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circatee

Contributor
Original poster
Nov 30, 2014
4,496
3,052
Georgia, USA
Over the past month or so, I've started using Apple Carplay, and thus using Waze for directions and such.
In an effort to get more integrated with Apple, I have been using Maps for about a week.

Okay, someone explain, why is Maps awful? I've been using it to test going to work and home. And, each day, both directions, it takes in a completely opposite direction to what Google Maps or Waze would do.

What on earth am I missing? I checked settings, too...
 
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Sheepish-Lord

Suspended
Oct 13, 2021
2,523
5,139
All depends on settings and location. Waze can go pound sand though, **** was developed by Israeli intelligence veterans (per Wiki) and bought out by Google...hard pass.

I wouldn't mind Google Maps if it wasn't so "busy" and the integration with CarPlay makes the nav voice sound awful and robotic. Apple Maps is very solid for me in the metropolitan area I live in.
 

russell_314

macrumors 604
Feb 10, 2019
6,652
10,242
USA
Over the past month or so, I've started using Apple Carplay, and thus using Waze for directions and such.
In an effort to get more integrated with Apple, I have been using Maps for about a week.

Okay, someone explain, why is Maps awful? I've been using it to test going to work and home. And, each day, both directions, it takes in a completely opposite direction to what Google Maps or Waze would do.

What on earth am I missing? I checked settings, too...
Apple Maps is awful because it doesn’t have the map data that Google maps has. Both Waze and Google Maps are owned by Google so they have this massive trove of data. I don’t think Apple is that dedicated to spend the money needed to make Apple Maps on par with Google maps.

I like the interface of Apple Maps more than Waze or Google maps but if I have to get somewhere and it’s actually important that I make it there, I use Waze or Google maps. If I’m going somewhere that I know how to get to or I don’t care if I get lost then I will use Apple Maps.

If I had to pick between Google Maps or Waze, I kind of like Waze because of the interface and road haz reporting. Also, I think Waze has a different algorithm to that prioritizes routing around traffic jams.

I really wish it wasn’t bought out by Google, but it is what it is.
 
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bransoj

macrumors 68000
Jul 31, 2013
1,562
739
Any map app seems to have different reviews depending on where you are in the world. I dont drive as much as i did as i work much closer to home these days. Previously i was doing an hour each way every day and there were a few different ways you could go depending on traffic etc. Generally Apple, Google and Waze were all in agreement about things with the possible exception that Waze had a user reported incident that hadnt made it to Apple although it generally didnt take long for Apple to react to the traffic slowing if it happened.

I prefer the interface with Apple as i think it looks neater plus with the way it interacts with your calendar and significant locations most of the time it offers the location i want to go to without searching for it. One workaround i used to do a lot is i would have Waze open in the background so you got all the notifications for things like speed cameras, police speed traps, broken down cars etc but had Apple Maps doing the navigation. I really dont like the way Waze looks which is one big reason for not using it for navigation plus it did some strange routing at times.

I even got to the point where i had a shortcut that opened Waze, then prompted for my destination (home, work, wifes office if i was picking her up or pick from calendar) and then opened Apple Maps to route to said destination. If i was picking my wife up it also texted her to let her know my arrival time.
 

AZhappyjack

Suspended
Jul 3, 2011
10,183
23,657
Happy Jack, AZ
I've been using Waze for years... was involved in their beta program for a couple of years, as well. I have tried to use/like Apple Maps, but just can't do it. No specific reason, it just doesn't "feel" right.
 

Just_Kevin

macrumors member
Jan 31, 2024
48
57
Driving from Long Island to NJ, Waze decided to take me on surface streets of NYC. That was the last time I relied on Waze. None of the three have been able to warn me about road closures on my daily commute. Possibly because they are local roads in a more rural area, not larger county or state roads.
 

Dr McKay

macrumors 68040
Aug 11, 2010
3,523
230
Kirkland
In my area Apple and Google Maps are better at different things. Google is great for searching a business name and getting directed directly do it whereas trying this in Apple Maps often has it not knowing of a businesses existence, or leading me to a wrong address, every single correction I’ve submitted to Apple Maps has been rejected without explanation.

On the other hand Google is terrible where I live at finding residential addresses. Zooming in on a street I usually find the numbers are nearly all wrong and often missing. Entering a specific house number on the street might take you simply to the street entrance or to the completely wrong part of the street. Apple Maps for me was leagues better at this and would take me to the correct house every time, so I have to keep both Apple and Google maps on my phone and use one depending on what I’m doing.
 

Edd70

macrumors 6502
Feb 16, 2018
401
904
I've semi-committed to using Apple Maps for the last year and I consider it just as good as Google for my use cases. A nice feature is the integration with Apple Watch, for both driving and walking. It vibrates when a turn is coming up. Small thing, but appreciated particularly because I keep the voice prompts muted.
 

AZhappyjack

Suspended
Jul 3, 2011
10,183
23,657
Happy Jack, AZ
I've semi-committed to using Apple Maps for the last year and I consider it just as good as Google for my use cases. A nice feature is the integration with Apple Watch, for both driving and walking. It vibrates when a turn is coming up. Small thing, but appreciated particularly because I keep the voice prompts muted.
I find that watch vibration to be one of the most annoying "features" ever. Apart from the fact that I just like Waze, it would be enough to keep me from using Apple Maps altogether.
 

Edd70

macrumors 6502
Feb 16, 2018
401
904
I find that watch vibration to be one of the most annoying "features" ever. Apart from the fact that I just like Waze, it would be enough to keep me from using Apple Maps altogether.
You can turn it off. I find it value-added with the voice turned off.
 

bransoj

macrumors 68000
Jul 31, 2013
1,562
739
I've semi-committed to using Apple Maps for the last year and I consider it just as good as Google for my use cases. A nice feature is the integration with Apple Watch, for both driving and walking. It vibrates when a turn is coming up. Small thing, but appreciated particularly because I keep the voice prompts muted.
We were down in London Sunday and Monday and I had to use directions a few times while walking around. Doing it via Apple Maps so i got a map and directions on my watch was so much better than having to walk round with my phone out looking at it!! Trying it via Google Maps you dont get the very handy moving map just direction notifications or a list of directions.
 

circatee

Contributor
Original poster
Nov 30, 2014
4,496
3,052
Georgia, USA
I've semi-committed to using Apple Maps for the last year and I consider it just as good as Google for my use cases. A nice feature is the integration with Apple Watch, for both driving and walking. It vibrates when a turn is coming up. Small thing, but appreciated particularly because I keep the voice prompts muted.
...and this was partly one reason why I wanted try Apple Maps, the full integration. Alas, here we are!
 
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