Apple Maps Thread - iOS 15

[MozMan68]

It seemed like the colors stood out more to me. Especially water. I was looking around my town and when I came across ponds and rivers…I knew the blue was a deep blue already, but it seemed like EXTRA blue. But it could just be my eyes messing with me That’s all I was referring to in the vague question

Other than that, my area has definitely been updated recently. More building models have been added to reflect completed construction. I’d say they were around here within maybe the last 2-3 months, because the map as it is now reflects roughly that time frame. The only buildings not on the map are things that have finished since then. Some bike/walking paths have been added (though quite a few are still missing). The standard view map is actually more up to date than the satellite image layer is.

Well….now I have to look again…hah

I guess the water may look “lighter” IMHO?? Not as deep of a blue as before. More contrast then overall….lighter (as in “not as dark”)

 

[MozMan68]

Everything looks the same to me.

However...everyone, head to Vegas, and look at The Strip hotels. On my phone, The Strip hotels are vanishing when you zoom out, despite other 3D buildings (like homes) still being visible for a few more zoom levels.

I see what you are saying….as you pinch in and out, they disappear before other 3D buildings do. But I wonder if it is because they ARE “detailed” 3D buildings versus the simple rounded block buildings?

 

[G1Ravage]

I see what you are saying….as you pinch in and out, they disappear before other 3D buildings do. But I wonder if it is because they ARE “detailed” 3D buildings versus the simple rounded block buildings?

Never seen that behavior before...and as far as I can tell, it isn't happening with "detailed" buildings anywhere else.

Now I'm imagining City Experience in Vegas with every Strip hotel fully modeled. Mmm, baby.

 

[Blindside]

This might sound strange, but is there a way to increase how much Apple Maps zooms out during navigation with CarPlay?

Even if I am driving fast, the maximum view distance on the map is about 1km (compared to about 11km with google maps).

I think to remember faintly, that Apple Maps used to zoom out much more earlier!?

I know that there is the option to overview the whole route in 2D with the toggle on the upper right, but I would actually like to have the 3d view to zoom out more.

 

[G1Ravage]

Ever since the update to iOS 15, Maps *has* been zoomed in much closer on highways than before. I believe because the zoom levels are now geared towards showing off the detail in the select cities that currently have the City Experience level of detail. (Which in itself, zooms in even closer on highways.)

You should be able to zoom out manually using the zoom button on the right side of the screen while navigating. If you're on a long stretch of highway, this usually works fine. But once you reach an exit, which causes the camera behavior to change, the camera zoom will reset to the default levels, and you may have to zoom out again.

 

[MozMan68]

Interesting article on how Google Maps and Waze failed these folks a couple of weeks ago and led them onto I-95 in the middle of the storm. Just glad they didn’t use Apple Maps. Hah.

Google Maps and Waze Led Me Astray During the I-95 Snow Storm — Gizmodo

Senator Tim Kaine and I have something in common: We were extremely unwise to drive through the state of Virginia on Monday, when the combination of winter storms and the traditional regional practice of doing nothing about them screwed us both over for over 20 hours.

apple.news

 

[Blindside]

Ever since the update to iOS 15, Maps *has* been zoomed in much closer on highways than before. I believe because the zoom levels are now geared towards showing off the detail in the select cities that currently have the City Experience level of detail. (Which in itself, zooms in even closer on highways.)

You should be able to zoom out manually using the zoom button on the right side of the screen while navigating. If you're on a long stretch of highway, this usually works fine. But once you reach an exit, which causes the camera behavior to change, the camera zoom will reset to the default levels, and you may have to zoom out again.

At least I am not totally crazy remembering that maps used to zoom out far more during higher speed travel and dependent on the next routing command.

I know that I can zoom out view the zoom buttons, but even that only works only up to two "clicks" or "levels", on the third click, the maps resets to its default zoom. Additionally, it is very annoying to zoom each time.

It is somewhat frustrating they made it something worse that has been figured out even by carmakers and their legacy infotainment units ages ago.

 

[iOS Geek]

I don't know why this popped into my head now, since it was something I saw mentioned a while back. Who here suggested that the wide release of Look Around in the US could coincide with Apple's VR headset? After seeing that the headset is supposedly now not expected until at least next year, I hope that isn't the case for Look Around.

