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Are these iOS 9 improvements in Maps?

Bailey

Bailey

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2004
28
4
London, UK
I had a long journey in the car over the weekend, and I used Apple Maps on iOS9b5.

Twice, it offered me a change to my routing based on a change in traffic conditions with a notification at the top of the screen. I also received notifications about upcoming roadworks as I approached.

I don't remember either of these things happening on Maps in iOS 8 on similar journeys. Don't know if that's because of conditions, or whether they're new in iOS 9?
 
Bailey said:
I had a long journey in the car over the weekend, and I used Apple Maps on iOS9b5.

Twice, it offered me a change to my routing based on a change in traffic conditions with a notification at the top of the screen. I also received notifications about upcoming roadworks as I approached.

I don't remember either of these things happening on Maps in iOS 8 on similar journeys. Don't know if that's because of conditions, or whether they're new in iOS 9?
Click to expand...

The features you mention are new for iOS 9. I notice in the data provider credits Waze, I wonder if this is where the data is coming from. Anyhow, Maps will reroute around traffic now if you agree to the route change. I use maps more now than in the past just to go places around town simply for the traffic awareness. Add the watch to the mix, turn off the phone display and what you get is a traffic aware guidance tool that will quietly tap you on the wrist with directions with no interruption to the music or whatever else is in the car. The future is here.
 
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Would love to see some screenshots of this.

I really want to use Apple Maps for navigation and rerouting around traffic, but the Google Maps app still far outshines Apple's offering in this regard. Google gives very detailed traffic condition info, updates often, color-codes the ETA green yellow or red based on level of traffic, and reroutes fairly aggressively around traffic. I have not seen this in iOS yet. I'm not trying the beta by the way.
 
The iOS 9 Beta Maps app appears - to me - to be an improvement over the previous versions. The traffic colors offer more contrast but IMHO it's lipstick on a pig - it's the same TomTom/Clear Channel mapping/routing/traffic data that's showing up here: http://livetraffic.tomtom.com/ And, of course, TomTom and its RDS-TMC (Radio Data System - Traffic Message Channel) isn't free even to its GO owners, so Apple must be paying a pretty penny for TomTom's logic and data.

Regarding Waze and current data, that ship sailed in 2012 when Google wrote a check for Waze and Apple parted waze (ways/waze, get it? :p). I'm a Waze user, but generally in invisible mode for my high-speed jaunts and for the reasons only I know!

I've got a couple of friends in low places here in rural locations in the PNW, and they've both related to me that they've seen both Bing- and Apple-labeled vehicles driving in their locals - so I'm hoping that MS/Apple will free itself of the Navteq/TeleAtlas data anchors that are weighing them down.

As for navigation, I don't need it - too many apps have incorrect roadway names (I work with dozens of county surveyors, so please don't take me to task with this point). My hopped-up Forester and two Benzes have nav units that use the same crippled TeleAtlas data that Apple uses, courtesy of TomTom/TeleAtlas. Some of my work is "out there" in rural areas, so I always have a current Thomas Guide with me. As to traffic, I never trust those pretty little lines in the apps - I bookmark my routes from local DOTs (like Oregon's Tripcheck, WSDOT's own website, or one of the 511.org websites for real data - like http://511.idaho.gov or http://map.wyoroad.info/hi.html and others) - and check out the traffic cameras before I get to a bottleneck.

If you're looking for a decent traffic app, check out INRIX - they get their data from the DOTs, local agencies, AND all of the crowdsourced data from BB/iOS/Android/Win Phone - they provide data on hundreds of miles of roads I travel that none of the platform apps provide. But I still check DOT websites for local closures, before I hit the road or send one of my employees to a job site. Cheers!
 
gsmornot said:
The features you mention are new for iOS 9. I notice in the data provider credits Waze, I wonder if this is where the data is coming from. Anyhow, Maps will reroute around traffic now if you agree to the route change. I use maps more now than in the past just to go places around town simply for the traffic awareness. Add the watch to the mix, turn off the phone display and what you get is a traffic aware guidance tool that will quietly tap you on the wrist with directions with no interruption to the music or whatever else is in the car. The future is here.
Click to expand...

Odd for them to use Waze, now that Google owns it. I hope they thought this through and won’t end up with another Maps debacle.
 
Coolest thing I've noticed so far, is if there is traffic (such as a traffic jam or heavy traffic) it will warn you while driving.

