Users Noticing Significant Improvements in Apple Maps Data with Quick Corrections

[gmanist1000]

What kills me about these maps and the lack POIs is that don’t you people know where you’re going? Do people who live in the same town for years have to have a gps unit each and every time they get in the car?

You must live in a small town to know where everything is.

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Not to mention that the graphical part of the UI was much, MUCH better in iOS 6. In iOS 7 they took down the only thing good about this application.

1. The directions in iOS 6 would appear on signs that were personalized for each country/state. Just this alone was a nice touch.
2. The text was actually readable, thanks to the contrast of the UI elements in place.
3. Same for the symbols.
4. The map shown was actually bigger in some way than in iOS7, because it was underneath the directions, now they cut it. You could almost see the sky. It didn't seem like it was cut awkwardly.

Just take a look :

Agreed, the iOS 6 interface was far superior for Maps.

 

[Mtmspa]

Once Obama and the car companies make mobile phone maps and turn by turn illegal, you will have to use the $1500 in dash system only. Yes, there is a proposal to do this. It is all about $$, but they will sell it as a safety issue.

 

[d0nK]

Not to mention that the graphical part of the UI was much, MUCH better in iOS 6. In iOS 7 they took down the only thing good about this application.

I sort of agree.
Sometimes less really is less;
less clear
less readable
less usable

I'm all for minimalism, but good software interface design should be married with usability, not opposed to it.

 

[Michael Scrip]

People are comparing Apple Maps to Google Maps. Google Maps is much older. Wait until Apple Maps has been out for as long as Google Maps, then compare.

Yes... Google Maps has been out for 9 years.

Apple Maps... 2 years.

But when Apple Maps is 9 years old... Google Maps will be 16 years old... and Google will have even more mapping data by then.

I can't envision Google slowing down their map efforts anytime soon... they have a thirst for data like no other.

The question is... when will Apple Maps have "enough" data to be considered a rival to Google Maps?

 

[PDE]

I've been on vacation in the northern part of the UK this week and let me tell you POI locating is TERRIBLE. It couldn't find my B&B and obviously google maps finds it perfectly. Directions are okay, navigation is excellent when compared to google maps. Apple maps are incredibly light on battery when compared to google while navigating which I like. Once Apple gets it's POI locating down I'll switch to it full time.

That's exactly my experience in the UK. It's laughable how off it is and many times POI don't come up at all. Shops, cafes that have been around for years are often missing.

 

[Rogifan]

Even if users are dissatisfied with Apple Map, Apple should just keep plugging away at it, making acquisitions when necessary. They certainly shouldn't just give up and let Google have free reign. Apple got a late start but they should continue to put in more effort.

Exactly. I'm amazed at how many people think Apple should let google control all services. Why is it a good thing for one company to rule over so many things?

 

[Compile 'em all]

Yes... Google Maps has been out for 9 years.

Apple Maps... 2 years.

But when Apple Maps is 9 years old... Google Maps will be 16 years old... and Google will have even more mapping data by then.

New locations and POI don't grow on trees. In one street, at one point in time, Apple maps will have the same data like Google. Google aren't going to invent some new real world data that doesn't exist. I think in a few years, there won't be that significant difference between both in most aspects.

 

[unplugme71]

Yeah, that's the main reason I don't use it. It drains the battery more quickly and makes me press too many buttons to make it navigate, plus Siri can't use it. Seriously, half the buttons on the app are redundant. It's a great service, sadly limited by a poorly-made app and Apple's refusal (until iOS 8) to allow Siri to control third-party apps.

Yup, the Google Maps pre-iOS 7 was much better even if it lacked turn-by-turn directions. Whatever Google did with iOS 7 was just a horrible implementation. And its not very intuitive.

 

[guppygupta]

Apple Maps has been an abject failure and huge disappointment.
I don't trust it, therefore I don't use it.
Time and time again it just doesn't come close to the accuracy of Google Maps.