As for the discussion on the Zoom level...I do agree with G1 and can also say the zoom level has definitely been closer in iOS 15 and I can see that being due to showing more detail. That being the case...I hope the rest of see more detail sooner rather than later because until then, the closer zoom is sort of unnecessary and having it zoomed out farther would be useful. I'll be perfectly happy with the closer zoom when there is actually more to be shown with it. In the meantime, it's not doing a whole lot for those of us who are not in the super detail cities.

 

[MozMan68]

I don't know why this popped into my head now, since it was something I saw mentioned a while back. Who here suggested that the wide release of Look Around in the US could coincide with Apple's VR headset? After seeing that the headset is supposedly now not expected until at least next year, I hope that isn't the case for Look Around.

As for the discussion on the Zoom level...I do agree with G1 and can also say the zoom level has definitely been closer in iOS 15 and I can see that being due to showing more detail. That being the case...I hope the rest of see more detail sooner rather than later because until then, the closer zoom is sort of unnecessary and having it zoomed out farther would be useful. I'll be perfectly happy with the closer zoom when there is actually more to be shown with it. In the meantime, it's not doing a whole lot for those of us who are not in the super detail cities.

@gwhizkids was the one that mentioned the AR goggles, but I don't think they will wait for that. It's a great use for them, so LookAround could (and should) come out WAY before goggles are launched.

 

[gwhizkids]

I don't know why this popped into my head now, since it was something I saw mentioned a while back. Who here suggested that the wide release of Look Around in the US could coincide with Apple's VR headset? After seeing that the headset is supposedly now not expected until at least next year, I hope that isn't the case for Look Around.

As for the discussion on the Zoom level...I do agree with G1 and can also say the zoom level has definitely been closer in iOS 15 and I can see that being due to showing more detail. That being the case...I hope the rest of see more detail sooner rather than later because until then, the closer zoom is sort of unnecessary and having it zoomed out farther would be useful. I'll be perfectly happy with the closer zoom when there is actually more to be shown with it. In the meantime, it's not doing a whole lot for those of us who are not in the super detail cities.

That was me. We’ll see on the timing. I’d certainly like LookAround sooner than later.

On another note, I got the notice below when I opened Maps this evening on the 15.4 beta. Is this how you guys get notified of changes being accepted? Or is this something new?

 

[G1Ravage]

That was me. We’ll see on the timing. I’d certainly like LookAround sooner than later.

On another note, I got the notice below when I opened Maps this evening on the 15.4 beta. Is this how you guys get notified of changes being accepted? Or is this something new?

I would get a banner notification first, and if I touch it, it would bring me into Maps, pull up the area of the report, and then show the info as you see there.

 

[BBDDVV]

Anyone seeing this in CarPlay: when starting of navigating, the icons on the map (just one in attached pics, but applies to others when visible as well) have this nice 3D-ish shape (and rich color). After a couple of minutes, just the map (not the app) suddenly seems to crash (navigation happily continues) showing a dark background and gridlines, to then quickly 'recover' but with now showing 'flat' icons.
I wonder if this is the head unit's implementation of CarPlay that's a fault (BMW 5 series MY2021, memory issues?) or CarPlay itself?

 

[G1Ravage]

Anyone seeing this in CarPlay: when starting of navigating, the icons on the map (just one in attached pics, but applies to others when visible as well) have this nice 3D-ish shape (and rich color). After a couple of minutes, just the map (not the app) suddenly seems to crash (navigation happily continues) showing a dark background and gridlines, to then quickly 'recover' but with now showing 'flat' icons.
I wonder if this is the head unit's implementation of CarPlay that's a fault (BMW 5 series MY2021, memory issues?) or CarPlay itself?

Not sure I've ever experienced that. but I'll pay closer attention.

I'm going to believe it's an issue with Maps or CarPlay itself. It's still kinda buggy.

 

[Sigvard]

I prefer the UI/UX on Apple Maps, but does it lag for anyone else? Google Maps seems more accurate in displaying my actual location to the streets/intersections on the screen than Apple Maps.

This has caused me to miss some turns in the past and has made me go back to using Google Maps for now. I don't have this issue with Waze either.

 

[MozMan68]

I prefer the UI/UX on Apple Maps, but does it lag for anyone else? Google Maps seems more accurate in displaying my actual location to the streets/intersections on the screen than Apple Maps.

