iOS 7 and Maps still sucks

[VulchR]

lol

No one is forcing you to purchase an IOS device or use their maps app. Apple maps is an app that never existed before iOS 6 so nor are they taking away anything that they sold you.

So... those of thus who live outside the US should tolerate poor service for this portion of Apple software even though we pay as much (or more) for iDeivces than those in the US?

You're right, though, nobody is forcing me to choose Apple products. But then again, nobody is forcing Apple to choose a particular price point for their iDevices. It works both ways, and if Apple wants to remain a global player it had better start paying attention to issues such as these.

 

[xxBURT0Nxx]

you think people in the US don't complain about certain apps or issues that they have with iOS?

So I guess apple should just discount phones for everyone because a few people here and there complain about some arbitrary feature.

Guess what, you can download another maps app.... you don't have to use apples if it doesn't work for you.

I don't get a discount on my phone just because I decide that I don't want to use apples calendar. Or because I decide not to use the stock weather app and replace it with something from the app store.

Should you get a discount on your next television because you don't use "feature C"??? Should they discount your next computer because you don't use the camera on top?? You don't just get a discount because a feature isn't needed, or doesn't suit your lifestyle.

 

[MozMan68]

I guess all of the "poor" software is why iPhone sales continue to decline...oh...wait....

 

[cynics]

making enough assumptions there dude?

I travel often. I travelled to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Australia and I didn't need to use Google maps. Apple Maps has worked fine for me.

Unlikely, public transportation in most of those counties is too important not to us. Especially Hong Kong, there are places that require public transport, never been to the other countries. And what do you know Apple doesn't support public transportation. Or am I assuming that and it actually does?

 

[The Phazer]

lol

No one is forcing you to purchase an IOS device or use their maps app. Apple maps is an app that never existed before iOS 6 so nor are they taking away anything that they sold you.

Yes they are - functional integrated maps was a huge selling point for iPhones, and they did remove it from people.

Downloading a third party app doesn't integrate it.

 

[MozMan68]

Yes they are - functional integrated maps was a huge selling point for iPhones, and they did remove it from people.

Downloading a third party app doesn't integrate it.

C'mon...are you seriously comparing pre-iOS 6 maps to even the crappy poi one introduced a year ago? Turn-by-turn alone (even if you have to type in an address instead of searching for a POI) was worth the change.

Pre-iOS6 app was worthless for anything other than looking up basic directions or searching for a location.

 

[OTACORB]

Apple maps for me have been great, I've not had any issues whatsoever. I have done some side by side with Google maps and I'd say 99.9% of the time the Apple maps have been right on par.

I think where Apple maps have issues is in geographical areas outside the US where they have not had nearly as much work done. I mean you are talking 1 1/2 years vs Google's 10 plus years.

 

[joejoejoe]

Interface

Surprisingly little discussion of the interface here. I find Apple maps to be extraordinarily clean, informative, and beautiful. Accuracy of information and ease of search aside, I think it has a beautiful constructed map and navigation UI.

Polar opposite would be Waze, which is dangerously hard to make sense of while driving.

Personally I see the ultimate map app as having the interface of Apple's, the data of Waze, and the search capability of Google.

Sadly, Google snatched up Waze, and Apple's search algorithms don't seem to be getting any smarter, so this fantasy will only exist in my mind for now

 

[MozMan68]

... and Apple's search algorithms don't seem to be getting any smarter, so this fantasy will only exist in my mind for now

I would disagree here...at least in the US....searching has become increasingly better since launch last year. Pulls up local streets/poi's first when it didn't before. Still some "dumb" issues/isolated cases where it doesn't do that, but it has improved dramatically when I use it.

And to your point, it is so smooth and a pleasure to use with all the info I need right there on the screen. I do wish it would visually show data on the screen (as an option) like Waze does....I usually only care about upcoming traffic or police, but I would be happy if it just gave an indication of traffic jams. Google Maps doesn't even do that...

 

[Zerilos]

Maps is fine, honestly.

You think Google Maps was perfect the first two years?

Had so many issues with Google Maps when I used a Droid 2. In 2 years had about 10 occasions where it led me to wrong location (often a corn field). About 4 months ago had my first (and only issue with Apple Maps)...cornfield issue again. I switched to Google Maps which then led me to exactly same location. Ended up using Map Quest on Safari to get to destination. Since then no issue with Apple Maps.

 

[odin]

I've been using Apple Maps since day 1 -- the directions they give are far better than Google Maps, however their POI database is dreadful. I normally end up looking up places etc on GMaps and then moving it over to Apple Maps to get decent directions.

Do note that in my case, it seems that GMaps are trying to get you as fast as possible (which normally includes the crappiest roads ever), whereas Apple maps make better use of larger streets. Normally it takes about the same, but it's a helluva better experience.

The last thing is that I REALLY despise the new look on Google Maps... but that's probably because I don't use it as much.

This seems generally true. Both offer me multiple routes for most destinations as well. You hit the nail on the head with one thing though: Apple has a POI problem because the crowd sourcing is NOT good data from Yelp.

There are HUGE issues in my area with things that Yelp has listed that are gone for years or in the wrong town. (There's a similar sounding town about 300 miles to the east, the businesses are often listed in my area.) You have to correct these somehow but Yelp never seems to update ANYTHING.

I sent Yelp info on a business that had closed. I listed a press release from the company, etc. They denied it and kept it open. I tried a second time, I included link to press release and a photo of the restaurant closed. They denied it. Finally I sent all that and a newspaper article about the closing along with a note that I was going to take them to task publicly for not updating info with proof. They finally changed it. That should not be what it takes.

