I've been playing with an app called 'OS OpenMaps'. It's really quite nice, and it's free. It uses a number of data sources, one of which is FREE data available from the Uk's Ordinance Survey service; possibly the oldest and best national mapping organisation on the planet. Why anyone would attempt to create a map of the UK from scratch and not use this fantastic data source as a base to start with is beyond me. Talk about making life difficult for yourself.
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Wow. Apple Maps is a disaster.
- Thread starter b24pgg
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I know, it makes little sense.
I believe Google used OS quite extensively when building G Maps.
I loved that article from the cartographer where he said that everyone is a specialist for the area he lives in and now complains how stupid Apple are not to use that or that mapping etc.
Come on guys, this is finding best maps not only for your region or country, but for billions of POIs and streets around the world.
But the street info seem to be fine mostly anyway, people mostly complain about missing POIs, I can't believe how people allegedly depend on them so much suddenly.
Yes, Google maps has some 20%-30% more POIs in my area too, still they don't even cover every 2nd shop or company missing the most obvious and large department store across the street and the farmacy right in our house.
It makes complete sense to use data from the OS for the UK bits of their map. They even have POI data available in the CORRECT place; unlike for example, coffee shops in treetops!
You probably didn't read what I wrote. Yes, it might make sense with the knowledge you have and in a perfect world. but maybe Apple already bought other maps, which were well tested for turn-by-turn, which seems to be Apple's first priority.
Coffee shops in treetops are nice to fill complaint threads like these, but in real life not many people care about such stuff.
You can always apply for a job at Apple with your deep cartographer knowledge, they are desperately seeking specialist right now. I am just happy how Maps saved me another 15min or so this morning because it sent me the slightly longer route to work.
Google maps just introduced Ocean View...
http://hypebeast.com/2012/09/google-maps-now-offers-ocean-views/
yeah...I think apple might have ********* this one up.
http://hypebeast.com/2012/09/google-maps-now-offers-ocean-views/
yeah...I think apple might have ********* this one up.
You have obviously not read the rest of the thread. POI's are the least of people's worries here in the UK. There are streets and whole villages and towns missing or in the wrong place with wrong. The scale of the problems is epic.
There are two things to fix here, the first is that the search was performed for a totally different town called Tarsdorf.
Secondly, they need to change the street names because not every street in town you mention is known by the same name.
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Why do so many people not bother researching before they post?
The number of employees at over 7000 for Google Maps (both full time & contractors) is widely reported across many online publications including well-known ones like CNET.
It's ok to have a debate, after all that's what a forum it's all about, but it's no wonder this thread is so large when some of us don't even take the time to check on the well known facts of the situation.
I have reported a few things to apple, let's see how long it will take for them to change them...
You know what I mean, I'm just trying to point out that mobile maps aren't the be all and end all. Humankind has survived for many years without mobile maps, heck, even mobile phones.
Apple's POI database is pretty crap, but no POI database knows the difference between, for example, an open or recently closed hospital, an NHS or Private hospital (if you type in Hospital into a search, an engine won't return a question - NHS or Bupa?).
Emergency services will never tell you to rely on a mapping application to find your nearest hospital - and having been in an emergency situation, getting your phone out to load up map tiles is the last thing on your mind. This is exactly what your local emergency number is for (999/911/112).
The emergency/life threatening example is just taking things too far to try and tarnish Apple even further.
Lots of interesting new material on the thread today.
Thanks for posting this article, David Pogue is undoubtedly a good tech writer & as I understand he's been in the field for a while now. As such, he regularly gets privileged access to Apple products and employees.
Unfortunately, in common with many high-profile reviewers, he did not mention the problems with maps at all in his main review of the iPhone. In fact only a couple did and even then, they gave it no more than a few sentences.
He obviously feels a lot safer now the issues are being spoken about on a global basis.
Anyway, the most interesting aspect of the article for me was the fact that he claims, from some inside information, to have timescales for developments of Google Maps.
"You can still use Google’s maps — on the Web. Visit maps.google.com and accept the offer to create a Home-screen icon for you. You won’t get spoken directions, but you’ll get written directions, public transportation details, live traffic reports and, of course, Google’s far superior maps and data. (In two weeks, you’ll be able to get Street View this way, too, says Google.)"
So in two weeks we'll be able to get Street View on iOS devices via the Google Maps web app. That's very big news for some of us, if true and I will be delighted. Yes it won't give us integration into the core of iOS, but it's a start.
"If you can wait a couple of months, you’ll be able to install Google’s own maps app; Google is busily readying one for the iPhone and iPad"
He also claims that Google's dedicated iOS application will be released within two months. Whilst many of us would like to see that ASAP, at least this is some kind of timescale – although my feeling is he's a bit more vague on this one.
If we can believe the first comment about Street View coming to the web app, then there's no reason why they wouldn't have it in the dedicated application too.
So, all that would then remain would be for Apple to approve the application & finally give us as customers a choice as to which we want to use for our main source of mapping service throughout iOS. If they do all that, I'll still take the time to help them to improve the Apple Maps product.
Yeah, but how many of those drive around in cars or dive the oceans taking photos?
I don't think Apple's intention is to make Maps an undertaking Google makes their maps. So they don't need to match those 7000 to quickly make their Maps a great value for a vast majority of people.
They will probably not try to match street view but will slowly build 3D models for all cities around the world, which is more gimmicky but nice.
True and, back then, I used to carry all kinds of maps with me wherever I drove, but that was a long time ago and, with so many GSP/Nav options, they haven't been needed in years.
Humankind survived for many years without cars, electricity, or vaccines too...but I don't see how it's relevant to Apple's pathetic maps.
Google maps just introduced Ocean View...
http://hypebeast.com/2012/09/google-maps-now-offers-ocean-views/
yeah...I think apple might have ********* this one up.
