So... Are Apple Maps improving yet?

[matttye]

The main problem with street view though is that they will never be able to keep up with the physical changes that occur.

Even if there are changes, it gives you an idea.

Something I find a little odd though, is that there are POIs on Google Street View that are missing from its' actual maps. You would think that the teams would communicate with each other and the street view team would inform the ones responsible for the POIs that some are missing.

 

[henchman]

Ok, so we are going to pretend that in these two pictures, Apple Maps gves you as much traffic information as Google Maps does.

 

[henchman]

I had to make two different posts, as the pics were named the same by the iPad.
You should see this area during the weekdays. Then you might understand why the Apple Maps sucks for traffic.

 

[henchman]

Two more, better examples.if you were going downtown right now, using Apple Maps, you would have no idea which streets are going to put you into dead stop traffic.

 

[henchman]

And now google maps

 

[xofruitcake]

Ok, so we are going to pretend that in these two pictures, Apple Maps gves you as much traffic information as Google Maps does.

heh heh, why is Google map comparison come up in this thread? This is a thread of whether IOS map has improved or not... Google won this round already.. Tim Cook said so. The real question everyone should ask if whether Apple or Google will win the next round. My money is on Apple. I think there will be tremendous improvement on Apple map in the next 6 months. 3rd party will rush in for the transit map function.. The rest of problem, Apple can fix it gradually. Tim Cook's apology reset the expectation (and take the corporate PR hit once and move) and allow the map team to go back to more normal development environment. Whether Apple is smart to release the map at this stage of development is up for history to judge. It looks dumb now but who know how it will turn up in a year. I would love to have this thread go back to what it is intended for..There is no need to repeat the same argument over and over again. Google map won this round.. Now, let have a real discussion of the state of Apple map function.

 

[henchman]

Well fruitcake, the reason we are having this discussion, is because of Apple apologist fanboys trying to pretend that Apple Maps is great, and is fine.
It's not. It's useless for anyone wanting to use it to get from pint A to Point B the fastest. And It's pretty obvious, that Apple Maps will land you smack dead in gridlock, whereas Google Maps will help you avoid it.

 

[MozMan68]

I guess we are assuming that the Google maps red lines are actually correct? Or is it typical red light/stop sign traffic?

Can't wait to test this out as I travel...will actually be headed to Culver City for work in a few weeks.

Would love if someone set up a video camera in a car that showed live user view plus split screen of both map options...c'mon Engadget or so even else...get on that!

 

[urkel]

The real question everyone should ask if whether Apple or Google will win the next round. My money is on Apple. I think there will be tremendous improvement on Apple map in the next 6 months. 3rd party will rush in for the transit map function.. The rest of problem, Apple can fix it gradually.

Ugh. There's so much wrong with that kind of thinking. (and bear in mind that I LIKE Apple Maps)

1) This isnt a contest where you win "rounds" because both apps arent competing. Apple REPLACED a functional map with one that isn't as functional. So its not about winning, its about giving us the best product available NOW, and unfortunately iOS6 does not provide that. (And claiming a web version of Google is okay is like saying Apples original webapps are suitable alternatives to the eventual real apps)

2) The next 6mo Apple will improve. That is true. But to claim it is "tremendous" is pure speculation that isnt actually built on anything. Google employs 7000 Maps employees and have gone around the globe several times to solve problems through brute force. Apple had since WWDC ios6 previews to realize that Maps isnt ready yet they still released it and are only starting to rush development now. (I base that speculation on the fact that they removed the old Maps app entirely which indicates that they assumed they were "good enough" to be the main mapping solution.

3) Transit isnt an easy problem to overcome. We had integrated transit so "3rd party rushing in to solve transit" is a workaround but not a solution.

4) Apple can fix things gradually is true but its also a deflection. Yes, they WILL fix things gradually but that is not an excuse for having a gen6 OS that downgrades an important feature.

Again, I like Maps and feel that the main mistake was replacing an existing functional app with a beta. So in the end then I dont feel Apple deserves the free pass that so many people are trying to give them just because it's Apple.

 

[Edslunch]

Well fruitcake, the reason we are having this discussion, is because of Apple apologist fanboys trying to pretend that Apple Maps is great, and is fine.
It's not. It's useless for anyone wanting to use it to get from pint A to Point B the fastest. And It's pretty obvious, that Apple Maps will land you smack dead in gridlock, whereas Google Maps will help you avoid it.

You're missing the point.... This thread is specifically about whether apple maps are improving over time, not whether they are any good or not. Feel free to jump in the maps are a disaster thread if you have complaints about maps as many many people do

 

[henchman]

Again, I like Maps and feel that the main mistake was replacing an existing functional app with a beta. So in the end then I dont feel Apple deserves the free pass that so many people are trying to give them just because it's Apple.

Amen to that

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I guess we are assuming that the Google maps red lines are actually correct? Or is it typical red light/stop sign traffic?

Can't wait to test this out as I travel...will actually be headed to Culver City for work in a few weeks.

Would love if someone set up a video camera in a car that showed live user view plus split screen of both map options...c'mon Engadget or so even else...get on that!

