Apple maps very disappointing

Having just downloaded iOS 6 I am hugely disappointed with apple maps. In the UK many town names are wrong, with some missing; roads are all the same colour; satellite image resolution is not as good as it was previously. Sure, the 3D map in London is good but it only covers an area a few square miles, so is currently more of a gimmick.


So questions i have...

1) Are others experiencing the same?

2) Will it get better and if so how quickly?

3) Will there be a google maps app released soon?

iPhone 4S, iOS 6

Posted on Sep 19, 2012 2:01 PM

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2,256 replies

Sep 20, 2012 5:46 AM in response to MAE0125

So meanwhile while they are fixing it we all stop what we are doing and find other ways to replace the funcionality we once had. For many people the features the maps app (google version) has become a work tool. How many apple camera cars has anyone seen going around capturing your communities in order to make this feature continue to be available to precious apple customers?

Sep 20, 2012 5:57 AM in response to Shilts9

I have looked at a few known locations and some are miles out. I live in the West Midlands and most of the locations are wrong. I have reported some 20 mistakes this morning to apple via the app. The most surprising was Oldbury, where I work. Its 20.2 miles from its actual location on the map. Very disappointing.

The satellite image quality is super poor. When looking at my location it looks like a cloudy day and objects are hard to make out. Zoom out and its too blury to see anything. Poor effort Apple. Gravely dissapointing and I can't trust the directions on the Sat Nav for long distances incase I end up 20+ miles from where I need to be.

Finally if you try searching on a town, ie Halesowen, about 20-30 pins show up on the map for business', most of which arent in Halesowen. I just want to see the town centre!!! PLEEEEEEEASE sort it out ASAP.

Sep 20, 2012 6:03 AM in response to Shilts9

Awful in Australia, too. It took Google years to perfect their Maps app and data - and Apple's version is bad on so many levels its hard to imagine a workable version for at least a year or two....and still missing much of Google's depth. I spent a few minutes looking at routes between various contacts in my address book.....either can't find the address, no transport info, no public transport. SO much wrong or missing it can't be described as anything but a disaster.

Sep 20, 2012 6:02 AM in response to Shilts9

As frustrating as it is to lose functionality like StreetView, and the refinement of the Google Maps overall, I suspect this decision was a hard choice for Apple but one they were forced to take. Presumably in an effort to protect Android and their own Ecosystem Google have been denying Apple functionality like turn-by-turn navigation. So in the end Apple had to build their own Mapping function. Unfortunately this is far less mature than Google's in some aspects. However, patent restrictions allowing, you can bet Apple will invest to close the gap.


It's easy to get angry with Apple when you don't understand the bigger picture, but Google is as much to blame.


However what does amaze me is how many people jump straight into a new OS or app version without waiting to see how successful it is. iOS 6 has only been out a day or two, if those complaining had instead waited a few weeks then they would have heard about the issue and been able to stick with iOS 5 until they were happy with the differences. Perhaps a painful but useful lesson.

Sep 20, 2012 6:21 AM in response to Jumblemo

Let's imagine Jumblemo has some supreme insight into the whole Google / Apple business relationship. Let's also take as read that nasty Google was denying Apple a turn by turn navigational Maps App.


Now lets look at what any reasonable company would do: build your own app from the ground up to be at least as functional as the one your summarily kicking off your platform.


But no. Apple knows best, so what do we get?


Apple Maps is an absolutely atrocious, fifth rate piece of crapware. It's a App only a droid script kiddy just out of nappies could get away with in the Android Store.


If this is seriously an indication of the respect Apple holds for it's customers (i.e. we know better, stuff you the user/loser) then it's high time to fall out of love with the Apple bling and get real.


Apple Maps is rebranded Crapple Maps in this household. It's an insult to people who have spent hundreds and hundreds of £ $ etc on kit to turn that kit into effectively a house brick all because you can't play nice / do a commercial deal with the acknowledged lead in online mapping.


Due to renew mobile contract in July 2013. Going to take a lot of persuading to stick with Apple this time round.


Oh, and Jumblemo - please do tell us why Apple decided to bin YouTube, won't you?

Sep 20, 2012 6:23 AM in response to Shilts9

I was very excited about iOS 6 but because of what I've been seeing and reading about Maps, I've decided not to upgrade my iPhone 4S to 6. This is also making me SERIOUSLY reconsider my loyalty to Apple and will be paying attention to Android and Windows products next year when I'm looking for a new phone.


I was also planning on buying my first iPad when they release the next new one, but am reconsidering that. This is a catastrophic move on Apple's part, sacrificing the customer experience, actually making a crucial part of smartphone usage significantly worse and less useful.


Just the loss of Street View is a deal breaker, but innacurate maps, wrong street names, and missing cities and misplaced or vanished businesses? Completely unacceptable when much better options are sitting on the nearest Samsung or Nokia device.

Sep 20, 2012 7:05 AM in response to Shilts9

Not disappointing! One of the first things I noticed was that Apple's maps app get the name of a street that's near me right that Google maps gets wrong. And Apple's maps suggests a shortcut route to my local supermarket that my (now former) GPS navigation had no clue about. Not least is the touch screen interface of Apple's maps that makes it far easier to use than any other GPS navigation system I've used.

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Apple maps very disappointing

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