Yep. I'm continuously in the Ocean
Don't get me wrong, its a nice feature but its most likely bottom of their list of priorities.
Interesting iPhone app based taxi/limousine firm Über have asked all of their drivers who have not already updated their iPhone to iOS 6 to hold off until next week.
Wonder what they've been told?
Über Tells Drivers To Hold Off On Updating To iOS 6 Until Next Week
http://goo.gl/Fe9PV
(Their drivers use their iPhone for navigation to the customer who has requested a pickup via the app. Some are having problems with Apple Maps including the driver that was collecting the writer of the article.)
Über website:
https://www.uber.com/cities
Wonder what they've been told?
Über Tells Drivers To Hold Off On Updating To iOS 6 Until Next Week
http://goo.gl/Fe9PV
(Their drivers use their iPhone for navigation to the customer who has requested a pickup via the app. Some are having problems with Apple Maps including the driver that was collecting the writer of the article.)
Über website:
https://www.uber.com/cities
Some people just blindly defend Apple no matter what...
Maps? "I can't believe how people allegedly depend on them so much suddenly."
Mobile phones? "I can't believe how people allegedly depend on them so much suddenly."
Computers? "I can't believe how people allegedly depend on them so much suddenly."
Her's a really key feature of the native Google Maps app on IOS 5 that no-one seems to mention: NO COMPASS! So the this expensive iPhone is fitted with a compass, I use it with Google Maps every time, but you cannot use it on a web based app?
Also, on web app, once you have planned a route the first hing you are presented with is a lengthy text description of the route. Small to read on an iPhone. You have to locate a tiny 'map' link to finally show the route on map. With native app, the graphical mapped route appears first.
I'm really curious haw Street View will be implemented if ever in a Web page. All interactive things in IOS are done via apps.
At least Google is giving timelines and clear objectives, unlike Apple.
To someone who doesn't use the Turn-by-Turn navigation feature, and lives in a place that's poorly mapped by Apple, the Google Maps web app is already a more appealing piece of software than Apple Maps.
With the addition of streetview I probably would forget that Apple even has a map (although I'd be reminded each time I open a 3rd party app that makes use of it). It's already stashed safely in my "Random" folder, which is all on it's own on the last page of my home screen.
Yeah, fine sarcasm, but the fact is, neither I nor anybody I know ever cared about POIs in Maps.
What do I need POIs for if I can't navigate there? I still don't care about them but now I can navigate fine.
No public transportation, ok, I can fully understand how those people are downgraded for now, but at the same time many (probably most) people got upgraded.
So if the decision was: No turn by turn ever but full google features or turn by turn now and most other features a little later, I fully understand their decision. And it is not like they forbid Google to still offer their services on the platform.
I'd have taken no turn by turn ever. I have a sat-nav. I have a cheap back up sat-nav app, should I ever be driving someone else's car. I don't have a car mount for my phone though, which makes the phone one a bit useless, just as the ios6 one is.
Most people use maps on the phone when walking or before travelling. The features we've lost aren't worth a turn-by-turn which is inferior to any decent sat-nav.
yeah, some people still use iPods in addition to iPhone, a matter of taste. But Satnavs are expensive when keeping the maps up-to-date and you don't need one any more with iOS6. No need for car mount, I never need to look at the screen for navigation.
Can we agree on that nobody of us knows what Maps is used mostly for?
But c't, best acclaimed german print magazine for computers etc. tested the iPhone 5 and they liked turn by turn without even mentioning the lack of other features...and they are not apple biased.
All I can say is that I just dropped Navigon, which after many years finally became pretty good, in favor of Maps. Most dedicated Satnav hardware still has no crowd traffic feature. Maps simply does what I always wanted - give me the fastest route depending on traffic and give instructions clear enough so no visual confirmation is needed.
Google maps just introduced Ocean View...
http://hypebeast.com/2012/09/google-maps-now-offers-ocean-views/
yeah...I think apple might have ********* this one up.
Okay..so where are all of the "I'll just jump I to my helicopter" people who were busting on flyover?
No "let me just get in my yacht" comments on this one?
This surely can't be true and if it is it's not representative of the majority of iPhone users in my experience.
There are many apps that review/locate POI's including restaurants, tourist sites, cinemas, banks, whatever else.
With having a detailed mapping database, everything becomes so much easier & available in the palm of your hand.
Taking a typical day, I could meet a potential customer at their office, which I've never been to before. I can look at the area beforehand on Street View to familiarise myself and check local parking information etc.
My girlfriend might then call me on the way home to say that our neighbour is having a few problems and won't be able to pick up their young son from nursery/pre-school. It doesn't matter that I've never been there before, because I'll find it on Google Maps and be able to navigate successfully
By the time we're home no-one feels like cooking, so my girlfriend suggests trying a new restaurant and we find which is the best Chinese in the next town.
During the meal, we might decide to see a film in a cinema in this town and be able to find reviews of the best cinema and accurate directions.
Finally after a good feed and a decent movie, we make it home and start planning to see some new sights/attractions when my parents visit at the weekend.
I might use multiple apps to achieve this, but it doesn't matter because previously at the core of iOS we had a reliable mapping service. This is why POI's matter to most people because they are used frequently in their daily lives.
As horrible as it may be for some, its been great for me. Although I don't use public transportation etc. Its the first map application that has understood that my street is a one way.
No we cannot agree. Apple, Google etc already have the stats on the uses of the mapping apps.
Voice turn by turn car navigation and 3D gizmos are eye catching marketing stuff, in fact only a small minority of people will ever need/use it on their phone.
the rest of us need solid, univeral, accurate mapping, route planning for rail, walking, tourism, (and car - for PLANNING, not while driving) and POI info.