This New Yorker is pretty pissed about iOS 6 maps

[Tinmania]

I humbly disagree:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle#Beta

It should be feature complete at the beta stage, although it seems many companies tend to bend that rule quite a bit.

From your link (emphasis added):
"It generally begins when the software is feature complete."

"Generally" does not exactly convey written-in-stone. I could imagine if the 10 Commandments used that: Thou shalt not, generally, steal.




Michael

 

[belvdr]

From your link (emphasis added):
"It generally begins when the software is feature complete."

"Generally" does not exactly convey written-in-stone. I could imagine if the 10 Commandments used that: Thou shalt not, generally, steal.




Michael

Which is why I said "should" be feature complete, not "must".

 

[matttye]

Someone should introduce them to Gmail, which enjoyed a plethora of new features during its "beta" (5 years!).



Michael

Google grossly misuses the term beta.

 

[shandyman]

Google grossly misuses the term beta.

So apple can't do so as well?! Make your mind up. Your floundering. Plus integration of transit apps was a feature announced at WWDC, so you've admitted I'm right already....

 

[matttye]

So apple can't do so as well?! Make your mind up. Your floundering. Plus integration of transit apps was a feature announced at WWDC, so you've admitted I'm right already....

Two wrongs don't make a right.

How have I admitted you're right? Your reading comprehension leaves a lot to be desired. It was announced at WWDC therefore it's NOT NEW. I think we already covered this.

 

[shandyman]

Two wrongs don't make a right.

How have I admitted you're right? Your reading comprehension leaves a lot to be desired. It was announced at WWDC therefore it's NOT NEW. I think we already covered this.

They're not wrongs tho. As pointed out, betas are GENERALLY feature complete. Companies all have their own ways and do what they want. MS have added new features to betas before too.

I've never said apple was going to add new features in this thread, just enable ones we've not seen in use yet. I was then pointing out that apple doesn't have to follow the rules of beta just Cos you say so.

I'm sure we gained a little unannounced feature back in the betas of ios 4 but for the life of me cannot remember what. If I remember I'll post it.

 

[hashholly]

They're not wrongs tho. As pointed out, betas are GENERALLY feature complete. Companies all have their own ways and do what they want. MS have added new features to betas before too.

I've never said apple was going to add new features in this thread, just enable ones we've not seen in use yet. I was then pointing out that apple doesn't have to follow the rules of beta just Cos you say so.

I'm sure we gained a little unannounced feature back in the betas of ios 4 but for the life of me cannot remember what. If I remember I'll post it.

Apple usually always holds so,etching back, though most times that feature is specific to the new device.

 

[Tinmania]

Apple usually always holds so,etching back, though most times that feature is specific to the new device.

Facetime and Siri.




Michael

 

[hashholly]

Facetime and Siri.




Michael

I wonder if it'll me NFC

 

[matttye]

They're not wrongs tho. As pointed out, betas are GENERALLY feature complete. Companies all have their own ways and do what they want. MS have added new features to betas before too.

I've never said apple was going to add new features in this thread, just enable ones we've not seen in use yet. I was then pointing out that apple doesn't have to follow the rules of beta just Cos you say so.

I'm sure we gained a little unannounced feature back in the betas of ios 4 but for the life of me cannot remember what. If I remember I'll post it.

Your sarcastic post earlier in the thread suggested that Apple DO add new features during the beta stage:

Yea cos apple didn't add any new features in the beta for iOS 5, like wifi syncing and OTA updating after beta 1...... Yes it was features announced at WWDC, but they weren't enabled in beta 1......

Make your mind up.

 

[shandyman]

Your sarcastic post earlier in the thread suggested that Apple DO add new features during the beta stage:




Make your mind up.

Yes and I explained that within the post you quoted, which you then agreed with, thou you quibbled over semantics by saying they enabled them rather than added them......

Also, in the first post you quoted, I was saying that I never said they were going to add new features in this beta period, I just missed off the "in this beta period" in that post, but I thought you might have got that point, seems not.

My main point is, that apple can do what they want in the beta, it's their beta. Just cos it doesn't fit within your rules of a beta, doesn't mean it cannot happen ever...

 

[Yield85]

I'm curious to see how it handles the rest of the world. I don't like to live in one city for more than a year so I rely heavily on google maps and street view. Not that this will bother me because I have an Android phone but it will be frustrating on the Ipad.

Currently in Melbourne and I saw lifehacker/gizmondo had something about the new maps. They seem to be missing half the CBD.

 

[frozzbite]

ok ok how about this for the Apple die hards....

Apple announces an alternative to streetview......

and only makes it available in the iPhone 5.

