Mobile OSs Google Navigation just got clapped!!

[ChazUK]

No, because I'm pretty sure iMaps will be more simplistic to use.

How so?

Voice actions: "Navigate to Westminster, London" Or "Navigate to postcode"
Contacts: Tap on contact, tap their their saved address and open in Google Maps.
Latitude: Tap on friends avatar in Maps, get directions,
SMS: Share your current location via SMS from maps, friend has your exact location and navigates to you.

Then there is good old simple name search. Search for McDonalds in browser, tap on Google maps link in browser which can open Google Maps and navigate to McDonalds

I can't think of many more integrated simple ways of navigation myself.

 

[Lara F]

I can't believe Apple's NYC map doesn't even show the subways. Wow.

 

[matttye]

In 100% of my tests of the TomTom iPhone app vs Google Nav, the TomTom app won. In one case Google Nav took him off the wrong exit, and increased the trip by 30 minutes. In another case, the TomTom iPhone (where I'm paying for HD Traffic), got me off the highway right before traffic started, where my friend stayed on. I again beat him by a significant margin.

I don't believe for one minute that you and your friend drive around testing different sat navs against each other; why would anyone do that? But even on the offchance that you actually do, not everyone gets the same results. You will see that Tom Tom has been criticized in this thread.

I too have had bad results with Tom Tom.

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How so?

Voice actions: "Navigate to Westminster, London" Or "Navigate to postcode"
Contacts: Tap on contact, tap their their saved address and open in Google Maps.
Latitude: Tap on friends avatar in Maps, get directions,
SMS: Share your current location via SMS from maps, friend has your exact location and navigates to you.

Then there is good old simple name search. Search for McDonalds in browser, tap on Google maps link in browser which can open Google Maps and navigate to McDonalds

I can't think of many more integrated simple ways of navigation myself.

You can also just say "navigate to mcdonalds" into voice actions and it'll give you a list to choose from.

 

[DodgeV83]

I don't believe for one minute that you and your friend drive around testing different sat navs against each other; why would anyone do that?

Never said I did.

 

[mrsir2009]

If a competitor accomplishes something first, you're just a copycat to the public. Getting there first is a huge deal. Don't act like you guys wouldn't make fun of Google if Apple did built-in turn-by-turn directions first and Google came in 2nd a year later.

I have to agree that if it was Google that came in second everyone would be going "Oooh they copied Apple straight up!"

 

[matttye]

Never said I did.

That proves it. You can't even remember what you typed so it was quite obviously a fib.

 

[b166er]

I'm pretty sure most reasonable quality map databases will do the job. This isn't 2004.

None are flawless, but none are unusable either. Anecdotal stories don't mean much. They all get you from A to B in 2012.

In my experience they all kind of suck. I've had 3 stand alone units over the years and ive used several different apps since I've owned an iPhone. Maybe it's just the area I live in. I've had some insane routes pop up. It's at a point now where if it's important for me to be somewhere I've never been at a certain time I either have to give myself an extra hour or do a trial run ahead of time. I'd like an app that works well enough to avoid that stuff.

 

[nuckinfutz]

I can't believe Apple's NYC map doesn't even show the subways. Wow.

Did you not watch the keynote? There's a Transit App API for developers to plug in data like this. Apple doesn't want to recreate the wheel when other's have already done a great job.

 

[Apple4Ever&Ever]

This is iPhone forum, if you self-heaters love crappy Google map so much, go and buy one of those cheaply made and poorly run spyware android phones.
Otherwise shutup and fell grateful to use the best piece of electronic on the planet!

 

[matttye]

This is iPhone forum, if you self-heaters love crappy Google map so much, go and buy one of those cheaply made and poorly run spyware android phones.
Otherwise shutup and fell grateful to use the best piece of electronic on the planet!

The maps suck though. Half of the street names aren't on them

Google maps are very mature.

 

[iammike1]

Not to mention that Google Voice Actions existed two years before Siri, which is practically identical in functionality.

