Wow. Apple Maps is a disaster.

[Gjwilly]

Some important things to note for the not so bright:

* Its in Beta
* The release notes state that HQ satellite imagery is not in place yet
* Apple owners now have very good turn-by-turn navigation
* Google will release Google maps on the app store so we can have both
* As far as I am aware the Android marketplace will not be getting Apple Maps

So with all that in mind Im struggling to see the problem

Corection:
Some Apple owners now have very good turn-by-turn navigation.

 

[Parise]

Some important things to note for the not so bright:

* Its in Beta
* The release notes state that HQ satellite imagery is not in place yet
* Apple owners now have very good turn-by-turn navigation
* Google will release Google maps on the app store so we can have both
* As far as I am aware the Android marketplace will not be getting Apple Maps

So with all that in mind Im struggling to see the problem

As someone pointed out earlier, I dont think they fully understand the term "Beta".

 

[nickchallis92]

As someone pointed out earlier, I dont think they fully understand the term "Beta".

well then, why don't they keep google maps on there then?

they're selling a £500 phone with two beta features on it.

 

[shandyman]

well then, why don't they keep google maps on there then?

they're selling a £500 phone with two beta features on it.

Well actually currently Siri is the only feature open to the public that's in beta. Maps is on iOS 6 which is Dev and eager beavers only, not to general public......

Plus they're moving away from google so they don't have to pay google and they have more control...

 

[mazz0]

I actually rather like their style, I think it's a lot prettier than Google's, and the vectoryness is an improvement.

However, while bugs can be fixed, the disastrous move for me is dropping Streetview. I walk most of the time, and Streetview makes it easy to view my route in advance, and see in advance what my destination looks like. I don't travel by helicopter very often, flyover's not that much use for me, certainly no replacement for Streetview.

So to summarize, I think maps in iOS 6 will be prettier than in 5, but functionally less useful for me.

On a final, brighter note, I'm interested in seeing how it integrates with travel apps though, that has the potential to be very useful, if well implemented...

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Well in terms of just Maps for reference use, Google beats them all. But when talking turn by turn navigation, Apple Maps will most likely be just as good or better.

Most of my favorite Navagation apps(like Navigon, Waze & Mapquest) have crappy maps compared to Google, but out perform Google in Navigation.

Having another Navigation/Maps in the game is not a con at all, especially since turn by turn will be much more integrated compared to third party apps.

 

[SMIDG3T]

This is what a Beta is for.

 

[KnightWRX]

This is what a Beta is for.

This isn't even close to Beta. Beta shouldn't have any placeholder data in it. Anyone saying "normal, it's a beta!" doesn't have the first clue about software development stages and it shows.

No seriously, this looks rushed and looks like a vindicative move against Google. Apple seems to not be doing this in the interest of user experience, which is what they should be doing (user experience is key).

Kinda sad to see Apple go down this road. Let's hope unlike their other online services (Ping, iDisk, iWeb hosting), maps doesn't get released then quickly abandonned to rot until Apple gets "tired" of it.

 

[ct2k7]

Some important things to note for the not so bright:

* Its in Beta
* The release notes state that HQ satellite imagery is not in place yet
* Apple owners now have very good turn-by-turn navigation
* Google will release Google maps on the app store so we can have both
* As far as I am aware the Android marketplace will not be getting Apple Maps

So with all that in mind Im struggling to see the problem

You are very naieve or you fail to understand what's going on.

The Maps data is not in Beta.
HQ Satellite Imagery probably won't be in place for release, unless new sources come in.
Only iPhone 4S owners have turn-by-turn navigation

The maps (and its data) is simply lacking.

 

[Frankied22]

Some important things to note for the not so bright:

* Its in Beta
* The release notes state that HQ satellite imagery is not in place yet
* Apple owners now have very good turn-by-turn navigation
* Google will release Google maps on the app store so we can have both
* As far as I am aware the Android marketplace will not be getting Apple Maps

So with all that in mind Im struggling to see the problem

Just like Google Chrome is in the app store? Just like the fully functional Google+ is in the app store? Right. I don't see Apple or Google letting the iOS equivalent of androids google maps come to the iPhone. Don't hold your breath. Apple Maps will be it.

 

[KnightWRX]

Just like Google Chrome is in the app store? Just like the fully functional Google+ is in the app store? Right. I don't see Apple or Google letting the iOS equivalent of androids google maps come to the iPhone. Don't hold your breath. Apple Maps will be it.

Google has quite a few apps up on the App Store.

 

[WordMasterRice]

I think the term "poor standards" would only apply if this was the final version. It might just be an excuse on their part, but it is also a plausible excuse that you have to accept given the fact Apple themselves warned that not much high res data was available yet. You can't blame somebody for not providing something when they gave you fair warning of that fact in advance.

Fair enough that they did warn about it, but it isn't a flip switch sort of fix that's all.

