

I agree. I hope Apple, who typically values aesthetics go a high degree, makes updates to the overall look and feel before release.
 
apple better start adding more photos. The maps look unfinished. Should have waited a bit longer before adding it. Hope api's available so you can integrate more info into maps.
 
I don't have any issues as of yet crashing like some others- However, the maps look unreadable.

The hybrid is a blurry mess, so I need to put in in standard mode to see anything clearly.

Honestly I am shocked. Not only is it a unusable mess, but this appears not to be a beta problem, but rather a mapping data problem in at least my metro city. Hell, I used to see my house on GM now my whole street is a blurred disaster.

This app may find its way to page 4 of my iPhone (that is empt) aka wasteland.
 
nfl46 said:
I turn on traffic for that exact location, but it didn't display. I guess its still bugs with it.
Click to expand...

Since they are using data from other iPhones I'd guess we won't see much traffic data till iOS 6 comes out of beta and more people are using it.
 
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