Wow. Apple Maps is a disaster.

[m00min]

Google also does crowd-sourcing. They even offer tools to do so :

http://www.google.com/mapmaker

So even with help from the user base, Apple will have a hard time catching up. The question becomes, do you want to dedicate your time to Apple ?

Nope. I'll happily submit a POI to Open Street Map, it benefits everyone. If Apple are locking away any submissions I make in a map that isn't even available on the internet then I'm not submitting anything, I've given them my money, that should be enough.

Their maps are reminiscent of iBooks; only available to use on iPhones/iPads/iPods. If they want to play that game I'm not gonna actively help them with that.

 

[pdqgp]

It uses Apple Maps for now, if it doesn't crash on start up :

https://getsatisfaction.com/ize/topics/maps_on_ios_6

IZE says they are working on a Google Maps version for iOS 6, but that is not released yet obviously as their last 1.3.2 update was released in March 2012, before iOS 6 was even announced.

So it's not an alternative for now, it's simply more of the same.

it doesn't appear to be more of the same because if you type in the 315 E. 15th St. NY into the search bar, the result is spot on to what the image in previous posts show Google pulls up. vs the new OS6 Maps that pull up the one in Brooklyn.

Thus on my first attempt, it works differently that OS6 Maps with according to those here, more google like accuracy.

 

[John.B]

Google should take this opportunity to make a paid version of the iOS Map App...

Nope.

I'd buy it in a heartbeat, as I'd imagine many others would as well.

The very second Google Maps is on IOS 6, even if it costs $5, I'll be ready to move to IOS 6. Perhaps the bribe/cut that Apple will get will persuade it to move.

Google doesn't want your couple of bucks. You are the commodity being tracked and marketed, not the customer. I don't know why it's so hard for people to understand that.

 

[sneaky butcher]

Haven't tried it fully yet. Just read through the description and thought it was interesting that they mention being able to view google maps. Likely just their version / overlay to a data set that is not the same as the one people here are complaining about in Apple's release. My point mainly is that there are alternatives galore that need explored.

the damaging thing for apple is that out of the box their user base had google maps. How many are really going to start trawling through looking for alternatives when the integration will be minimal. Unless they hear google maps is available i guess not many will

thats one of the attractions to iphone and their "it just works" mantra. Out the box you had good functions and native apps with good integration this maps thing sort of breaks it :/

like taking you to the app store when asking for transit directions. clunky very un-apple if i may say. Even bing maps has transit directions

i dont know what else they could do. maybe not have maps at all until its much better? but that's risky too.

 

[Deako]

Maps has stopped loading on my iPhone 5 at all. Killing the app in multi tasking has no effect, nor does rebooting the phone. Wishful thinking that the plug was pulled on it? Lol!!

 

[pdqgp]

the damaging thing for apple is that out of the box their user base had google maps. How many are really going to start trawling through looking for alternatives when the integration will be minimal. Unless they hear google maps is available i guess not many will

I think tons will begin looking. The original Maps app was useless to me when I got my first iPHone thus one of the first things I did was search for alternatives. That's the whole point of the App Store and 750k apps. and the use of an iPhone. So I hope they search, if not, then they really need to revisit the potential use of a smart phone like this.

thats one of the attractions to iphone and their "it just works" mantra. Out the box you had good functions and native apps with good integration this maps thing sort of breaks it :/

I don't think so. It works in a number of cases and in some it doesn't. No different again, than what I experienced upon my first iPhone. Maps worked but not for me. Didn't provide turn by turn, the interface was limited, etc...but it again, the OS was stable, the hardware nice, the options endless. If this one app causes someone any iPHone hate or heartburn, then I question whether they made a solid decision to begin with.

like taking you to the app store when asking for transit directions. clunky very un-apple if i may say.

Not really. I don't expect the iPhone or even an Android to do everything I want out of the box. That's one of the reasons I hold more love for a Galaxy S3 vs a Lumia Windows phone. I don't know much about the Droid apps, but I know there's more of a selection there than with WIndows so if the Droid doesn't do something out of the box, I feel more confident there's an app that will. However, in that case if using a phone for transit directions was key for me, you bet I will research things ahead of time before moving.