This has caused me to miss some turns in the past and has made me go back to using Google Maps for now. I don't have this issue with Waze either.

Where are you located?

 

[Sigvard]

Where are you located?

New Jersey/New York. It’s noticeably a few yards short on the screen compared to where I actually am even when stationary.

 

[MozMan68]

New Jersey/New York. It’s noticeably a few yards short on the screen compared to where I actually am even when stationary.

I haven’t experienced that since the hard coded GPS issues in the ios12 betas.

At a minimum, I would do a hard restart as it sounds like a phone issue, not a Maps issue. If it was, people would be complaining everywhere.

 

[Sigvard]

I haven’t experienced that since the hard coded GPS issues in the ios12 betas.

At a minimum, I would do a hard restart as it sounds like a phone issue, not a Maps issue. If it was, people would be complaining everywhere.

Already did that but the problem persists. I’ve also seen a few posts on Reddit about this.

I may also be just more sensitive to it since I’m a new driver but it's definitely not as responsive as Google Maps is to me.

 

[MozMan68]

Already did that but the problem persists. I’ve also seen a few posts on Reddit about this.

I may also be just more sensitive to it since I’m a new driver but it's definitely not as responsive as Google Maps is to me.

Hmmmm…not in the Apple Maps subreddit though. Algorithm throws those to the top of me feed since I’m on there so much and just checked the past two weeks.

Do you have a link to the thread? Is it just in your area or multiple locations? Can’t believe I missed that….it is weird that Google/Waze would work and not Apple Maps.

 

[Sigvard]

Hmmmm…not in the Apple Maps subreddit though. Algorithm throws those to the top of me feed since I’m on there so much and just checked the past two weeks.

Do you have a link to the thread? Is it just in your area or multiple locations? Can’t believe I missed that….it is weird that Google/Waze would work and not Apple Maps.

Here's a recent thread from a month ago. I also found this article that talks about a similar issue albeit on CarPlay.

I prefer the actual driving experience on Apple Maps especially as a new driver with all the traffic light and stop sign callouts but the slow tracking kills it for me. Maybe once I'm more proficient it won't bother me as much but right now it's borderline unusable for me.

There's actually this response in the reddit thread that makes a bit of sense to me:

People are downvoting you, so I want to say that you’re not crazy. It’s the number one reason I can’t use Apple Maps as well. They smooth out turning animations, which means the start and end of canvas rotation when you turn is smooth instead of abrupt, which means that the precise location shown must mathematically be just a teensy bit behind apps that don’t do that, like Google Maps, and I have missed tons of turns because of this.

 

[s0ur_lemon]

I prefer the UI/UX on Apple Maps, but does it lag for anyone else? Google Maps seems more accurate in displaying my actual location to the streets/intersections on the screen than Apple Maps.

This has caused me to miss some turns in the past and has made me go back to using Google Maps for now. I don't have this issue with Waze either.

Yeah, definitely 1-2 seconds behind my actual location when navigating.

 

[MozMan68]

Yeah, definitely 1-2 seconds behind my actual location when navigating.

I guess this does sound like a Maps issue….I hate when stuff like this only affects limited number of users. Hoping it is identified by Apple and server side fix is pushed out.

I’ll keep my eye on mine, but I think I would notice a problem like that.

 

[Dunk the Lunk]

Yeah, I’ve noticed some quite bad lag (again 1-2 seconds) which has caused me to miss turns. Problem is it’s a new work car/phone combo so I haven’t been able to identify exactly where the problem is or had the chance to test on my own phone/car.

One thing I do hope is that Apple get on with updating the GNSS chip on new devices to dual frequency. It will greatly improve the accuracy in a number of different scenarios.

 

[Sigvard]

I just came back from a morning drive and decided to test this out again. Waze actually does have a similar lag but it's not as bad as Apple Maps while Google Maps remains the most accurate regarding the location tracking while navigating.

Used an iPhone 13 PM and X for this unscientific experiment with similar results on both devices and on freeway, suburban, and urban routes.

 

[MozMan68]

I haven’t been driving much this week due to crappy weather (and nowhere to go…hah), but I did do a quick trip last night to pick up dinner and did not notice any lag.

Will keep checking.