Trut me, 99% of the time, if its red. You'll be stopped. Not just because of a stoplight.
If you are going to be in Culver City, use your google maps. You'll thank yourself.
Going to be at Sony?

 

[urkel]

Ok, so we are going to pretend that in these two pictures, Apple Maps gves you as much traffic information as Google Maps does.

what?!? That's the LA map traffic view?!?

Where I live we don't use traffic data since its pretty consistent but I go to LA once a month and rely heavily on those red/green lines to choose my route. The little apple markers on an already small screen is going to be a nightmare.

Please Apple, give us actual traffic route traffic colors.

 

[henchman]

what?!? That's the LA map traffic view?!?

Where I live we don't use traffic data since its pretty consistent but I go to LA once a month and rely heavily on those red/green lines to choose my route. The little apple markers on an already small screen is going to be a nightmare.

Please Apple, give us actual traffic route traffic colors.

Yep. That's the LA traffic view.
Kinda puts this whole argument into perspective doesn't it.
Not quite the same as living in a village, as one poster commented up above.

 

[matttye]

You're missing the point.... This thread is specifically about whether apple maps are improving over time, not whether they are any good or not. Feel free to jump in the maps are a disaster thread if you have complaints about maps as many many people do

Yep this thread was to try and get a feel for how Apple Maps are progressing. It's widely accepted that Google Maps are better at the moment, we don't really need to discuss that any more.

Just wanted to know how many people had reported errors and had since seen them get fixed.

 

[MozMan68]

Amen to that

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Trut me, 99% of the time, if its red. You'll be stopped. Not just because of a stoplight.
If you are going to be in Culver City, use your google maps. You'll thank yourself.
Going to be at Sony?

Nope...my company's office is there as well...can't wait to try it out. May just have to be my observations as I look at it though.

 

[8a22a]

And now google maps

I prefer the Apple version, Google's is far more complex than it needs to be.

 

[henchman]

I prefer the Apple version, Google's is far more complex than it needs to be.

I was wondering who would be the first apologist to try and make up an excuse as to why the Apple version is better. To justify the abysmal Apple Map app.

Tell me, do you drive, or does your mother drive you everywhere,
Anybody with any kind of reasoning would have no problem understanding the map. It's not complex at all. In fact, it's quite clear.
Or is the 3 color coding scheme to difficult for you to grasp.

Let me explain it.

Red = Bad traffic. Stay away.
Orange = okay traffic.
Green = hardly any traffic at all.

Wow. That's complex.

 

[matttye]

I prefer the Apple version, Google's is far more complex than it needs to be.

The complexity is because it has more information to take in. If you zoom in more on the area you need to look at, then it will be less complex.

With Apple's maps, you need to pan around more because you only get details if you zoom in.

Edit:

I'm assuming you're talking about the entire map and not just the traffic feature.

 

[henchman]

Even when you zoom in the traffic information is minimal.
Just looking at downtown LA right now, on Google maps numerous streets are red, both ways. On Apple maps, you are made to believe there's hardly any traffic at all.

 

[matttye]

Even when you zoom in the traffic information is minimal.

I was talking about the overall map, not the traffic feature.

Just looking at downtown LA right now, on Google maps numerous streets are red, both ways. On Apple maps, you are made to believe there's hardly any traffic at all.

That's all well and good, but without any evidence to back up which one is correct, that could go in either Apple's OR Google's favour.

 

[henchman]

That's all well and good, but without any evidence to back up which one is correct, that could go in either Apple's OR Google's favour.

Well, speaking from about three to four years of using Google Maps religiously to navigate the streets of LA, I can tell you it's in Googles favor. And last night was proof as well. Coming home from an event. Traffic on the 101 on Apple maps was nice and clear. Google maps showed a different story. So instead of sitting in traffic on the 101, I cruised home on an open 5 to the 134.

 

[matttye]

Well, speaking from about three to four years of using Google Maps religiously to navigate the streets of LA, I can tell you it's in Googles favor. And last night was proof as well. Coming home from an event. Traffic on the 101 on Apple maps was nice and clear. Google maps showed a different story. So instead of sitting in traffic on the 101, I cruised home on an open 5 to the 134.

Fair enough. I wasn't doubting you, was just saying that simply saying the two maps showed a different story wasn't an indication as to which one is better.

 

[henchman]

Fair enough. I wasn't doubting you, was just saying that simply saying the two maps showed a different story wasn't an indication as to which one is better.

Matte, I'm sure you've been to London. Take a look at ten difference in traffic patterns between the Apple and Goigle maps right now. I think we both know, which represents what traffic right now is like in London.

 

[matttye]

Matte, I'm sure you've been to London. Take a look at ten difference in traffic patterns between the Apple and Goigle maps right now. I think we both know, which represents what traffic right now is like in London.

Good idea!

Apple Maps says that the North Circular and Hanger Lane Gyratory system are traffic free. What a load of rubbish

Google quite rightly shows heavy red traffic.

 

[Edslunch]

Matte, I'm sure you've been to London. Take a look at ten difference in traffic patterns between the Apple and Goigle maps right now. I think we both know, which represents what traffic right now is like in London.

Can we please get this thread back on topic...have apple maps improved at all since release.?

I don't doubt there are traffic problems - please start a new thread for them.