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Yes it didn't expire until next year, but apple have obviously terminated the agreement now, they wouldn't pay for the next year for something they no longer use....

Don't think that matters - they have already payed. The agreement would run out in the middle of the year and could not be tied to a IOS/iPhone refresh...
 
By the way, google maps lite had 100% less turn by turn directions. A big deal. Why have a map if you need to use another one to drive?

Why is it that we survived for over 5 years without native turn-by-turn directions and did just fine with 3rd party alternatives, but now that Apple Maps has TbT directions it's the saving grace of the new maps? People love to point out that Google forced Apple into this mess by not allowing them to have TbT directions. But, in reality, Apple Maps really didn't fill this huge hole in our iOS lives by including TbT directions, so it really shouldn't be the focus of why Apple had no choice but to change to their own mapping system.

This reminds me of copy-and-paste and MMS. Fanboys tried their best to argue that we really didn't need these features, but then went on to argue that they were game-changing features once they are introduced by Apple.
 
Why is it that we survived for over 5 years without native turn-by-turn directions and did just fine with 3rd party alternatives, but now that Apple Maps has TbT directions it's the saving grace of the new maps?.

I never used Maps now I do daily.

And old Maps is still there, should I now miss some of the features I never missed before (because you all rave about them) I still have them available.

@cyks...no need me to tell again your city is at the wrong position, I know.
 
I had to find two different business addresses yesterday. Place I've never been. So, yesterday, I had my first experience with Siri, bt audio, and maps.

I was listening to tunes from the phone through BT... works great! I picked the phone up, held down the home button, and Siri came up. I asked her, "Find 909 blank blank Avenue." I was about five miles from the city I was heading to. It took about 20 seconds or so, and the location popped up. I hit start, and the music faded out, and turn by turn instructions started playing through BT audio! She said to continue north on the road I was on for five miles, then she faded out and the music faded back in. Each time a direction was being told to me, the music fades out, etc. I looked at the phone and saw the active map, etc., and it wasn't as detailed as google maps, but it was showing exactly what I was needing.

Anyways, it was a good day with the phone. I never used BT audio, maps, or Siri. I was impressed and liked the functionality I used most of the day yesterday. +1 for my iPhone!
 
Google Maps will never be integrated into the iphone like it used to be. Apple products are just toys now.

heh heh, I think 5m Iphone 5 user disagree with you on the launch weekend. And Apple looks to be on pace to sell 40-50m unit of iphone 5 in 4Q.. If it is a toy, it is a very expensive and very popular toys... Technology change all the time. Google map has the upper hand now does not mean that they will hold the lead forever (and same for Apple Iphone.. I am not a fanboy.. I have an Ipad 3 but no Iphone yet. I am happy with my Samsung Infuse for now). Google map in IOS is history at this point, I think we should all chant 3 times and get this over our systems. The question is what is going to happen in 3 months, 6 months, 12 months. Apple already took the maximum hit in term or sales and PR because of the map fiasco. Apple map will only improve from here. The only debate left is the pace of the improvement.
 
Why is it that we survived for over 5 years without native turn-by-turn directions and did just fine with 3rd party alternatives, but now that Apple Maps has TbT directions it's the saving grace of the new maps? People love to point out that Google forced Apple into this mess by not allowing them to have TbT directions. But, in reality, Apple Maps really didn't fill this huge hole in our iOS lives by including TbT directions, so it really shouldn't be the focus of why Apple had no choice but to change to their own mapping system.

This reminds me of copy-and-paste and MMS. Fanboys tried their best to argue that we really didn't need these features, but then went on to argue that they were game-changing features once they are introduced by Apple.

That argument goes for any other feature. Heck, it goes for Maps itself. The point is that it is a vast improvement over what was available before. And what you lost from the built in app, you gain from 3rd party apps. So the net result is that instead of needing a 3rd party app to do navigation, you instead need a 3rd party app to do street view (or whatever).

People like to point out that apple's maps don't compare to google's maps. But they really mean to say that they don't compare to google's maps *on android*. And, as I said, if what you want is google's maps on android, then you should have bought an android a long time ago. Samsung makes a few...