 

[heliox8614]

Here is an interesting view in why Apple is taking the correct approach in using 3rd party apps for public transit information. Well worth the read, for a different perspective that had never occurred to me.

http://www.cocoanetics.com/2012/06/public-transit-in-ios-6/

"The truth of the matter is that if private companies are in charge of public transit and they have vested interests in pushing their own (or partner’s) apps then they have little to no incentive in providing GTFS data to Google. One might think that easy availability of routing info via Google maps might increase these transit companies’ income, but at least the two big Austrian transit authorities do not seem to agree."

So, I post a link to information that is arguably the most relevant to the thread topic in the entire thread, and get not a single response.
All I see are posts arguing the definition of the word beta. Lol
Makes me think that people just want to argue and/or prove themselves right, regardless of whether or not it's actually relevant to the thread.
Mainly, I'd like to get the thoughts of the OP on the link I posted. It might not make him any happier with the changes, but might explain why Apple is choosing this path.

 

[shandyman]

So, I post a link to information that is arguably the most relevant to the thread topic in the entire thread, and get not a single response.
All I see are posts arguing the definition of the word beta. Lol
Makes me think that people just want to argue and/or prove themselves right, regardless of whether or not it's actually relevant to the thread.
Mainly, I'd like to get the thoughts of the OP on the link I posted. It might not make him any happier with the changes, but might explain why Apple is choosing this path.

I thought it was very relevant, I think I referred back to it in this or the other maps thread. It makes sense and googles transit stuff is not very reliable, if it's even there at all for places I've been.

 

[MozMan68]

Am I the only one that read the post last year about C3 already working on streetview? There is even a picture of it with the ADDED ability (yes...something Google Maps does not have) of creating interior views of buildings/spaces with the same stitching technology.

May not be there on day one, but they are working on it...and the videos released seem to prove that it looks much nicer/clearer than what Google has or will come out with. There are benefits to following a leader...see what is missing and do it better the second time around.

Personally, I'm just sick that I have to wait a few more months for the possibility of a new iPhone to replace my iPhone 4 so I can actually use all of these features.

----------

Sorry...here's the link...

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/0...s-also-offer-street-views-and-interior-views/

 

[PDFierro]

I'm sure there's probably already been a thread started about this, but it bears repeating.

As someone who lives in New York City (along with more than 8 million others), I use the public transportation routing feature on the iPhone's Maps app on an almost daily basis. Google's work in this area is really superb. Unlike the standalone NYC subway apps, Google's routing will actually include buses in my route (particularly useful on the far east side of Manhattan or the outer boroughs). Of course, there's also ferries, NJ Transit, LIRR, Metro North, and Amtrak integrated right in, along with the incredibly useful scheduling options.

And now, Apple gets rid of all of this and replaces it with turn-by-turn navigation which, for someone who doesn't own a car and drives a handful of times a year, is completely ****ing useless. And what else.. oh, no street view, ugly map tiles with garish colors and a flyover feature that's a complete novelty. So now I'm supposed to find mass transit routes through multiple standalone apps, which even together won't be able to duplicate the incredible ease and usefulness of Google's solution? This "third party developers do transit routing better than we do" bull from Apple is just a complete cop out.

And for what? So Apple can continue their immature little grudge match with Google, completely screwing millions of people who live in big cities and rely on mass transit in the process? What an unbelievably stupid move. If Steve Jobs were still around, I find it hard to believe he would allow a rollout of a redesign that would eliminate so many features like this.

So what do people like me do? Hold off on updating to iOS 6 I suppose. Hopefully Google releases a standalone maps app, but given Apple's immaturity in ditching their superior implementation in the first place, who knows if it will even get their approval? Apple might've even alienated them enough at this point that they won't bother developing one. If that's the case, hopefully some kind of jailbreak solution will allow me to keep the old maps app. I'd be lying if I said all this wasn't pushing me to consider Android.

Apple... is it too much to ask that you don't take away major features in your products that people actively rely on!? ****ing idiots.

I am completely with you here. The omission of these features has me not upgrading to iOS 6. Or switching platforms.

To other people responding saying just use the web app, no that isn't a viable option. Read the original post for why. And to those saying we don't know our way around? We do. Read the original post for why the OP uses this feature so much.

I'm moving to a new city in a few months and this ease-of-use would be incredible to keep. Isn't that what Apple is all about? It just works. We shouldn't have to go find other solutions.

 

[robanga]

I am completely with you here. The omission of these features has me not upgrading to iOS 6. Or switching platforms.

To other people responding saying just use the web app, no that isn't a viable option. Read the original post for why. And to those saying we don't know our way around? We do. Read the original post for why the OP uses this feature so much.

I'm moving to a new city in a few months and this ease-of-use would be incredible to keep. Isn't that what Apple is all about? It just works. We shouldn't have to go find other solutions.

