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Uber's Siri and Apple Maps Integrations Have Disappeared

I always found the maps/Siri integration to be slower and less reliable than just opening the Uber app.

When I use my home address for a pickup in maps it tells the driver to go a couple blocks over on a major road where you can’t really pick up from. Always ended up getting irritated and had to switch over to the app to get anything done.

It sucks because I would prefer using maps or Siri most of the time. Getting price comparisons and wait times for Uber/Lyft on one screen is super convenient.
 
chelsel said:
If you haven't tried Lyft... do it. In my experience it's cheaper and the cars are cleaner.
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Blackstick said:
I switched to Lyft and haven’t looked back. Better cars and drivers, same prices, better treatment of women at the company.
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I’ve downloaded and used Lyft once then I deleted it. The app seems ages behind Uber, it needs serious updating and the ability to pay using Apple Pay.
 
ke-iron said:
I’ve downloaded and used Lyft once then I deleted it. The app seems ages behind Uber, it needs serious updating and the ability to pay using Apple Pay.
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What exactly does the Uber app offer that Lyft doesn’t?

It takes Apple Pay. They were one of the first apps to take it when it was introduced.
 
ke-iron said:
I’ve downloaded and used Lyft once then I deleted it. The app seems ages behind Uber, it needs serious updating and the ability to pay using Apple Pay.
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I just downloaded Lyft - it supports Apple Pay & PayPal.
 
uroshnor said:
Or Apple’s privacy policy let them see or do less with data from people who triggered it from Maps, and Uber wanted to do something dodgy with end user data.

By doing this they force people to their app.

I know that sounds like a conspiracy theory, but is it really after the 95 other bad, disrespectful or illegal things Uber been caught doing already with user data ?
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I think you’re right, but had enough people used the feature they wouldn’t remove it is my guess.

I’m just speculating, but that says something about the importance of SiriKit. I still don’t think the majority of users use Siri for more than alarms, timers and the like, and the complaints Siri is getting is based on “benchmarks” that are far from real life usage.
 
Böhme417 said:
What exactly does the Uber app offer that Lyft doesn’t?

It takes Apple Pay. They were one of the first apps to take it when it was introduced.
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In Uber you can send a ride for someone else, you can add multiple stop points, there are more drivers, the app looks better and you can use Apple Pay. I was unable to use Apple Pay last year in the Lyft app when I downloaded to try it out. I had to add a credit card before I called for a ride, that took forever because they don’t have as many cars as Uber.
 
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ke-iron said:
In Uber you can send a ride for someone else, you can add multiple stop points, there are more drivers, the app looks better and you can use Apple Pay. I was unable to use Apple Pay last year in the Lyft app when I downloaded to try it out. I had to add a credit card before I called for a ride, that took forever because they don’t have as many cars as Uber.
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I'm sorry but this is just completely incorrect. I barely even use Lyft because I get bigger discounts on Uber, but Uber's app literally plays catchup to Lyft at every point you mentioned.
  • Uber added multiple stop trips on Oct 27, 2017 - Lyft had them on Nov 1, 2016
  • Uber added Apple Pay on Nov 11, 2016 - Lyft had it on Oct 20, 2014
  • Uber officially allowed you to order a ride for someone else on June 27, 2017 - Lyft had it on Mar 7, 2017
  • Uber added car colors Apr 12, 2017 - Lyft had them on Nov 12, 2015
  • Uber added beacon on Dec 15, 2016 - Lyft had Amp on Dec 8, 2016
  • On Lyft I can actually select which Airline I'm flying when I get dropped off at the airport so the driver doesn't have to ask.
  • Uber's app doesn't even work on the Apple Watch 75% of the time - and even when it does you can't set a pickup location, Lyft's app works great and it even has complications with trip details and car availability.
How many cars are available doesn't have anything to do with the app, that's the whole company you have problems with. And this totally varies by area, where I live and most places I've visited the availability is the same. Most Uber drivers also drive for Lyft at this point.

Uber is the big dog and gets 4-5x more volume so they don't see the need to have the latest and greatest features in their app, Lyft has to do everything it can to drive business - including making sure their app and its features are ahead of Uber. Uber actually sits back and waits for Lyft to do something, then copies it if it's popular.
 
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I just asked Siri "is there a lyft nearby" and it gave me a button to search the app store for "Siri ride apps". Uber doesn't show up in the search results.
 
cuencap said:
So you call for a normal yellow cab or you get a car service. Why don’t you simply hail a cab on the side of the road and cut out paying the middle man? What service is VIA providing you? I don’t love what I’ve heard about uber lately but I do love their service. Much more convenient (and more readily available) than Lyft in my area.

If Lyft didn’t start off with the gimmick of “each car has a theme”, which consisted of a dirty hipster serving you homemade cookies, they would be way more popular.
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Believe me, I just hail a cab if I'm somewhere you can hail a cab. It's fast and easy and way less irritating than staring at a stupid icon on a map.

But I live in Brooklyn and they aren't cruising around quite as densely where I live. The service VIA provides is letting me get a cab to come to where I am if it doesn't happen to be passing by me (and unoccupied) at that moment.

And how exactly are you lecturing me about "cutting out the middleman" when you're using Uber? They are the classic definition of a "middleman", and a very exploitative one at that. The sooner Uber dies, the better.
 
elemenohme said:
I just asked Siri "is there a lyft nearby" and it gave me a button to search the app store for "Siri ride apps". Uber doesn't show up in the search results.
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You're asking wrong - try "Order me a Lyft" or "I need a ride" - "Is there a lyft nearby" will simply launch the Lyft app.

I think this removal is a temporary issue or a bug, though - it's not really in Uber's best interest to reduce the number of ways you can request a ride.
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ignatius345 said:
And how exactly are you lecturing me about "cutting out the middleman" when you're using Uber? They are the classic definition of a "middleman", and a very exploitative one at that. The sooner Uber dies, the better.
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Taxis were significantly more exploitative (and in many cases still are) until Uber came along. NYC might have a reasonable taxi system, but literally everywhere else in the country (and in other countries this problem can be way worse, even dangerously so) does not. Uber and Lyft are only getting bigger, so I wouldn't hold my breath on them dying anytime soon.
 
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I honestly never use Siri to call up a ride service. I'd much rather just launch my ride service app of choice and book a ride. So this really won't impact my decision one way or the other (although deep down prefer Lyft).
 
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