I find it laughable that they are just now beginning to address its accuracy shortcomings. They should have done this a long time ago. If it were not an Apple product, the Apple community would have forgotten it a long time ago. The Apple apologists continue to make excuses for this uncharacteristically poor Apple product.

 

[peterdevries]

People are comparing Apple Maps to Google Maps. Google Maps is much older. Wait until Apple Maps has been out for as long as Google Maps, then compare.

I understand that and I know that is what people are doing. The point I was making is that it's unacceptible to argue that way. Google was first to market and could progressively learn and introduce new features.

Apple on the other hand enters a well established market with mature service providers and experienced developer parties. When Google did it it was rocket science. Now it is a complicated but manageable implementation with experienced partners providing data and development services. So from my point of view I see no need to accept that apple starts at the same level as Google did and why we should wait equally long for a result.

 

[John.B]

But it isn't Yelp.com shows the location in the right place...

Stranger still that two different map sources show that restaurant in the wrong place. Makes you wonder what their source is. Not to mention, the inability to correct it once it has been reported (especially repeatedly reported).

It took a while for the newly built Starbucks near me to get updated to the correct location. Because they had the wrong location, the Starbucks passbook app wouldn't automatically fire up until I was leaving, driving down the street. But it was fixed the third time I posted a correction.

 

[maninhat]

Where I come from, the apple maps are just plain bad... It's not a matter of preference, one just has to stick with google. I wouldn't dare using them as satnav...

 

[doelcm82]

Once Obama and the car companies make mobile phone maps and turn by turn illegal, you will have to use the $1500 in dash system only. Yes, there is a proposal to do this. It is all about $$, but they will sell it as a safety issue.

Once Ted Cruz and the paper industry make in dash systems illegal, we'll be back to using folded maps in in the glove box.

 

[nikaru]

The problem with Maps is the outdated information. You cant list buldings that were demolished 3 years. The land scape is changing constantly with new roads, new buildings, new business. If they dont find a way to be up to date soon, it will be even bigger failure and huge resource lost. That said flyover must be available for every major city with more than 1 milion population if they want to be useful and with higher details and updates annualy. The users reports are good to fix some problems, but they cant fix the whole world.

 

[AndyUnderscoreR]

Here in Worcester, UK, it's pretty hopeless. The street where I live still has the spelling mistake I reported when maps first launched, and the biggest single POI in the whole of Worcester is still shown as "University of Worcestor".

Buying bad data is one thing, ignoring reports for over a year is another. Why even have a report feature if reports are just going to be ignored?

 

[NMBob]

Once Ted Cruz and the paper industry make in dash systems illegal, we'll be back to using folded maps in in the glove box.

You mean some people will have to use their brains for the first time? That WILL be shocking!

 

[cocky jeremy]

Google's data is still 100x better than Apple's. And we're talking the basics.

It's all because Google has a world class map editing system that anyone can signup and use.

Hopefully Apple will implement something like this.

It's because Google Maps has been around forever. You can't really compare 1-2 years to 10+ on something like maps.

 

[maninhat]

It's because Google Maps has been around forever. You can't really compare 1-2 years to 10+ on something like maps.

Well that's the thing, you can. It's a product in the same category

 

[chochazel]

I understand why people *wanted* Apple Maps to begin its public life as a perfectly formed service but I don't know why people *expected* as much. It is great that they are making clear strides and I expect that they will keep it up. I have had more problems with the service than I would like but I think it works pretty well overall.

Are you being serious? People weren't given a choice on the matter. It's not like Apple ran the service in Beta for a few years like Google do. People updated their devices a received a worse, in many cases completely unworkable, mapping service - that's a huge betrayal of trust.

Google Maps did not exist as a separate app at the time, and even if it did, the system didn't allow a change in default apps.

The only people expecting Apple to have a flawless mapping service from the start were seemingly Apple - given that they forced it on every one of their users without any public testing.

 

[Navdakilla]

I do like Apple Maps, but overall I still find Google Maps to be much more thorough and consistent.

