Wow. Apple Maps is a disaster.

[declandio]

So many examples of laziness on Apples part.

Small one that I just came across randomly; I live in a place called Hampton, which is in a London Borough called Richmond. The main town in the Borough is called Richmond too. There are loads of other towns in the Borough. Twickenham, Teddington, the list goes on. Apple maps just calls them all f @ cking Richmond regardless of what they're actually called in real life. Plenty of potential for sending people unfamiliar with an area on a wild goose chase looking for a road that might actually be in a completely different town.

Such a basic but fundamental mistake. I can't be arsed to check but no doubt it's the same across the UK and lots of other countries. It's as if they just couldn't be bothered to factor in localized address formatting.

Pure slop. It is surely incredibly easy to get that kind of basic data correct but they f @cked even that up for some reason.

 

[Kanunu]

Remember

This is one of the worst disappointments ever released by Apple. Steve Jobs has to be turning over in his grave right now.

Who was it that declared "thermonuclear war?" That is a quote. This whole mess is a reflection of his thinking about simplification and design. Make it pretty first.

 

[roxxette]

Steve was a punk

 

[Sedrick]

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.

No one's saying it isn't a mammoth project. How hard it is, isn't an excuse. Apple is selling this as a capable replacement to Google maps.

What everyone is saying is how dare Apple be so arrogant to pull the best map app on the planet and then have the gall to replace it with their own alpha version that needs another 5 years dev time to even come close to Google's. Apple either thinks the world of themselves or very little of their customers. The press and users are rightfully so, calling them on the carpet for this mess.

 

[pdqgp]

I can't help but feel Apple wasted time and money on Maps. I would have approved the Google Maps application for launch and spent money elsewhere.

Why try to reinvent the wheel, Google has perfected mapping, it is a huge part of what they do. Same goes for YouTube, Apple was smart to discontinue their version and just let those who own the product, develop for it.

This is like Apple creating their own version of Twitter...just terribly redundant and not needed.

I know what you mean. iMessage is another compete waste.
If you are quoting me to flame, look up the word sarcasm first.

 

[Krazy Bill]

Well, lots of luck sending Apple the signal you're dissatisfied. iPhone5 has record sales.

Expect more of the same. Perhaps Ping will make a comeback.

 

[Scott006]

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..

And heres the screen shot,

Website of "Edinburgh Royal Infirmary"
http://www.george-heriots.com/

Edit again: Just searched Glasgow Royal Infirmary for a laugh, apparently it too exists down the road from "Tinas Takeaway". It does not.

 

[Abazigal]

By that concept, why do some countries insist on building power plants to produce their own electricity even though it may be cheaper to just import it from other countries?

I see it more as a long term investment of sorts. This idea may seem unthinkable today, it is not impossible that as google maps becomes a more integral part of IOS, google may try to leverage this position in the form of more demands or higher revenue. Even if it is just a screwed up maps app, simply the fact that Apple now has its own mapping capabilities will force google to sit up and rethink its current strategy.

I think that a few years down the road, time will judge that Apple has made the right choice. Having their own in-house maps would allow Apple to further differentiate their own platform, because their maps app can include features not available to google maps, not to mention all the invaluable user data Apple can harvest for its own use, while simultaneously denying google access to it.

Because of this, I am willing to cut apple some slack and give them all the time they need to perfect maps.

 

[tnick777]

My message to Apple is arrogance only looks good when you really are the best.

 

[pdqgp]

And heres the screen shot,
Image

Website of "Edinburgh Royal Infirmary"
http://www.george-heriots.com/

Edit again: Just searched Glasgow Royal Infirmary for a laugh, apparently it too exists down the road from "Tinas Takeaway". It does not.

I've seen other GPS units do the same. Good thing with a click of a finger, you can verify the address to insure you select the correct one.

 

[Scott006]

I've seen other GPS units do the same. Good thing with a click of a finger, you can verify the address to insure you select the correct one.

Yes I'm sure other GPS units do the same, it's those others who are providing the information.
The issue here is that Google Maps is not doing the same.

I'm playing about with this a bit, searching up significant places in Scotland. I search "Scottish Parliament", which is in Edinburgh and the seat of our devolved government. Apple takes me to the "Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries" Sounds important, maybe even governmental? It is in fact a place where office appliances are manufactured by people with sight impairments. Oh, and it's also in Glasgow.

Is this ridiculous enough yet to make it undefendable?

Edit: For any Braveheart fans out there, the Wallace Monument is apparently in Kansas, better cancel that trip to Scotland.

 

[declandio]

I've seen other GPS units do the same.

I read this as 'it's as crap as other crap things so that's ok'

 

[pdqgp]

Yes I'm sure other GPS units do the same, it's those others who are providing the information.
The issue here is that Google Maps is not doing the same.

I'm playing about with this a bit, searching up significant places in Scotland. I search "Scottish Parliament", which is in Edinburgh and the seat of our devolved government. Apple takes me to the "Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries" Sounds important, maybe even governmental? It is in fact a place where office appliances are manufactured by people with sight impairments. Oh, and it's also in Glasgow.

