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Wow. Apple Maps is a disaster.

shulerg said:
Nobody held a gun to your head and forced you to upgrade to iOS 6. Admittedly, you couldn't have known Apple's Maps would suck, but there are always costs to early adoption. It's the same reason lots of people stuck with OS 9 for 2-3 yrs until OS X was stable.

They will fix this, given some time. Until then, there are countless options for getting directions, including a native google maps app coming soon.

It's one thing if someone says Maps can't tell me the fastest way to the hospital, but a lot of comments seem to be complaints along the lines of "blehhh my new favorite trendy bar won't show up.":p
Click to expand...

Can't really stick with iOS 5, I've read there are already apps that only work on 6. This is what keeps iOS from fragmenting too much.

2-3 years and iOS 5 will be nearly entirely obsolete. At the same time experts are saying 5+ years before Apple is where Google is now, which will be 5 years ahead of where they are now.


You are making it sound like its OK for the iPhone to be the dumbest smartphone. Personally I think it should "just work" and not rely on me asking my friends with Android phones how to get too that trendy new bar....
 
NestorRd said:
People complain a lot about the new mapping solution, and there are clear reasons for that, but everybody should sit back and think about how big of a new project this is for Apple.

It's very easy to say that Apple is letting everybody down with the new Maps app, when in fact there is a lot more positive than negative on the table. Since the release of iOS 6, folks have been complaining about the lack of detail in some terrain, or the lack of public transportation services, or the lack of local imagery for places, and maybe a few other things. When one does that, one should also take into account all the new other features that have come to replace the old Google Maps app, and just how difficult of a task it is to deliver a near-to-flawless experience when it comes to mapping. Speaking about the old Google Maps app, it wasn't exactly Apple's fault that it never got updated and improved, but Google wanted to take control over it and was unprepared to license API to Apple that would allow them to do that.

Personally, I think people should relax and have more faith in this. The new Maps may not be the wonder that it seemed to be when Scott demoed it on stage a couple of times, but it works and it will improve constantly as more people use it. Apple always delivers, they are perfectionists and this is backed by history. And if you follow the right venues for tech media, you will know that word on the street is that the mapping team of engineers at Apple is working full-time on this matter.

If anybody is interested, here is one of the most comprehensive reviews (by AnandTech) of the new Maps app, covering a lot of stuff both technical and non-technical. Definitely worth the read.
Click to expand...


^^ Well stated. Part of me wonders what the comments would be if Apple just held off altogether and left it alone. Geesh.....
 
Be careful on the road this weekend folks.

I3wll.png
 
NestorRd said:
People complain a lot about the new mapping solution, and there are clear reasons for that, but everybody should sit back and think about how big of a new project this is for Apple.

It's very easy to say that Apple is letting everybody down with the new Maps app, when in fact there is a lot more positive than negative on the table. Since the release of iOS 6, folks have been complaining about the lack of detail in some terrain, or the lack of public transportation services, or the lack of local imagery for places, and maybe a few other things. When one does that, one should also take into account all the new other features that have come to replace the old Google Maps app, and just how difficult of a task it is to deliver a near-to-flawless experience when it comes to mapping. Speaking about the old Google Maps app, it wasn't exactly Apple's fault that it never got updated and improved, but Google wanted to take control over it and was unprepared to license API to Apple that would allow them to do that.

Personally, I think people should relax and have more faith in this. The new Maps may not be the wonder that it seemed to be when Scott demoed it on stage a couple of times, but it works and it will improve constantly as more people use it. Apple always delivers, they are perfectionists and this is backed by history. And if you follow the right venues for tech media, you will know that word on the street is that the mapping team of engineers at Apple is working full-time on this matter.

If anybody is interested, here is one of the most comprehensive reviews (by AnandTech) of the new Maps app, covering a lot of stuff both technical and non-technical. Definitely worth the read.
Click to expand...


Believe me, I hear what you're saying. I think when it works, it's a beautiful thing.

However, it just doesn't always work, and that's the failing. No matter how pretty you make something, it doesn't matter if it's core functionality is so flawed to render it useless. And I don't say that lightly... I WANT to be in Apple's corner.

Literally, the first search I did could not find the road I was looking for, and though I put in "Example Street, City Name", it kept showing me "Example Street, Completely Different City 20 miles away". Not okay. Even when I zoomed into the city first and searched for the street, it couldn't find it, though I was staring at it on the map itself.

This is more than just some funky looking satellite images... it's core functionality that just doesn't work well.

And remember, Maps is a highly integrated app that is supposed to function with other apps... if it doesn't it hurts a much much wider user experience.
 
cynics said:
Can't really stick with iOS 5, I've read there are already apps that only work on 6. This is what keeps iOS from fragmenting too much.
Click to expand...

Come on...you really gotta have iOS6 ? Any apps you use daily that require it.
2-3 years and iOS 5 will be nearly entirely obsolete. At the same time experts are saying 5+ years before Apple is where Google is now, which will be 5 years ahead of where they are now.
Click to expand...

So perhaps Apple should have just not done anything and scrapped maps altogether as according to your logic, there's no hope. Good thing for android makers they didn't feel that way at any point.

You are making it sound like its OK for the iPhone to be the dumbest smartphone. Personally I think it should "just work" and not rely on me asking my friends with Android phones how to get too that trendy new bar....
Click to expand...