A couple of examples...the elementary school four blocks from my house shows as a middle school, one that was closed down MANY years ago. I've submitted the correction at least four times, but Apple doesn't seem to have taken notice. Another example is a KFC that still shows up, even though it too has been closed for several years...and replaced by one about a mile away that does NOT show up.

I do hope that Apple continues to update and refine, although it seems like they still have a long way to go to come close to Google's offering.

Similar stories to me. google is still at the forefront of the game

 

[Michael Scrip]

New locations and POI don't grow on trees. In one street, at one point in time, Apple maps will have the same data like Google. Google aren't going to invent some new real world data that doesn't exist. I think in a few years, there won't be that significant difference between both in most aspects.

I understand your point that Apple and Google are both mapping the same world... it just seems that Google has a much better handle on it. Not only because they had a huge head start... but that data collection seems to be their forte.

I would imagine that Google has a much more robust mapping division than Apple could ever dream of.

Google has cars out on the road right now collecting all sorts of data. Google is, for all intents and purposes, a data company.

Where does Apple get their data? Do they have feet on the ground anywhere?

 

[doelcm82]

Once Obama and the car companies make mobile phone maps and turn by turn illegal, you will have to use the $1500 in dash system only. Yes, there is a proposal to do this. It is all about $$, but they will sell it as a safety issue.

Once Ted Cruz and the paper industry make in dash systems illegal, we'll be back to using folded maps in in the glove box.

You mean some people will have to use their brains for the first time? That WILL be shocking!

I never said anything about anyone using brains. Reading the street index on a paper map while driving is just as brainless as typing in the address on a smartphone while driving.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Using the map that Walmart provides on their site (Bing) for the store locator, you get the same location shown as Apple.

But looking further, I think the Apple map is correct (the pin is in the back of the lot near the canal though). The sat image is before the Walmart was constructed. Google and Apple both show the store being directly across from Rudolph Rd. It's just that the sat image predates the construction of the store.

In fact, if you look at Google street view, it also predates the store. So I would say that in this case, Apple Map is actually right.

Pop open both aps and check the two. Google Maps puts it's pin in the store. Go to that point and you will be inside the Walmart store. Apple Maps puts it's pin in the canal. Go to that pin and you will be underwater and in danger of being eaten. I can't see how "Apple Map is actually right" unless I would subscribe to the "Apple is always right mentality".

But as I also posted, 2 other Walmart hunts in SC and Florida took me to empty fields. And the guy to which I replied also had the same problem.

 

[MacrumoursUser]

I understand your point that Apple and Google are both mapping the same world... it just seems that Google has a much better handle on it. Not only because they had a huge head start... but that data collection seems to be their forte.

I would imagine that Google has a much more robust mapping division than Apple could ever dream of.

Google has cars out on the road right now collecting all sorts of data. Google is, for all intents and purposes, a data company.

Where does Apple get their data? Do they have feet on the ground anywhere?

Because collecting data is not apples core business.

 

[ATC]

I understand your point that Apple and Google are both mapping the same world... it just seems that Google has a much better handle on it. Not only because they had a huge head start... but that data collection seems to be their forte.

I would imagine that Google has a much more robust mapping division than Apple could ever dream of.

Google has cars out on the road right now collecting all sorts of data. Google is, for all intents and purposes, a data company.

Where does Apple get their data? Do they have feet on the ground anywhere?

Exactly right.

I've reported about a two-dozen major errors (in mapping and POIs) in the last 2 years. When both Google Maps and Apple Maps had the same error, there is a stark difference between the two in how error reports are handled:

Google:
Withing 24 hours of report Google emails me confirmation of receipt.
Within 3 days I get another email confirming validity of error/fix.
Inside of a week from report, error is fixed and an email from Google confirms it.

Apple:
Within 1 year (and counting) - no confirmation of report ever received.
Error still not fixed.

You can invest in 20 mapping companies, add flyover 3D features for the moon and say you're taking Mapping very seriously till you're blue in the face but unless Apple somehow drastically changes its handling of error reporting the divide between the two will only widen.