But the experience of google maps on iOS was crippled. Apple maps are bad also (in different ways), but at least Apple can now control the experience and improve it, add features, etc. At the same time, Google can now do its own maps app and really shine. Win-win.

I really don't understand what the critics would like. Nobody thought that iOS maps was tenable. They sucked. Nobody thought that google would let apple use its maps on the same level as what is on android. Even google admits that the battle today is iOS v. Android.

It is clear that Apple had to make a change. Now they have to double down and get good at maps. Google did it. Apple can also.

(fanboys? really?)
 
I g was very wrong. There are two scenarios - Apple knew what they were doing or they simply didn't.

Neither one seems to be very comforting at all.



I know there's a functional difference - that's not the point. The point is they are referencing a competitor they just threw from the platform and placed themselves in a position where they hardly can deny the coming app from said competitor in their app store.

I have no doubt in my mind that the map roll out is a disaster and there are a lot of unhappy executive and BOD. There is no reason to present the Apple map in the launch events as it was given the state of the software. However, my comment is focus on the future. Are you thinking that Apple cannot improve the map to a usable state (i.e. POI are accurately placed in the correct location, address are correct, turn by turn are correct). I worked in software development for 20+ years and no matter how tough a problem is, engineer can make progress in time. The only discussion in my mind is how fast the progress will be.

On your second point, they did reference Google map. But they also highlited a lot of other competitor solution like Bing, mapquest, garmin in addition to Web based google map. So in IOS 5, it is 100% google map, and now it is ?% google map in IOS 6. This is the low point of Apple map and I have no doubt that a lot of folk will use other map solution and be happy for it. But location based app like passport will starting bringing those users back when they work properly in a few months. What is a user going to do? if they ticket is in passport and it tie into Apple map, should a user abandon the ticket just because there were ticked off by this Apple map fiasco?

As a shareholer, it was worse than a disaster.. It show corporate infighting between Fostall and Tim Cook. But to say the map will continue to be a disaster in the next 3 months, 6 months or 12 months is just non-sense. The real discussion should be how far can Apple map go in term of accuracy and function by those check point.
 
That argument goes for any other feature. Heck, it goes for Maps itself. The point is that it is a vast improvement over what was available before. And what you lost from the built in app, you gain from 3rd party apps. So the net result is that instead of needing a 3rd party app to do navigation, you instead need a 3rd party app to do street view (or whatever).

People like to point out that apple's maps don't compare to google's maps. But they really mean to say that they don't compare to google's maps *on android*. And, as I said, if what you want is google's maps on android, then you should have bought an android a long time ago. Samsung makes a few...

But the experience of google maps on iOS was crippled. Apple maps are bad also (in different ways), but at least Apple can now control the experience and improve it, add features, etc. At the same time, Google can now do its own maps app and really shine. Win-win.

I really don't understand what the critics would like. Nobody thought that iOS maps was tenable. They sucked. Nobody thought that google would let apple use its maps on the same level as what is on android. Even google admits that the battle today is iOS v. Android.

It is clear that Apple had to make a change. Now they have to double down and get good at maps. Google did it. Apple can also.

(fanboys? really?)

Yes, really. There's an awful lot of complaining and bitching on Mac Rumors. So, if Google Maps was so bad before, show me a pre-iOS 6 thread where numerous people are going off on Google Maps. Or, are you are saying that only now, with the introduction of Apple Maps, people have now realized ,in hindsight, how "crippled" Google Maps really was? If that's your argument, then you lose all credibility because even Apple themselves have officially said their Maps app is unsatisfactory and inadequate.
 
That argument goes for any other feature. Heck, it goes for Maps itself. The point is that it is a vast improvement over what was available before. And what you lost from the built in app, you gain from 3rd party apps. So the net result is that instead of needing a 3rd party app to do navigation, you instead need a 3rd party app to do street view (or whatever).

What I lost from the old built in app was accurate streets, addresses, walking/ bike paths, subways, labeled buildings, and POI. As a direct result of the bad mapping, I also lost navigation services such as Find My Phone/ Friends and location based reminders.