So you take one app like maps and that makes the iP5 the dumbest phone?
 
NestorRd said:
Personally, I think people should relax and have more faith in this. The new Maps may not be the wonder that it seemed to be when Scott demoed it on stage a couple of times, but it works and it will improve constantly as more people use it. Apple always delivers, they are perfectionists and this is backed by history. And if you follow the right venues for tech media, you will know that word on the street is that the mapping team of engineers at Apple is working full-time on this matter.
Click to expand...

I would be able to relax and have a lot more faith if the apps and features I have been using for years still worked for me.

Where I live (and everyone in my community) is now apparently a few hundred feet away from anything in the middle of a vacant wooded area.

Geofencing and location based reminders? Gone. Fitness mapping and realtor apps? Useless. Find my Friends/ Phone? Laughable.
 
Ok, I just drove 400 miles with Apple maps on a 4s. I was on (and off as necessary) 4 interstates, at least 3 US highways, and some complex city streets where intersections of three streets come together and head off at all kinds of crazy angles and traffic is heavy. I never had a single problem with the maps. I am familiar with the route, but I vowed to follow wherever the maps took me. They took me exactly where my Garmin GPS has always taken me.

This was in the southeast US where you might expect the map development to trail that in major coastal cities. Not a single problem occurred.

I am not saying that some of the problems found are not real, but the situation is being exaggerated. I'm not sure some you even have a drivers license. I think some people are just repeating a rumor.

The thing I really hate is my iPhone 5 was delivered today and here I am 6 hours from home.
 
Dear Apple apologist, in which other instance would you tell people to just give it time if something you relied on suddenly stopped working due to a corporate decision? The radio doesn't work on your new Honda? Just give it time. The new chef at your favorite restaurant burns everything? Just give it time. The new Xbox only plays game in SD? Just give it time.

What is it about Apple that makes people excuse blatant disregard for their customers???
 
dewthedru said:
Dear Apple apologist, in which other instance would you tell people to just give it time if something you relied on suddenly stopped working due to a corporate decision? The radio doesn't work on your new Honda? Just give it time. The new chef at your favorite restaurant burns everything? Just give it time. The new Xbox only plays game in SD? Just give it time.

What is it about Apple that makes people excuse blatant disregard for their customers???
Click to expand...

They'll start caring when they loose market share to Android and WP8. ;)
 
dewthedru said:
Dear Apple apologist, in which other instance would you tell people to just give it time if something you relied on suddenly stopped working due to a corporate decision? The radio doesn't work on your new Honda? Just give it time. The new chef at your favorite restaurant burns everything? Just give it time. The new Xbox only plays game in SD? Just give it time.

What is it about Apple that makes people excuse blatant disregard for their customers???
Click to expand...

You have to understand this is Apple fanboy central. Most people who can think for themselves are disappointed.
 
pdqgp said:
Come on...you really gotta have iOS6 ? Any apps you use daily that require it.


So perhaps Apple should have just not done anything and scrapped maps altogether as according to your logic, there's no hope. Good thing for android makers they didn't feel that way at any point.



So you take one app like maps and that makes the iP5 the dumbest phone?
Click to expand...

I said you can't stick with iOS6 as "not for long".

Those are words of expert cartographers not mine. But yes, they should have scrapped it. I have good turn by turn nav. I needed a native app with good POI so other apps like aroundme can link to it.

Don't take that out of context. We are talking about maps here, and yes between the major players (windows, android and apple) Apples are the worst. Do you disagree?
 
I did my own test today (iPhone 5 release day) between my iPhone 4 running iOS 4 and a client's new iPhone 5 running iOS 6

The map location on the iPhone 5 was about 2 miles off. The map was blury and not as detailed for a location in Sandy Springs, GA, a suburb of Atlanta.

Mapping is critical in my use of both my iPhone and iPad. I will not be upgrading software or hardware until apple resolves this issue.
 
In L.A. of course

musiciscool said:
Where I live Apple maps is better than Googles now. The only thing lacking is some searches are better with google, but others are better with Apple. But you can use both, with maps.google; then use the one you prefer
Click to expand...
What is LA, the second largest city in the US? If it was no good there, where would it be good, Cupertino? And no maps.google.com is not the same as the integral app.
 
cynics said:
. I needed a native app with good POI so other apps like aroundme can link to it.
Click to expand...

I too use another navi app. Motion X GPS Drive. Way better than any other Navi I've used. It also has tons and tons of POI's. I don't even use Around me any more nor any other phone books, etc.....as Motion X is my go-to application for all of that.

Don't take that out of context. We are talking about maps here, and yes between the major players (windows, android and apple) Apples are the worst. Do you disagree?
Click to expand...

I don't know, I rarely used the old maps, never personally used an android's maps and most certainly no Windows maps. The one I use for all of the above is way better IMO.

I am staying in touch with Apples maps as
 
I have to attend a university open day at Edinburgh tomorrow.
Decided to test out apple maps, searched for Edinburgh University Medical School. It couldn't find it. Searched it on Google maps online and it naturally found it instantly, as well as every single university building (even the very obscure). This is ridiculous.

Edit: Just searched for "Edinburgh Royal Infirmary", the massive hospital the medical school is attached to. Thank god it pin pointed that, but it also claimed the royal infirmary existed not only in the place it actually is, but in two other places in the city as well... one of them being literally inside a school, a school it has on it's map! Don't think so apple..
 
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