Apple Maps - home business listings?

[virginblue4]

I often submit changes to Apple maps to add new places / update existing information.

I just went onto the Maps app and noticed that in the UK at least, they must have flipped a switch as there are now literally millions of listings all over the map of what I assume to me small private businesses. Here are just a few screenshots in a completely residential area.

It has never been like this before. I'd go as far as saying it actually makes maps massively distracting!

Anyone else noticed this? Apple Maps has been extremely accurate in the past year or so and all my edits are accepted within 3-4 days. But now in my road (not pictured) there is a mark for BP Oil Ltd and Southwest Trains Ltd. I highly doubt it!

What's going on???

 

[cynics]

I just checked around me which is on the east coast of the US. POI are slightly better but still abysmal compared to the competition.

Looking for gas stations near me only 4 of the 7 listings are gas stations. One is a mislabeled grocery store that doesn't have a gas, one is a auto service center, and the other is a home heating fuel delivery company office. Meanwhile Google nails it, probably 15 actual gas stations and even list the price per gallon.

It's a shame for me because I much prefer Apple Maps as navigation software but it's only as good as the data it uses.

 

[campyguy]

That's two "Maps related" items I noticed today myself. The first was related to Traffic Notifications in the Notifications Center - it's working for me now, but not tied to anyplace significant.

The second is what you've called out - I noticed hundreds of new locations in three destinations I've been in today, including Seattle and Portland - what's also distracting is, to me, all of the new businesses ARE IN ALL CAPS.

So, yes, somebody either unplugged the pipe or flicked a switch...

 

[virginblue4]

That's two "Maps related" items I noticed today myself. The first was related to Traffic Notifications in the Notifications Center - it's working for me now, but not tied to anyplace significant.

The second is what you've called out - I noticed hundreds of new locations in three destinations I've been in today, including Seattle and Portland - what's also distracting is, to me, all of the new businesses ARE IN ALL CAPS.

So, yes, somebody either unplugged the pipe or flicked a switch...

They seem to have removed them all now, it looks a lot cleaner. Maps is now just showing main points of interest like before.

 

[campyguy]

They seem to have removed them all now, it looks a lot cleaner. Maps is now just showing main points of interest like before.

In some areas yes, and no in others. I was in Seattle a couple of days ago and they were gone, but in the Portland area and at a rural project site they're still there and with some new, uh, issues. See the screen shot from the Portland area.

 

[Goatllama]

In some areas yes, and no in others. I was in Seattle a couple of days ago and they were gone, but in the Portland area and at a rural project site they're still there and with some new, uh, issues. See the screen shot from the Portland area.

That apartment loan store, tho.

 

[gsmornot]

No real issues here but what I do see on some maps are people that have bought business connections from internet providers to qualify for unlimited data. To do so they had to setup as a business to get the connection. I think some of that type of data spills into the maps feeds. Apple does buy the data from many sources so at times the filters may not catch the excess.