Sadly, a 3rd party app won't solve the bulk of my new issues.

People like to point out that apple's maps don't compare to google's maps. But they really mean to say that they don't compare to google's maps *on android*.

No, I mean Apple's Maps don't compare to Google's Maps. The maps I had just a few weeks ago were far superior to the ones I'm now stuck with.

It is clear that Apple had to make a change. Now they have to double down and get good at maps. Google did it. Apple can also.

It also took Google many years to get it right. Apple may have needed to make their own maps, but they didn't need to force them upon us when they weren't ready while taking away maps that did work.
 
You asked what critics would like... THIS^^^.
Good maps. Accurate. Easy to read. Good data.
As you said, get good at maps.

Nowhere to go but up...

----------

Yes, really. There's an awful lot of complaining and bitching on Mac Rumors. So, if Google Maps was so bad before, show me a pre-iOS 6 thread where numerous people are going off on Google Maps. Or, are you are saying that only now, with the introduction of Apple Maps, people have now realized ,in hindsight, how "crippled" Google Maps really was? If that's your argument, then you lose all credibility because even Apple themselves have officially said their Maps app is unsatisfactory and inadequate.

Riiiiight. Nobody complained about the lack of features on iOS maps compared to android....sure.

----------

What I lost from the old built in app was accurate streets, addresses, walking/ bike paths, subways, labeled buildings, and POI. As a direct result of the bad mapping, I also lost navigation services such as Find My Phone/ Friends and location based reminders.

Sadly, a 3rd party app won't solve the bulk of my new issues.



No, I mean Apple's Maps don't compare to Google's Maps. The maps I had just a few weeks ago were far superior to the ones I'm now stuck with.



It also took Google many years to get it right. Apple may have needed to make their own maps, but they didn't need to force them upon us when they weren't ready while taking away maps that did work.

Maps works fine. The ones I have now are far more useful to me than the one I had a few weeks ago. YMMV.
As I said, google is free to offer it's own maps.
 
You did catch the part about all the bad, no good, terrible publicity? It sure reached a whole bunch more people than your comment...

um ok, but who the heck is Dwight Silverman? Its kind of lame when you through out a quote from a kind of unknown dude that happens to have a blog.
 
um ok, but who the heck is Dwight Silverman? Its kind of lame when you through out a quote from a kind of unknown dude that happens to have a blog.

Dwight Silverman is a well-known columnist/blogger for the Houston Chronicle.
 
I think the new Maps app is really good, at least in my area its perfect. The vector graphics look really nice and I used the navigation on it once so far but it was dead on accurate no problems. So im satisfied, and from what I am reading, Apple is updating and fixing Maps on a daily basis and people are seeing fixes on a daily sp that is great
 
...google is free to offer it's own maps.

Yes, but 3rd party apps rely on Apple's MapKit and the MapApp for information & data. When the initial information is inaccurate, this has the potential to really throw other apps off as well. And developers can't use google maps for that.
Similarly, when you click on an address in your address book, it opens in the Map App. If the Apple information is inaccurate, you won't get an accurate read on the map.
GI,GO...
 
From Macgasm, re: a recent Blumenthals survey:

"The results of a new survey from Blumenthals shows that 74 percent of the respondents find that Maps works fine for them. The number jumps to a staggering 91.2 percent if we include the category “It’s annoying but not a deal breaker.” In other words, just 8.8 percent of respondents had a real problem with Apple’s new Maps application, selecting either “It might effect my future buying decisions” or “I won’t ever buy another iPhone.” That’s hardly numbers that corroborate with the apocalyptical hyperbole we’re seeing from the tech press these days.

The reality of the situation is quite simple. The average person is getting along just fine with Maps. Maps has bugs to work out, it’s obvious, but, it works just fine in the majority of situations."

Exactly. It's bad for some, maybe many, but they're a minority. But these days, minorities whose toys don't work right pitch a fit that can be heard 'round the world. Like my 2 year old.
 
Nowhere to go but up....