Experienced it the other day, don't recall that feature being there previously (though it may have existed prior)

I'm talking about while you're in the car driving it lets you know there's heavy traffic coming up ahead, that was cool
 
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This is a cool feature. Noticed it first a couple of weeks ago when driving and using Apple Maps for directions. My phone suddenly announced there was an accident 75kms further along the autoroute. Didn't give me alternative directions but at least I was forwarned and early enough to take decisions to avoid congestion. Apple's Maps app is coming of age!
 
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another very minor new ios 9 maps feature is that when reporting a problem with a location, you can relocate it by dragging the map rather than trying to place the pin in the right place. much better. many seconds wasted trying to get the pin in the right place.
 
Martin29 said:
This is a cool feature. Noticed it first a couple of weeks ago when driving and using Apple Maps for directions. My phone suddenly announced there was an accident 75kms further along the autoroute. Didn't give me alternative directions but at least I was forwarned and early enough to take decisions to avoid congestion. Apple's Maps app is coming of age!
Click to expand...

I find I don't get an alternate route if by its calculation the other options would not be faster. If the accident would add 10 minutes in traffic but the alternate route would take 15 it will not alter your course. It looks for the fastest route which sometimes is to continue ahead. (my experience)
 
Adding and fixing POI information in Apple Maps for my city is my favorite iOS game! If Apple added trophies for this, I think it would really take off.
 
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Using Waze is a surprise. I wonder if that's always been the case or if it's new for iOS 9.

Update: Waze is included since before iOS 9 was announced and betas released. This is not a new addition. Considering it says "Map Data" I'm assuming it doesn't include traffic information.
 
I believe that Waze was credited in iOS 8, however, I didn't really notice any functionality changes at that point. Regardless, I noticed this yesterday and happened to grab a couple screenshots. I wasn't given an option to re-route due to the traffic, however i'm sure this was due to my location (Hartford, CT).
 

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Topher227 said:
I believe that Waze was credited in iOS 8, however, I didn't really notice any functionality changes at that point. Regardless, I noticed this yesterday and happened to grab a couple screenshots. I wasn't given an option to re-route due to the traffic, however i'm sure this was due to my location (Hartford, CT).
Click to expand...

It's safe to say that Waze is only being used for map data, not traffic and re-routing. That's coming more from TomTom and processing of the data to recommend new routes while navigating.
 
Topher227 said:
I believe that Waze was credited in iOS 8, however, I didn't really notice any functionality changes at that point. Regardless, I noticed this yesterday and happened to grab a couple screenshots. I wasn't given an option to re-route due to the traffic, however i'm sure this was due to my location (Hartford, CT).
Click to expand...

On a side-note: Is it just a bug that only half of the lock screen shows Maps, or is that some strategic thing? It's been that way since early on in iOS 8 and still seems to be the case in iOS 9. I thought it was a bug, but if it was, surely it would have been fixed by now right?
 
Tyler23 said:
On a side-note: Is it just a bug that only half of the lock screen shows Maps, or is that some strategic thing? It's been that way since early on in iOS 8 and still seems to be the case in iOS 9. I thought it was a bug, but if it was, surely it would have been fixed by now right?
Click to expand...

What do you mean? I believe mine is full screen in iOS 8 and 9.
 
Warbrain said:
What do you mean? I believe mine is full screen in iOS 8 and 9.
Click to expand...

Check out the first picture posted by Topher227 in post #12. I may have exaggerated by saying only half of the lockscreen is taken up by the maps, but look at the bottom quarter of the lockscreen. It's just blank white as if the map was cut off. Mine does the same and has since iOS 8. Very annoying.
 
Tyler23 said:
Check out the first picture posted by Topher227 in post #12. I may have exaggerated by saying only half of the lockscreen is taken up by the maps, but look at the bottom quarter of the lockscreen. It's just blank white as if the map was cut off. Mine does the same and has since iOS 8. Very annoying.
Click to expand...

Huh, that looks like it might be a bug but if it's been that way since iOS 8 then maybe not.
 
Anyone notice the arrow lags behind a bit as compared to google maps or other navi apps? When I am approaching a turn or even passing intersections the arrow representing the car lags by about an inch on the phone. Apps like TomTom compensate for what is likely just GPS lag as does Google. Making sure it's not just me.
 
nordique said:
Coolest thing I've noticed so far, is if there is traffic (such as a traffic jam or heavy traffic) it will warn you while driving.

Experienced it the other day, don't recall that feature being there previously (though it may have existed prior)

I'm talking about while you're in the car driving it lets you know there's heavy traffic coming up ahead, that was cool
Click to expand...

Glad to see they are modernizing Maps. Now, if only they'd show color coded traffic data while in navigation view. Having to switch to Overview to see that is a negative compared to Google Maps. Sometimes Apple gets too minimalistic on the info.
 
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