I did not see specifically in the OP why a connection to the web app will not work? Perhaps i am just missing it.

Again, i can't imagine that Google would not not update their main services app to have an in bedded map app will all of the original features in it. That is an opportunity waiting to happen to mitigate all of this for Google.

Finally, if transit maps are that important there are a ton of really good Android phones on the market now.

I have never used the transit maps but have made great use of the walking directions in unfamiliar cities. I spent a bunch of time in DC in April and loved using the walking directions.

 

[tekno]

Google to offer Maps app

So it turns out Google will still be offering their Maps app for iOS. I wonder how many will use it and how many will stick with iMaps?

 

[iPhoneApple]

Apple needs to integrate transit into maps. Whether they need to license it, it's necessary.

 

[shandyman]

I did not see specifically in the OP why a connection to the web app will not work? Perhaps i am just missing it.

Yea he wasn't very clear in his rant. All the transit stuff is in the web app and gps can locate on web app, so it covers all the needs.

The only thing in his OP that's not in the web app is street view and compass. But if you can't read the streets on the map and work out where you are facing from that without the compass, especially in new York, then there is something very lacking in people's ability to deal with life and how on earth did people cope before the iPhone had a compass.

 

[krzyglue]

Yeah, except that I can't set it as a default so it launches when I tap an address elsewhere in the OS, it doesn't have streetview, it doesn't have my location bookmarks, it doesn't have the compass, and it's an all-around slower, choppier, and more frustrating experience.

Yep, just the same.



Not a developer; just an observer who's stunned by Apple's arrogance in assuming we won't mind losing a feature just so they can stick it to Google.



So people who just want to get back basic functionality they've had for 5 years can learn objective C and devote months of their lives to writing an app to compensate for Apple's shortcomings?

I swear, the lengths some people will go to just to avoid admitting Apple screwed up..



When did I ever say I was a developer who had the beta?!? Jesus, some of you people...

And I think I've made it pretty clear it's not a little issue to me; it's something I use frequently. I tend to think you'd be annoyed if an integrated feature you used all the time was suddenly replaced with an inferior work-around.



WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE WORKAROUND IS. Jesus, all this time you've been acting like a smug jerk about this whole thing have you even bothered paying attention to what's been announced? We know what the workaround is; it's a list of third-party apps I have to choose between to launch transit directions externally. If the experience turns out to be not as crappy as I think it will I'll be surprised, but this will still never be as good as a fully integrated solution. Apple is just passing the buck to make up for their inability to come up with a decent transit routing solution.



You obviously can't grasp the concept of comprehending what was announced in the keynote. Why would we expect them to do something they gave absolutely no indication they would do?

Don't sweat it, some are just too stupid to understand that betas are feature complete.

Someone earlier posted a link showing in that the third-party handoff screen *has been coded in already* but non-functional. They wouldn't do that if they were planning to integrate in native transit-routing (via third-party data sources) *this late in the development cycle*.

 

[8a22a]

Am I the only one that read the post last year about C3 already working on streetview? There is even a picture of it with the ADDED ability (yes...something Google Maps does not have) of creating interior views of buildings/spaces with the same stitching technology.

May not be there on day one, but they are working on it...and the videos released seem to prove that it looks much nicer/clearer than what Google has or will come out with. There are benefits to following a leader...see what is missing and do it better the second time around.

Personally, I'm just sick that I have to wait a few more months for the possibility of a new iPhone to replace my iPhone 4 so I can actually use all of these features.

----------

Sorry...here's the link...

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/0...s-also-offer-street-views-and-interior-views/

Sweet!

 

[Doombringer]

What I read:

"I'm a New Yorker and I'm indignant about a developer preview I should not even be using on my full-time, live iPhone. For whatever reason, I expect this build to be ready for consumer testing, nearly feature-complete, and representative of the final iOS 6 release. I'm mad that X, Y and Z are missing!"

In other words, OP... you're putting the cart before the horse. You're not even running a consumer-targeted beta, so relax. On top of that, Google has already stated they will release a new iOS app, so I'm betting you'll get your transit mapping there. That... or buy an Android device.

 

[PDFierro]

What I read:

"I'm a New Yorker and I'm indignant about a developer preview I should not even be using on my full-time, live iPhone. For whatever reason, I expect this build to be ready for consumer testing, nearly feature-complete, and representative of the final iOS 6 release. I'm mad that X, Y and Z are missing!"

In other words, OP... you're putting the cart before the horse. You're not even running a consumer-targeted beta, so relax. On top of that, Google has already stated they will release a new iOS app, so I'm betting you'll get your transit mapping there. That... or buy an Android device.

Actually, no. You're just another person who doesn't get it.