Let's be real here. You can search my recent post and know I'm kinda having a love affair with my Galaxy Nexus right now. While Voice Actions can do some things Siri can't, it lacks the full automation that Siri has for things like composing a text or anything like that.

Both systems (Siri vs Google VA) have advantages and disadvantages right now. I hope they learn from each other and both advance. Me, I'll be happy when I can at least call up Google VA from anywhere in Android without having to drop out to the home screen.

Now, on the subject of maps. Here's my hopes and I've not heard anyone say this before. I think it's obvious that Google will bring a Maps app to the iPhone App Store. I believe they have said as much already.

I'm hoping that being forced to compete directly with built in Nav on the iPhone now will make them bring over their Google Maps Nav that they have kept to Android all this time.

For all I care, the new Apple Maps could be a pile of poo and I would consider it a win if it gets Google to bring over one of Androids best features just to try and keep a good foothold on iOS.

iOS is important to Google. They make quite a bit of their buck off of the iOS platform. If they bring over a Google Maps app like what we currently have built into iOS, why on earth would ANYONE use it?

iOS gets built in Nav and a full featured Google Maps Nav in the process? I consider that a win.

 

[woodekm]

Street view is one of my favorite google features.

 

[cynics]

Tomtom is the worst!! I heard good things about it in the UK but here in the states it's by far the worst stand alone I used. I had a map subscription and on every update I'd edit errors and upload them and they never got fixed. There maps where up to date just PACKED with errors. I mentioned in another thread that tomtom has railroad tracks running directly through my house. I had to do research to find out there used to be tracks here but weren't used and later torn up to help build tanks in WW2. So where in the hell is tomtom getting this info?!?!

Once I got an android smart phone I realized that not all gps's are that bad. Did some research and got a Garmin with lifetime maps since I used a gps 8-10 hours daily.

It's going to take a lot for apple to impress me when it comes to nav. I feel bad for you ip4 guys. Of all my friends with iPhones (15 or so) only 1 other has a 4S.

 

[b24pgg]

While Voice Actions can do some things Siri can't, it lacks the full automation that Siri has for things like composing a text

 

[newagemac]

It might be better in terms of features, but what good are features when the actual maps just aren't there yet?

The thing is, Google has been in the mapping business for a long time. Apple is only just coming into it. There's nothing wrong with Apple's maps not being as fined tuned or as good as Google's yet, but people shouldn't try to act like they are.

This thread is embarrassing.

The problem with your reasoning is that the companies Apple is partnering with (like TomTom) have been in the mapping business for way longer than Google. And some are so far ahead of Google it is embarrassing for Google like the declassified military technology used in the 3D maps by the C3 company Apple purchased.

 

[Iphonerookie84]

The only thing that makes me mad about the new maps app for ios,is the fact that theirs no voice directions for iPhone 4 and 3Gs,but android has turn by turn voice activate directions for all android devices,that sucks!

 

[iammike1]

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I also have to remember to say exactly what Google VA expects me to say, in the order it expects me to say it, and in it's entirety in one go. That is not automation...at the very least, not what I meant by it.

With Siri it attempt to understand natural variances in how people ask for things. It also attempts to understand what you want and what information it might still need to complete your request...ask you for that information, etc.

If I use Google VA and just say I want to send a text to so-and-so. I'm going to get a window with the To: filled in and it'll be sitting there waiting for me to type unless I hit the dictation button on the keyboard.

Siri will ask me what I want the message to say.

That is what I mean by automation. Ideally, once I hit one button to start a Siri request, I wouldn't have to hit another button or look at the screen to be able to complete my request. Siri isn't quite that far along yet but much further along in that regard than Google VA.

 

[Tarzanman]

I also have to remember to say exactly what Google VA expects me to say, in the order it expects me to say it, and in it's entirety in one go. That is not automation...at the very least, not what I meant by it.

You're not making any sense.

