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Dunk the Lunk

macrumors regular
Oct 27, 2007
232
74
.uk
Similarly, do speed limits show on roads with variable speed limits (that change based on traffic, hazards etc - and does it show the default speed (if the signs are blacked out)?
Similar happens on motorways here in Sydney - those with variable speeds have no speeds shown at all.

On UK motorways with variable speed limits I’m pretty sure that the speed limit is shown although I can’t be 100% certain-my nearest one is around Bristol so will check next time. However, where we have variable speed limits on motorway there are loads of speed cameras and Siri does constantly announce that there is 70mph camera ahead when you know you are in a 40/50/60 zone. It is a bit annoying.
 

dallardice

macrumors 6502
Jan 29, 2008
252
113
On UK motorways with variable speed limits I’m pretty sure that the speed limit is shown although I can’t be 100% certain-my nearest one is around Bristol so will check next time.
I've never seen Apple Maps adjust the shown speed limit to the variable one, always 70mph - given that they can be changed dynamically I don't see how it could do that without a feed from the source (although the data is available online dynamically, albeit in an unfriendly format, on the Traffic England site.) As you say, the speed camera announcement always says 70mph - a more helpful announcement would be "variable speed camera ahead" but then it couldn't tell us to "please watch your speed". My BMW manages to display the variable speed limits on the dash but that's read from the signs by camera.
 

Dunk the Lunk

macrumors regular
Oct 27, 2007
232
74
.uk
I've never seen Apple Maps adjust the shown speed limit to the variable one, always 70mph - given that they can be changed dynamically I don't see how it could do that without a feed from the source (although the data is available online dynamically, albeit in an unfriendly format, on the Traffic England site.) As you say, the speed camera announcement always says 70mph - a more helpful announcement would be "variable speed camera ahead" but then it couldn't tell us to "please watch your speed". My BMW manages to display the variable speed limits on the dash but that's read from the signs by camera.

Dynamic speed limits would be impressive!

I was responding to @BeauGiles question on this. Personally I would prefer it if Maps didn’t show 70 (in the UK) in these areas. It should be either nothing as BeauGiles notes happens in Sydney or some sort of variable speed symbol/identification.
 
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BeauGiles

macrumors regular
Nov 23, 2008
200
175
Sydney, Australia
Thanks all, I've emailed the Maps team re the speeds & motorway names missing in the tunnels.
--

Random tidbit I noticed tonight; my iPhone (running iOS 15.4.1) has a new "Is this a new development?" toggle when reporting an issue and adding a new address or street.

My iPad also running iOS 15.4.1 doesn't have the toggle.
(And toggling it does nothing; doesn't add any new fields or options to fill)

h2324d4swas81.jpg
 

dk001

macrumors demi-god
Oct 3, 2014
11,142
15,496
Sage, Lightning, and Mountains
Did a little vacation trip this week from Ventura California to Prescott Arizona with a few pit stops along the way. Use my 13 ProMax on 15.4.1 and 1+ 9 Pro on Android 11. From Point A to Point B and for general searches both worked equally as well. This included handling the construction along I-10 and in central Phoenix Arizona. As expected Google Maps did better as I was able to use multi-points. Apple Maps does not offer this.

Only issue fro the trip was with Apple Maps and I have not identified the cause. It has happened before. Driving through Prescott Az and surrounding area, the vocal speaking potion of Apple Maps Directions stopped. The directions kept working, just no voice. If I killed AM, reloaded the directions and restarted, they worked fine. For a while. Then the vocals would stop.

For the entire rest of the trip - no issue. Just in the Prescott area and only for Apple Maps. Apple Maps worked fine in Sedona (last area I had this issue), Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Los Angeles. Google Maps on both devices worked fine.

Gotta be the area but I an unable to identify any reason.
 
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MozMan68

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jun 29, 2010
6,152
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Did a little vacation trip this week from Ventura California to Prescott Arizona with a few pit stops along the way. Use my 13 ProMax on 15.4.1 and 1+ 9 Pro on Android 11. From Point A to Point B and for general searches both worked equally as well. This included handling the construction along I-10 and in central Phoenix Arizona. As expected Google Maps did better as I was able to use multi-points. Apple Maps does not offer this.