 

[ChrisTX]

like siri for a year?

Or Android for several.

 

[b24pgg]

I don't see Apple or Google letting the iOS equivalent of androids google maps come to the iPhone.

The lack of Google Navigation on iOS is only because Apple rejected it.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...on_will_come_to_iphone_if_apple_approves.html

 

[Parise]

This isn't even close to Beta. Beta shouldn't have any placeholder data in it. Anyone saying "normal, it's a beta!" doesn't have the first clue about software development stages and it shows.

No seriously, this looks rushed and looks like a vindicative move against Google. Apple seems to not be doing this in the interest of user experience, which is what they should be doing (user experience is key).

Kinda sad to see Apple go down this road. Let's hope unlike their other online services (Ping, iDisk, iWeb hosting), maps doesn't get released then quickly abandonned to rot until Apple gets "tired" of it.

I think you're misconstruing the difference between a public beta and a closed beta. Things aren't going to be as polished in a closed beta as they are in public.

 

[b166er]

Google maps is pretty good, but I don't usually need about 80% of the information I'm seeing. I don't need POI's unless I've asked to see them. If I'm on a 20 mile drive to a meeting, why do I need to see a map cluttered with POI's? It would be nice if we could really tailor what info is displayed to us- Google, Apple, whoever.

I'm looking forward to giving Apple maps a try because I like the more minimal look. I don't need to zoom in on a house while I'm driving, so I shouldn't miss too many of the Google features. If I do, well, Google is going to release what will probably be a pretty cool app for their new maps in the near future.

All I ask is accurate directions.

 

[KnightWRX]

I think you're misconstruing the difference between a public beta and a closed beta. Things aren't going to be as polished in a closed beta as they are in public.

No, I'm not. In a beta test, the datasets are complete and you're looking to stomp out bugs before a release. In this stage, you shouldn't be adding new features (which can introduce bugs and break older features) and you shouldn't be using placeholder data anymore, your Q&A data should be a straight copy from your production environement, or what will eventually become your production environnement.

Seems to me a lot of people here are misconstruing "beta" to mean "work in progress in active development".

 

[Parise]

No, I'm not. In a beta test, the datasets are complete and you're looking to stomp out bugs before a release. In this stage, you shouldn't be adding new features (which can introduce bugs and break older features) and you shouldn't be using placeholder data anymore, your Q&A data should be a straight copy from your production environement, or what will eventually become your production environnement.

Seems to me a lot of people here are misconstruing "beta" to mean "work in progress in active development".

You do realize that Apple Maps will probably be in a perpetual beta for a while, right? What data are you not finding?

 

[Frankied22]

Google has quite a few apps up on the App Store.

Right, but they're all missing features that are on the android version. I wouldn't be surprised if Google wanted to help Apple upgrade the stock iOS maps these past two years to match google maps on android, but Apple held off so they could unveil their own maps. Now I also wouldn't be surprised if Apple blocked a fully functional Goigle Maps on ios.

 

[KnightWRX]

You do realize that Apple Maps will probably be in a perpetual beta for a while, right? What data are you not finding?

The data bit has been discussed to death already, does it need repeating ?

And if Apple is really going to ship it with this dataset, it's really bad form removing Google's complete and mostly accurate data. It hurts user experience.

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Right, but they're all missing features that are on the android version. I wouldn't be surprised if Google wanted to help Apple upgrade the stock iOS maps these past two years to match google maps on android, but Apple held off so they could unveil their own maps. Now I also wouldn't be surprised if Apple blocked a fully functional Goigle Maps on ios.

I'd be surprised if they would, since Google Earth is already pretty much it and its up on the app store now.

 

[Frankied22]

The data bit has been discussed to death already, does it need repeating ?

And if Apple is really going to ship it with this dataset, it's really bad form removing Google's complete and mostly accurate data. It hurts user experience.

----------



I'd be surprised if they would, since Google Earth is already pretty much it and its up on the app store now.

Google Earth is not Google Maps...

 

[-LikesMac-]

Er...

Well, if the version released in iOS 6 is like this and Google releases a standalone app…I know which one I'm going to be using.

 

[KnightWRX]

Google Earth is not Google Maps...

Uh ? You're not telling me anything I don't know. Google Earth still contains a lot of mapping data.

On what basis would Apple refuse Google Maps if they allow Google Earth, not to mention all other navigation/mapping applications ?

 

[cherrybombaz]

iOS 6 has the most beautiful turn-by-turn directions I've ever seen. And I've tried many different navigation apps including Android's navigation.

 

[WhySoSerious]

Beta doesn't even begin to describe these maps. If they're going to launch in the Autumn (and we're almost at midsummer now) then they should be data complete.

WTF? summer hasn't even started yet....June 20th is when summer begins.

you're just crying. put a pacifier in your mouth and get off the internet.