I actually don't do public transit much but when I've gone to NYC, DC and even Chicago, I do and have temporarily downloaded and used some apps for that purpose. I delete them when I leave. Doesn't bother me a bit that I do that vs use my native apps.

Everyone's mileage will vary I suppose.

 

[Heb 7:4]

Being "led to believe" based on what facts as related to the new app?
What were the facts that she was able to see "led" her to "believe" anything?

I'd love to hear more about her decision making process.

Sure. A pop up appeared saying "There is a new operating system, would you like to upgrade" so she pressed "yes". Amazingly, at 65, she didn't think "I better go on the internet and search for reviews".

Then she called me to ask why the maps "weren't working".

I agree though, she is at fault for having faith in apple. Good job apple, for teaching people not to have faith in you, and not to believe you when you say "it just works".

 

[pdqgp]

Sure. A pop up appeared saying "There is a new operating system, would you like to upgrade" so she pressed "yes". Amazingly, at 65, she didn't think "I better go on the internet and search for reviews".

I hope you instruct her to not to click on any pop ups in IE5 or Browser of choice on her PC that says she has a virus and to "click here". Yep, once again, no role in accountability for her just clicking on an update without considering what could happen. You know my mom is 81 and likely less computer / iPad savvy than yours and she called me to ask if she should upgrade her iTunes. I said no, let me login via VNC and check it out for you first.

Then she called me to ask why the maps "weren't working".

I hope you had a conversation with her to call first next time. I'm sorry but people can't just point at others for what happens to them. Things in this world don't just happen to you, then happen because of you. It's called a sense of awareness and accountability. Don't let her get ripped off by false prophet or scammers knocking on her door. Seriously, she needs a sense of awareness conversation.

I agree though, she is at fault for having faith in apple. Good job apple, for teaching people not to have faith in you, and not to believe you when you say "it just works".

She's at fault for making a move without looking beyond that click of her mouse. You know lots of people get taken advantage of in different ways for having faith and using said faith as their excuse. I'm sorry but Apple isn't the God of OS's and updates that people can just go and exercise blind faith on. It's called Blind Faith for a reason. Geesh......

 

[sneaky butcher]

so you dont think ios6 maps is in the least bit damaging to apple?

 

[jeffe]

so you dont think ios6 maps is in the least bit damaging to apple?

The gist that I get is that it could be damaging.

 

[m00min]

Sure. A pop up appeared saying "There is a new operating system, would you like to upgrade" so she pressed "yes". Amazingly, at 65, she didn't think "I better go on the internet and search for reviews".

Then she called me to ask why the maps "weren't working".

I agree though, she is at fault for having faith in apple. Good job apple, for teaching people not to have faith in you, and not to believe you when you say "it just works".

That really sucks for your mum. I've trained mine to not click on anything that says software update on it. I only live a couple of miles from her so it's fairly easy for me to drive over and look though.

 

[pdqgp]

so you dont think ios6 maps is in the least bit damaging to apple?

don't know. intitially the media is creating a huge buzz over it and some users here are too. however, the same happened with the launch of the iP4 and antenna gate and the 4s and battery gate yet they set iP5 sales records that were 3x what the 4s was. so did those two more major snafu's hurt them? those were more hardware centric too, this is just an app.

 

[Sdreed91]

"you don't have to. by the logic here many don't feel anyone can compete with google and their 7k + employees and years of a head start and great existing app. I suppose Navigon, TomTom, Motion X, Waze and many others should just give up and not even continue trying. I'm sure they are all getting together including Apple to just throw in the towel.

Off to search for the threads prior to iOS6 where the Old Maps was touted as the #1 reason people loved their iPhones and older versions of iOS."

I have to agree. I personally never had much luck with Google maps. However I rarely travel or live in an area that is dependent upon maps. But while I was lost in Miami Google maps were ****. There is no right or wrong answer here in this thread. Only opinions and the nature in which a person fully utilizes either app.

This thread is a train wreck and as such I can not help but watch and be awed by it.

 

[pdqgp]

The gist that I get is that it is damaging but users don't have a right to complain because they themselves made the decision themselves to upgrade to it.

The point I've made is that users do have a role in making the decision to upgrade. I've sided with the fact that the new Maps app isn't what the old one was. Never said otherwise. It's a trade off IMO but in the end, yes, if you pushed upgrade based on anything less than facts you made what I consider to be a less than informed decision. Either way you own it. I NEVER said users don't have a right to complain, so please don't imply that. Complain all you want, but just the same be accountable for your actions.