You also have to remember what to say in your text messages, or when talking to people to make sure that you aren't misunderstood.

Also, you have to remember which buttons to press in which order or else your device won't work properly.

If you are trying to say that google voice actions are not idiot proof, then I will agree.... but it is every bit as robust as Siri.

BTW, reviewing the message before you send it is a pretty good idea to avoid problems that can arise.

What if your boss/employee and your girlfriend have the same first name and the phone screws up the message recipient? Might find yourself without a job just because you were too lazy to read the screen before hitting the send button

 

[matttye]

The problem with your reasoning is that the companies Apple is partnering with (like TomTom) have been in the mapping business for way longer than Google. And some are so far ahead of Google it is embarrassing for Google like the declassified military technology used in the 3D maps by the C3 company Apple purchased.

I understand what you're saying, but it doesn't show. Half of the street names are missing and the maps Apple have decided to go with don't include anywhere near as many points of interest, and there's no transit navigation, indoor navigation or street views of roads.

At this moment in time (note I'm NOT saying Apple won't one day be ahead of Google), the maps are not as mature as Google maps.

 

[Dkorda]

Google Navigation is a kick ass free turn by turn. When I had my EVO (what a pile) it was the best thing Android offered.

With that said, let's hope iMaps is as good.. Maybe Google will release Nanigation for iOS.

 

[mbell1975]

New for 2012: Apple wows the public with maps from 1980!

Yes and maybe one day, they will get this brand new technology called "4G". Its supposed to be the next big thing!

 

[Zaft]

Brb flyover and superior vector based maps with traffic approximators.

Good night google...

at what cost? how come walking and transit directions taken out?

 

[Bobby Corwen]

at what cost? how come walking and transit directions taken out?

I dunno lol

I would never use public transportation anyway, nor do I take extensive walks for no reason just to see how long it would take me to walk somewhere.

I do know that I'm gonna be using that 3D view though.

iMaps didnt just catch up to Google Nav, it leaped over it.

In Google if you rotate the landscape, it looks like a flat 2D world on a 3D plane.

With Apple they come to life right before your eyes. I can't wait to re-visit places I lived in my childhood in flyover and see my old neighborhoods again. It's gonna be a rich experience.

 

[matttye]

I dunno lol

I would never use public transportation anyway, nor do I take extensive walks for no reason just to see how long it would take me to walk somewhere.

I do know that I'm gonna be using that 3D view though.

iMaps didnt just catch up to Google Nav, it leaped over it.

In Google if you rotate the landscape, it looks like a flat 2D world on a 3D plane.

With Apple they come to life right before your eyes. I can't wait to re-visit places I lived in my childhood in flyover and see my old neighborhoods again. It's gonna be a rich experience.

So you won't use walking directions, but you'll use flyovers?

You've GOT to be trolling.

 

[cynics]

I dunno lol

I would never use public transportation anyway, nor do I take extensive walks for no reason just to see how long it would take me to walk somewhere.

I do know that I'm gonna be using that 3D view though.

iMaps didnt just catch up to Google Nav, it leaped over it.

In Google if you rotate the landscape, it looks like a flat 2D world on a 3D plane.

With Apple they come to life right before your eyes. I can't wait to re-visit places I lived in my childhood in flyover and see my old neighborhoods again. It's gonna be a rich experience.

You say you don't take extensive walks as if that's useless and not something millions of people esp tourist do every year in pretty much any major city.

Then explain how you can't wait to virtually fly over your childhood stomping grounds.

One of those is useless I agree.

Apple will get there one day no doubt but it's going to take awhile. Just too many mapping errors from what I've seen. Like I mentioned earlier IN MY AREA (northern east MD) tomtom maps are terrible! Teleatlas specifically, didn't hold a candle to google and navteq.

It's been a year since I used tomtom maps but I seriously doubt they've caught up. Worst and most dangerous thing it would always try to do is send you the wrong way on a one way in crowded city streets. Had to really pay attention for that then wait for it to recalculate.