...and, in the meantime, those of us with pathetic maps in our area are forced to do nothing but hope and wait for fixes so features we used a few weeks ago might work again.


Riiiiight. Nobody complained about the lack of features on iOS maps compared to android....sure.

People previously complained about the lack of navigation, not about the maps themselves. The recommendation was to use Waze, Google Maps via Safari or any of the other Navigation app... the same recommendation that Apple is STILL using. The difference being that the underlying system maps are no longer useful.


Maps works fine. The ones I have now are far more useful to me than the one I had a few weeks ago. YMMV.
As I said, google is free to offer it's own maps.

I'm glad they work for you, but for myself and countless others (including Apple themselves) think otherwise.

As mentioned many times already, Google offering it's own map App won't fix the core features that are now dead.
 
From Macgasm, re: a recent Blumenthals survey:

"The results of a new survey from Blumenthals shows that 74 percent of the respondents find that Maps works fine for them. The number jumps to a staggering 91.2 percent if we include the category “It’s annoying but not a deal breaker.” In other words, just 8.8 percent of respondents had a real problem with Apple’s new Maps application, selecting either “It might effect my future buying decisions” or “I won’t ever buy another iPhone.” That’s hardly numbers that corroborate with the apocalyptical hyperbole we’re seeing from the tech press these days.

The reality of the situation is quite simple. The average person is getting along just fine with Maps. Maps has bugs to work out, it’s obvious, but, it works just fine in the majority of situations."

Exactly. It's bad for some, maybe many, but they're a minority. But these days, minorities whose toys don't work right pitch a fit that can be heard 'round the world. Like my 2 year old.

Why did you omit this part of the article from your quote?

The results of a new survey from Blumenthals (but only comprised of 168 responses) shows that 74 percent of the respondents find that Maps works fine for them.

http://www.macgasm.net/2012/10/10/a...es-dont-really-care-maps-works-fine-for-them/
 
From Macgasm, re: a recent Blumenthals survey:

"The results of a new survey from Blumenthals shows that 74 percent of the respondents find that Maps works fine for them. The number jumps to a staggering 91.2 percent if we include the category “It’s annoying but not a deal breaker.” In other words, just 8.8 percent of respondents had a real problem with Apple’s new Maps application, selecting either “It might effect my future buying decisions” or “I won’t ever buy another iPhone.” That’s hardly numbers that corroborate with the apocalyptical hyperbole we’re seeing from the tech press these days.

Did you go on to read that the "Survey" consisted of a whopping 168 responses?
That's not a survey, that's the number of people in my grocery store on a Thursday afternoon...:rolleyes:
 
Yes, but 3rd party apps rely on Apple's MapKit and the MapApp for information & data. When the initial information is inaccurate, this has the potential to really throw other apps off as well. And developers can't use google maps for that.
Similarly, when you click on an address in your address book, it opens in the Map App. If the Apple information is inaccurate, you won't get an accurate read on the map.
GI,GO...

The big problem with Apple maps is bad POIs. 3rd party doesn't make use of these, AFAIK. Apple's addresses are fine, and in some cases, even better than google's.

So, "potential", but the big complain is POIs.

----------

...and, in the meantime, those of us with pathetic maps in our area are forced to do nothing but hope and wait for fixes so features we used a few weeks ago might work again.




People previously complained about the lack of navigation, not about the maps themselves. The recommendation was to use Waze, Google Maps via Safari or any of the other Navigation app... the same recommendation that Apple is STILL using. The difference being that the underlying system maps are no longer useful.




I'm glad they work for you, but for myself and countless others (including Apple themselves) think otherwise.

As mentioned many times already, Google offering it's own map App won't fix the core features that are now dead.

Nothing is dead. I might have missed it, but I haven't really seen any problems with apps no working because of Maps. Maybe if you run and use the maps, you might not be able to map your run, but this is in isolated cases. And I"m sure you'll still get your mileage computed correctly. I'm also sure you are not running by looking at your maps.

If there are more serious cases, please post. Otherwise, I'm starting to suspect FUD is at play here. Too many chicken littles.
 
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