 

[jeffe]

The point I've made is that users do have a role in making the decision to upgrade. I've sided with the fact that the new Maps app isn't what the old one was. Never said otherwise. It's a trade off IMO but in the end, yes, if you pushed upgrade based on anything less than facts you made what I consider to be a less than informed decision. Either way you own it. I NEVER said users don't have a right to complain, so please don't imply that. Complain all you want, but just the same be accountable for your actions.

Oh good to hear. Thanks for the clarification!

I'm not surprised people are complaining. Personally, I'm kind of following your advice. I was planning on purchasing an Iphone for someone but have opted not to after seeing this thread.

 

[dv8r]

If you hear and read words like that and feel it provides you enough facts to make a decision then I would say you based your decision on some pretty vague and fact-less words. Hey, we all make decisions differently. No where in there does that statement provide me enough information about it as related to any functionality.

This isn't the point - Apple does not comment that much on what their plans are and what they are doing. In their mind everything they do is the best thing since sliced bread, but this time the app doesn't live up to the marketing hyperbole. It may have been Apple's normal way of doing things, but the statements from Apple are in no way a reflection on what users are seeing in the app. So if you can't trust the maker... that's the point.

Arbitrary debates on my responsibility in these kind of things is kinda just letting Apple off the hook and in my view making apologies - shifting the blame, it get that informed decisions would be the best case scenario, but you really have to consider the source - in Apple's case it's downright dishonest.

 

[rocksyoursock]

I think that the new maps interface is very nice, however, it just doesn't know where anything in my town actually is. Any point of interest is drastically (miles) away from where it should be. Google maps, and Garmin GPS are pretty spot on, at least in my town but Apple's maps are pretty far off. I hope they get new mapping data soon, because I really do like the interface and style of the maps.

 

[dv8r]

So even with help from the user base, Apple will have a hard time catching up. The question becomes, do you want to dedicate your time to Apple ?

Exactly this!

I have seen this a lot in these forums, people believe this is a passing thing that will be fixed in a month or so, or at least be in the next IOS (don't know why those two needs to be tied together).

Do people really believe that Google Maps won't evolve while Apple is catching up or even step on the gas in this area? Google want to own the search, location, presence space - they want You to drive the Google self steering car and are pursuing this with a passion.

Is this guesswork or do someone in here know more about this - seriously?

 

[pdqgp]

This isn't the point - Apple does not comment that much on what their plans are and what they are doing. In their mind everything they do is the best thing since sliced bread, but this time the app doesn't live up to the marketing hyperbole. It may have been Apple's normal way of doing things, but the statements from Apple are in no way a reflection on what users are seeing in the app. So if you can't trust the maker... that's the point.

You're right, Apple likes to keep things quiet and let the supspense build for it's debut. Although according to many here, this was the most transparent of the launches yet. I agree too that Apple has Legend in their Own Mind attitude but that's nothing new either. Lastly to "trust" the maker is an interesting point. What leads to trust? Given the iP4 and iP4s issues and the complaints that followed, combined with a company that has the stigma Apple does about "controlling apps" and everything around them I'm not sure why anyone involved in those debates is surprised.

Arbitrary debates on my responsibility in these kind of things is kinda just letting Apple off the hook and in my view making apologies - shifting the blame, it get that informed decisions would be the best case scenario, but you really have to consider the source - in Apple's case it's downright dishonest.

I'm not letting Apple off the hook. They have a role in this too, but ultimately the user has a choice to make and to make that choice on facts or marketing hype or a combination of both. IMO, facts speak more loudly and impact me more when I make a decision. Others mileage and reasons will vary.

Someone asked me if I felt this hurts Apple, and I pointed to sales figures. Now in my case, past actions including the above noted and even this go to form my opinion for me. Let's just say it didn't help them in terms of strengthening my trust.

----------

Exactly this!

I have seen this a lot in these forums, people believe this is a passing thing that will be fixed in a month or so, or at least be in the next IOS (don't know why those two needs to be tied together).