Is this ridiculous enough yet to make it undefendable?

I got on Google Maps via my PC did a search for The University of Edinburgh and got 10 pushpin locations. I then got on my iPhone did the same exact search and got 10 pushpin locations.

I can provide screen shots if you care to see them side by side. Of couse seeing it on a 31" screen on my desktop is cool and I can more easily drill down and see more information at a glance, but I'll be damned if both didn't work.

 

[shulerg]

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....

I don't think I'm saying that, but you make a lot of good points; it should "just work." My criticisms are of some of the posts on here that communicate total meltdowns over Maps not being great.

There are other options if need be, but you're right, users shouldn't have to go that far. I think a lot of people (myself included) will be jumping to the forthcoming iOS google maps app unless Apple responds with effective changes.

 

[Scott006]

I got on Google Maps via my PC did a search for The University of Edinburgh and got 10 pushpin locations. I then got on my iPhone did the same exact search and got 10 pushpin locations.

I can provide screen shots if you care to see them side by side. Of couse seeing it on a 31" screen on my desktop is cool and I can more easily drill down and see more information at a glance, but I'll be damned if both didn't work.

I search University of Edinburgh on Google maps and get two locations, one being the main building and the other being the medical school (the medical school is significantly detached from the rest of the campus, due to the fact it is paired with a hospital).

http://prntscr.com/fzbe1

But my search was never for "The University of Edinburgh"

On another note, apparently Stirling Castle could be any one of ten pins according to Apple, luckily one of the pins is correct and nicely decorated with a black and white blurry satellite image of the castle, I assume.

 

[pdqgp]

I read this as 'it's as crap as other crap things so that's ok'

Yep. Crap Of course on the iPhone result I can drill down and see individual buildings, etc....

iPhone Maps iOS 6

Google Maps on my Windows 7 Pro PC

 

[declandio]

It shows the pub across the road from my house as a Budgens (a chain of 'convenience store'). The icon for whatever place they think they're showing is that of a petrol station.

So it's a pub that you can drive to, park up on the forecourt and tell the boy to 'fill 'er up', head in for a few pints with the locals while the fuel is flowing and also pick up a few bits n pieces like bread & milk, frozen chicken giblets and maybe some gummy bears if you're feeling frisky.

Apple brining new meaning to the term 'convenience store'. Nice.

 

[pdqgp]

On another note, apparently Stirling Castle could be any one of ten pins according to Apple, luckily one of the pins is correct and nicely decorated with a black and white blurry satellite image of the castle, I assume.

and just the same, any of the A-J pins on my Google Maps via my PC could be The University of Edinburgh. Thus the reason why you can zoom in and of course anyone should be verifying addresses.

believe me, I live in Columbus, Ohio, home of one of our nations largest Universities, The Ohio State University. I can search and find my way around there all day long with the new Maps app.

 

[kenypowa]

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..

So I went to the Apple Store yesterday and tried the new app. The map is centered in Edinburgh as well. When I searched Waverley Station, it showed results in New Zealand. What a total disaster this map is.

 

[Scott006]

Yep. Crap Of course on the iPhone result I can drill down and see individual buildings, etc....

iPhone Maps iOS 6

Google Maps on my Windows 7 Pro PC

Thats odd, I get a different result with google maps. Both here are accurate, although apple maps is missing information for a number of buildings.

My point still stands though, apple maps doesn't find the medical school when searched.

 

[declandio]

Yep. Crap

Yep, crap. Crap with potential is still crap.

 

[Scott006]

and just the same, any of the A-J pins on my Google Maps via my PC could be The University of Edinburgh. Thus the reason why you can zoom in and of course anyone should be verifying addresses.

believe me, I live in Columbus, Ohio, home of one of our nations largest Universities, The Ohio State University. I can search and find my way around there all day long with the new Maps app.

But some of them are most obviously not Stirling Castle. Google finds it straight away, apple forces you to look through 10 pins to find the right one.
As an example, one of the pins is "Funtastico Bouncy Castles", this would have made my school trips to Stirling castle a lot more enjoyable, but I have no recollection of the castle being even slightly bouncy.

 

[pdqgp]

Yep, crap. Crap with potential is still crap.

(I see, iP4s Using iOS6 Maps = Results of my Google PC Search) = Crap.

 

[declandio]

If you miss Street View, try 'Live Street View' (free version) and another called 'StreetViewer' (also free version). Both are pretty good...

----------

(I see, iP4s Using iOS6 Maps = Results of my Google PC Search) = Crap.

You must have been in the pub across the road from me this evening, that Apple says is called Budgens and has given a petrol station icon to. Are you drunk or have you been sniffing petrol, or both?!

 

[scriptx]

Apparently you don't understand what a beta is. If you are a real developer you would surely understand that its not perfect yet.

It doesn't say Maps Beta, or Maps LPR (limited production release). It was released to manufacturing and it is on my released version of software. I just looked but I cannot find anything that says beta in the application.

I could be wrong, but it doesn't seem like a beta, or is there a splash screen I am missing? I admit I didn't read the license agreement, did it say beta in there?