Only issue fro the trip was with Apple Maps and I have not identified the cause. It has happened before. Driving through Prescott Az and surrounding area, the vocal speaking potion of Apple Maps Directions stopped. The directions kept working, just no voice. If I killed AM, reloaded the directions and restarted, they worked fine. For a while. Then the vocals would stop.

For the entire rest of the trip - no issue. Just in the Prescott area and only for Apple Maps. Apple Maps worked fine in Sedona (last area I had this issue), Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Los Angeles. Google Maps on both devices worked fine.

Gotta be the area but I an unable to identify any reason.

That’s really weird…never had that happen before.
 

MozMan68

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jun 29, 2010
6,152
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South Cackalacky
Going to try Google Maps on my Pixel/Android Auto tomorrow for the 12+ hour drive home and see if some of the new features show up like traffic lights and stop signs. I think those are turned on everywhere now (on Android), but they also claim they are starting to add 3D buildings? Or building outlines at a minimum.

I tried the iOS version this evening and it was the same old boring Google Maps I hate so much.
 
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dk001

macrumors demi-god
Oct 3, 2014
11,142
15,496
Sage, Lightning, and Mountains
Going to try Google Maps on my Pixel/Android Auto tomorrow for the 12+ hour drive home and see if some of the new features show up like traffic lights and stop signs. I think those are turned on everywhere now (on Android), but they also claim they are starting to add 3D buildings? Or building outlines at a minimum.

I tried the iOS version this evening and it was the same old boring Google Maps I hate so much.

On Android 11 (1+ 9 Pro) I have the street signs, traffic lights, etc … but not seeing much 3D in my area.
iOS vs Android
0DDF51CC-B677-4DCD-A276-14158D3A874E.png Screenshot_20220409-164802.jpg
 
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dk001

macrumors demi-god
Oct 3, 2014
11,142
15,496
Sage, Lightning, and Mountains
It sounded to me like they were referring to non-satellite view. Trying to match Apple Maps regular view in new Maps areas.

No 3D in default view with 3D turned on for me in Directions.
Outside of Directions, 3D work in default just fine.
See attached…
 

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MozMan68

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jun 29, 2010
6,152
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South Cackalacky
No 3D in default view with 3D turned on for me in Directions.
Outside of Directions, 3D work in default just fine.
See attached…

Yep…slower rollout for that, but sounds like they are adding building outlines to the navigation map starting soon in some areas.

I’ll do a screenshot if any pop up tomorrow on my trip, but not going through any major cities.
 
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G1Ravage

macrumors 65816
Dec 28, 2018
1,096
832
Queens, New York, USA
Speaking of Google products, Waze has been slowly adding in unique highway shields, much like Apple Maps has always had.

In fact, Waze’s shields are more up to date. Google never puts unique shields into Google Maps, so it’s nice that they’re letting the Waze team continue to be somewhat unique.

389A8D83-5119-44B7-817B-7773E00A25EB.png



2268E129-FBB5-4632-8747-DD738D4E7AE8.png



Speaking of unique, I’ve been trying to figure out what’s been going on with the maps that Uber drivers use. It used to be more related to Google Maps, but now it seems to be pulling map data from various sources, including Apple Maps. Very odd.
 

MozMan68

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jun 29, 2010
6,152
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South Cackalacky
Okay…12 hours from VA to MI.

Phone - Pixel 5 running latest software and Google Maps

Car - VW Atlas running Android Auto

Bear in mind…I use Apple Maps 99% of the time, love it, works for me..some of the following is of course, my personal opinion…there is also a chance I may not be doing something right to access features I am “missing” or didn’t turn on properly?

Pros

* Announces when you enter a new State with banner…I hate to say it, I love this. “Welcome to Ohio!”

* I like the actual outside local temperature as well as a weather icon...actually very helpful to see in one place even if it is repeated on the dashboard of the car as I know not every car has an outside temperature display.