Do people really believe that Google Maps won't evolve while Apple is catching up or even step on the gas in this area? Google want to own the search, location, presence space - they want You to drive the Google self steering car and are pursuing this with a passion.

Is this guesswork or do someone in here know more about this - seriously?

Google maps is really what you use as a benchmark? Really? There are no other better mapping and routing and POI packages on the market? I guess everyone has an opinion on that. I just don't happen to agree that Google's solution is all that. They certainly are comprehensive but the interface and entire experience isn't there for me.

----------

Oh good to hear. Thanks for the clarification!

I'm not surprised people are complaining. Personally, I'm kind of following your advice. I was planning on purchasing an Iphone for someone but have opted not to after seeing this thread.

My apologies if my initial reply seemed harsh. I say that as my threads here get caught up in replies while I multitask at the house on other things.

In terms of buying a phone for a friend, I'd encourage you to find out their list of priorities and investigate other apps if mapping is critical to them. I use Motion X Drive and TomTom with the latter being for areas where I'm out of signal and wifi such as a recent trip into the mountains.

 

[dba415]

tried getting driving directions from Lagos Nigeria to Johannesburg SA and Apple says those are unavailable. Wtf? It's not like Africa has no roads.

 

[drewfus]

I personally haven't had trouble with Maps yet, but I found something interesting this morning, which may or may not have been mentioned already...I didn't want to sift through all the pages, so apologies if it's a repeat.

A friend of mine was telling me that Apple Maps couldn't figure out where he worked. He entered the address (XX NE 27th St, Miami), and it took him somewhere up near Lake Okeechobee (at least a good 2 hours away from here). I tried it with my phone, and voilá, it worked just fine.

It turns out that in this case, Maps interpreted the entry of "XX NE 27th St, Miami, FL" and "XX NE 27 St, Miami, FL" as two very different things. I wonder if this is the search parameters just being far too picky.

 

[walkman]

Apple maps hard to see/read ...

The light beige color scheme -- it makes it very hard to read the maps. White background with black lines for roads would be much easier to read as it was with the Google map.

I haven't had problems with data accuracy, and the turn by turn is pretty cool, but maps isn't doing me much good if I can't read it. I wish they had options to change the default.

 

[Daveoc64]

Nope. I'll happily submit a POI to Open Street Map, it benefits everyone. If Apple are locking away any submissions I make in a map that isn't even available on the internet then I'm not submitting anything, I've given them my money, that should be enough.

Their maps are reminiscent of iBooks; only available to use on iPhones/iPads/iPods. If they want to play that game I'm not gonna actively help them with that.

I agree with that

IMO Apple should have decided to use OSM for everything that they could and to improve the OSM for everyone.

 

[Brad L]

Apple could have worked on their map app until it was of a higher quality. They didn't have to immediately replace google maps. It's very clear that the iphone's mapping ability in ios6 is now inferior to android phones and even older ios versions. How can you explain this? Apple obviously has little regard for their customers. It's insulting.

 

[cyks]

I'm not letting Apple off the hook. They have a role in this too, but ultimately the user has a choice to make and to make that choice on facts or marketing hype or a combination of both. IMO, facts speak more loudly and impact me more when I make a decision. Others mileage and reasons will vary.

Fact: I have never directly used the Map app in the past.
Fact: I live in a reasonably well populated area in NY state.
Fact: My condo community is roughly 30 years old.
Fact: Every navigation or mapping software I have ever used (including Tom Tom) either knows my address or, at worst (as was the case with Google), had each of the numbers off by one.

Based on the above facts, yes, I made a decision to upgrade.

Fact: Apple's Maps place my and the majority of my neighbors in the middle of a wooded area a few hundred feet away from anything.
Fact: Location based reminders are now impossible for me.
Fact: Real Estate apps (such as Zillow) are now useless in my area.
Fact: All of my fitness apps are severely compromised with missing addresses, no walking/ bike paths and out of date satellite imagery.


I suppose this is all my fault though. After all, I was the one to assume that they would, at the very least, be able to find my address and general surrounding area...especially since Tom Tom never had a problem doing so.

I don't care that it's missing the vast majority of POI in my town or that the few it does have are grossly mislabeled. With a version 1, things like that are expected.

What I don't get is how it's somehow my fault for thinking they'd be able to get the basic maps correct... as every other mapmaker has been able to.