Google Maps

If you read this you will see that apple really had no choice. Google forced them into this.

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/09/27/voice-navigation-killed-apple-google-maps -talks/

Apple's license to use Google Maps does not expire for another year. Apple was irresponsible and has abused its customers by releasing this crappy map app without first releasing it as a beta and using the next one year to make it work at acceptable levels.

In this one year, we customers could have continued to use the working Map App with Google Maps.

I was forced to buy a cheap Chinese Android phone today just for Google Maps, as Apple Maps does not work at all in India. It finds nothing and routes nothing. I carry two phones now (my iPhone) and this Android phone - thanks to Apple's irresponsible behaviour.

You do realize there are tons of other mapping and navigation apps in the app store besides google. You are obviously unaware that there are many more choices than google. I myself could not stand google. I use Tom Tom and Waze and have been using them since they both came out.

gkinchina wrote:

I was forced to buy a cheap Chinese Android phone today just for Google Maps,

Who held a gun to your head? Did you report them to the police?

None of them work well across most countries of the world. For example, Waze, Mapquest have good data only for the US.

Google is the gold standard for a map service that works well in practically every part of the world.

For example, in India or Malaysia, there is no App on the store that works well at present. Those which did, used Google Maps data and they have been switched over to the Apple Native map data now, which does not work.

We don't have any options on the AppStore now that can find anything or route anything properly.

Why would I buy an Android today if that was the case?

Apple did. By taking away all choices. The world media is already taking them to the (virtual) police. Everybody is making fun of the Apple Maps now - all over the web, they are being made fun of. Serves them right in my opinion.

No, Apple didn't take away any choices. You have exactly the same number of choices for map applications in iOS 6 as you did previously. You can use the built in app or you can purchase any available app from the App Store. Or, you can chose to purchase a different phone. All Apple did was change the source of their mapping data, something that was never left to your choice. I understand that you don't like that. However, you still have choices and you exercised them. The histrionics are just silly.

I like the Maps under iOS 6.

All you thousands of complainers about Apple Maps on this thread (and others on this forum). Here is some humour balm for your pain -

http://www.jest.com/video/199907/directions-for-apple-maps

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/20/apples-ios-6-maps-app-fails_n_1899603 .html

http://beta.fool.com/whichstockswork/2012/09/25/maps-and-other-small-apple-misst eps/12697/

http://funnypicturesplus.com/apple-maps-ios-6-fails.html

http://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/Take-A-Closer-Look-At-T he-Icon-For-Apple-s-3898650.php

http://www.macgasm.net/2012/09/27/funny-several-tips-for-getting-apple-maps-to-w ork-as-intended/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=funny-several-tips-f or-getting-apple-maps-to-work-as-intended

I could send you hundreds more. But you can just Google them yourself!

Good for you. Naturally you would like such a lovely, perfectly functional app.

And apple took away no choices at all! Google maps app for IOS is fantastic is it not? Tried it yet?

gkinchina wrote:

Good for you. Naturally you would like such a lovely, perfectly functional app.

Yes, I like the way it looks and, so far, have not had any issues with it.

Lucky you! And also the 17 others who do - http://gizmodo.com/5946806/17-people-who-actually-really-love-the-new-apple-maps

If you think that "only" 17 people like it (something even Gizmodo didn't say), then you are way too hysterical about this to have any sort of intelligent discussion with.

Later.

This too - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1nS3B-MTno&sns=em

Well, I've done plenty of whining in the last 5 days about iOS 6 maps and I'm just about over with all but 3 key things at this point.

• The geographical boundaries (water edges and lack of detail and accuracy) are hugely simplified (and sometimes non-existent) compared to Google Maps. And in most cases even if you zoom in really close...somethings appear and some don't. To me geographical data should be visible at all zoom levels. And for god's-sake make the boundaries accurate. They're using vector graphics for crying out loud, there's no excuse for simplifying these things.
• The building outlines can only be viewed largely at a zoom levels that are unusable in most cases (it's better on the iPad but on the iPhone it's unusable). Meaning you have to zoom in too far to actually see building outlines. Not to mention the way it denotes types of zoning (i.e. hospital, University, governmental boundaries) are inaccurate as well.
• Transit overlays on top of the maps. It's great they they at least show transit stops on iOS 6 maps. But not having the routes overlaid on the maps is a huge annoyance. I could care less about Siri telling me which train route is the best and time tables. Just give me the overlay transit system on the map and I can find my way. In larger, more complex transit systems...showing the layouts of the stations and exit locations is also a huge advantage Google has over iOS Maps. Check Beijing on Google Maps for a great example.

Using 3rd Party Apps is totally counter intuitive to the Apple method of design (meaning the one-stop-shop). If you want us to use 3rd party transit Apps, allow the Dev's to design "Plug-Ins" to the iOS Maps Apps, not the other way around. If I have to switch to a separate App, It's a FAIL in my book and totally pointless.

Being able to see multiple layers of information in a Mapping App is what made Google Maps so brilliant.

Google had the vision to see maps as more than just for planning a trip from point A to B. The ability to see all these layers of information allowed for an experience that was so much more than just navigation. It became a tool for exploration and learning (in Google Earth there were Wikipedia links too). With Street View you could quite literally tour the world (where available). There are many more layers of information that made Google maps better (like names of buildings on College Campuses)...but you see my point.

I'd have to say that is really the one reason why I hate iOS Maps. And I guess I shouldn't really be surprised, because everything in this new App is typical Apple's MO. Start Small and get better over time with generational improvements.

That said though, I think the problem is that since Google has been at this for nearly 7+ years and is so flooded with data, people are used to that and we can't wait another 7 years for iOS Maps to catch up. My guess is it won't take another 7 years...perhaps half that, but still that's a long time to wait for Apple to just get ON PAR with Google from now on.

I understand that crowd-sourcing is a necessary evil to improve maps accuracy. But if you look at my bullet-points above, most of I believe are THE KEY issues with iOS Maps are not something that necessarily needs crowd-sourcing to improve. Just give me an accurate map with vital info. Addresses and location accuracy will come. We all agree even Google still has issues with that.

Also solely relying on Yelp! for location services is a mistake. They need multiple sources. If I learned anything in school, it's that you need at least 3 sources for all information you present. You need to cross-reference data for accuracy...triangulation of data if you will. And Apple dropped the ball on that. ****, all Apple had to do is go to the local visitor's center in any major city and get the free city map to see what the vital info is they need to show.

Something needs to happen fast. Or there will be a lot more articles about the deficiencies of this App.

gkinchina wrote:

None of them work well across most countries of the world. For example, Waze, Mapquest have good data only for the US.

Google is the gold standard for a map service that works well in practically every part of the world.

For example, in India or Malaysia, there is no App on the store that works well at present. Those which did, used Google Maps data and they have been switched over to the Apple Native map data now, which does not work.

We don't have any options on the AppStore now that can find anything or route anything properly.

Why would I buy an Android today if that was the case?

Then tell Google to let apple use their map data for their maps. Google is the one that crippled the app and all apple did was want to make it compete with android.