* Route was fine…matched what Apple Maps would suggest

* I liked the way Google handles waypoints…partially. When I asked to go to a gas station, I was able to tap on the top left box and see how far that was but also see timing for the rest of my ride home. Liked the access to that detail.

* That’s it…blech


Cons

* Visually it just sucks IMHO…bad color background, small roads, no details like terrain, buildings, etc.

* Why does Google still show up to 5 highway placards on the road? It varies sometimes, but do I really need to know it is route 23 THAT much? Just label it once and let it be centered.

* I mentioned waypoints as a pro above, but one serious con is how it shows the distant to various options. If I asked for McDonalds along my route, for example, it might list 6 upcoming options and show them on the map, but the list of options on the lower left of the map only showed how far off the road it was…it didn’t show the actual distance TO the poi unless you tapped on one of the boxes. I don’t want to tap on the first box just to find out it’s 119 miles away. Apple shows all of the distance detail in the box on the map, both distance TO the POI and how far it is off the route.

* The map voice sounded like it was in a can. Just not as clear as Siri.

* Traffic lights and stop signs showed up on the route, but they were missing a bunch of times throughout the route. Google also just “shows” them. There is no reference to them while routing like Apple Maps does. I’m guessing this is coming in a future update, but for now, they are nothing more than a visual reference point (when they are actually shown)

* The background was “off white” almost the entire drive and I couldn’t see the other roads (white) next to my route.

* As I’ve said before, Google Maps shows “speed,” not “traffic.” I’m not sure how people really like this while driving when it never seems to represent what you are experiencing (reds and yellows unless there is actual traffic). I was exiting a highway on an off ramp that never has traffic….I was simply driving slower due to all the pot holes. Google showed the ramp as yellow even though there was no traffic there and is not busy enough to ever have real traffic. I just hate all the yellow and red at every single traffic light and stop sign when there is NO actual “traffic.”….that’s me.

* ETA was WAY off when I started and I arrived nearly 40 minutes earlier…with stops. In my experience, Apple Maps is always way closer to the actual arrival time…has it learned my driving habits?? Yes…I drive fast… ?

* In general, I find the roads/graphics just too “skinny”…and the lack of 3D buildings is rough now that I am so used to them on Apple Maps (I did not see any building outlines as promised in Google Maps' latest announcement...at least that is coming to better define the map. But not 3D?).

* I couldn’t find any way to mark hazards, speed traps, etc. I think I read somewhere that it isn’t on Android Auto? Only the phone?

* Google missed the first two speed traps I passed (was very lucky), next one they marked was just a state trooper station and no speed trap, the next one marked, no police…the last one marked was real!

* Some construction areas were marked, but Google never announced them…it also didn’t notify me when I was coming up (very fast) to some traffic. Not sure why, but outside of the speed traps, it didn’t announce any other events.

Again, I fully admit to be biased, but the way Apple handles graphics, zoom levels, map details, etc. is so far beyond Google (new Maps areas). Google is definitely trying to catch up with its latest announcement, but not even close yet.

Video showing the terrain issue and too many route signs.

 
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iOS Geek

macrumors 68000
Nov 7, 2017
1,658
3,443
Browsing around my town on Maps, I have noticed that Apple has again updated the Standard View with the 3D building footprints. This is yet another update just this year alone so far. Speaking just for my town, the Standard View is now as up to date as it can possibly be. Every completed construction project (homes, stores, a new warehouse, and hotel) are now on the map. The satellite view is out of date by a few years.

I'm pretty impressed by how up to date Standard View is. Until you get to bike paths. If I had to put a number on it, I'd say 50% of our bike paths are shown on the map. We don't have cycling directions available here yet, so not having all of our bike paths showing on the map yet isn't the end of the world...but hopefully that comes soon! Now if we could also just get Look Around...which seems to have been very quiet lately.
 

vaalbara

macrumors member
Apr 5, 2022
57
7
non-US user here:
1) Long avenue-street names take up almost half of the screen while driving; is there a way to minimise the directions pane?
2) Isn't there a way to see other alternate routes even they are longer/slower? My daily commute has two main routes with one having a 3x higher toll tag then the other one but the cheaper route (being always slower due to traffic) is almost never shown.
 
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