 

[The Phazer]

C'mon...are you seriously comparing pre-iOS 6 maps to even the crappy poi one introduced a year ago? Turn-by-turn alone (even if you have to type in an address instead of searching for a POI) was worth the change.

Pre-iOS6 app was worthless for anything other than looking up basic directions or searching for a location.

The iOS 5 map was literally a million times more useful.

Turn by turn is completely useless if you don't know where something is. And more importantly, there are many, may of us who don't own a car, making it literally entirely useless as there's still no transit.

 

[MozMan68]

The iOS 5 map was literally a million times more useful.

Turn by turn is completely useless if you don't know where something is. And more importantly, there are many, may of us who don't own a car, making it literally entirely useless as there's still no transit.

Was transit an option in iOS 5? I honestly don't remember.

I have found that third party apps are much better/more accurate anyway. I've used HopStop at every major city I have visited in the US and am assuming that since they were bought by Apple, it will be integrated shortly.

 

[AppleMIA]

He's right. It does. I couldn't even find Kickin Chicken with the Apple Maps, it's pretty usesless

 

[MozMan68]

He's right. It does. I couldn't even find Kickin Chicken with the Apple Maps, it's pretty usesless

Hmmmm...

 

[xxBURT0Nxx]

The iOS 5 map was literally a million times more useful.

Turn by turn is completely useless if you don't know where something is. And more importantly, there are many, may of us who don't own a car, making it literally entirely useless as there's still no transit.

So download google maps and you will have all of the same functionality again. I don't know why you are complaining. If anything it's a win win situation because you have apple maps, and since google now has their own maps app on the app store they have updated it with a ton of features that were not there when it was an integrated map.

 

[macred]

I've noticed a degree of improvement. If we remember that it's a big project, that'll make waiting easier.

 

[edhchoe]

Apple maps database must be older than 3 years.
The autozone store in my area still doesn't show up. It's been there for over 3 years.

 

[xxBURT0Nxx]

Apple maps database must be older than 3 years.
The autozone store in my area still doesn't show up. It's been there for over 3 years.

maybe in certain areas, but there are definitely places that are newer than 3 years and show up in maps.

 

[Nevaborn]

Apple maps database must be older than 3 years.
The autozone store in my area still doesn't show up. It's been there for over 3 years.

My city in UK its over 6 years out of date. Its an Apple, Tom Tom and Google issue. All ou of date. They all need to get their act together if tey are going to offer this service as its not only inconvenient to users creating bad pr for the company but can be down right lethal if wrong information is given.

My biggest issue with Apple is you zoom in and get so far and the image quality deteriorates ans then really bad it disappears just leaving grey squares where there is no data. If theres no data then stop me zooming in ! It feels so half assed and unprofessional to see it happen especially from Apple.

Id also like to be able to zoom in closer to streets in high detail so I can see whats going on. Of course a street view is highly preferential.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Just upgraded to iOS 7 and Maps still sucks. There are errors in road names. There are stores shown that closed 7-8 years ago. Stores that do exist are shown a block away from their actual location. In short it is virtually unusable, and it looks wholly amateurish compared to Google's maps. If Apple's maps is meant to be a fallback if Google ever pulled the plug on their map app, then Apple's is failing miserably. If Apple's maps was meant to replace Google's, then Apple's efforts are laughable.

I know what you're thinking: The OP lives in a small town in Scotland, and the focus should be the US first and then metropolitan areas outside the US. Perhaps, but part of Apple's tax minimization scheme is that Apple US uses Apple Ireland to pay for R&D. It seems odd to me that Apple Ireland would be more concerned about the US than Europe. Moreover, I pay more for my iProducts than people in the US do, as I suspect many people in Europe do. Apple has a wad of cash - why is it not spending it on providing services outside the US? Google certainly is....

If Apple can't get better data, then perhaps they had better start collaborating with Google to improve the experience of their customers.

OK lets answer this as a geographic information professional.

Maps and GI is my day job.

Google maps was appalling for several years before it finally became OK. It is still not a patch on Ordnance Survey data (with the exception of streetview), nor will it ever be. If I had the resources I could set up a maps service using freely available OS data that would make G maps as supplied on previous iOS versions look amateurish. Sadly I can't afford servers with enough bandwidth to handle it.

Now the front end app for Apple Maps is actually a well designed mini GIS implementation. It's quick and works. I have issues with Apple's cartography (for example road colours in the UK and the EU are not to standard - Motorways/Autoroutes etc should be blue, Primary routes green etc - but Google have gone the same way!), but Apple in using vector data (with the exception of the aerial mapping which by necessity has to be raster based) they have to be praised. It made Google get off their backside and create their own G Maps app which is reasonable.

The problem is they get their POI and road data from TomTom (or more specifically TeleAtlas). They are IMO the poorest data supplier on the market.

The best in this country is unquestionably OS, but for the MasterMap ITN data (which they would need for TBT directions) the licence fees would be astronomical and as OS is a government agency would probably solve this countries deficit!

The next best supplier is NavTech - They supply most integrated sat nav and the Garmin Nuvi portable sat nav mapping. The problem is they're owned by Nokia, who are now owned by Microsoft... That data is for Windows Phone or for paid apps.

The next best supplier is actually free. It's OpenStreetMap. This is crowd sourced. Everything is under the GPL. It's constantly being updated by users, many of whom (like me) are GI professionals in their day job. If I were Apple I'd be making extensive use of it. (They do make some use of it but not nearly enough IMO).

Then there's Google Maps. It's OK, reasonably accurate but all the above are better.

Lastly TomTom. It's really only designed for TBT navigation You'll find that curves are badly rendered (caused by inaccurate GPS logging), and points of interest are rarely updated.

Then there's issues with the raster data (aerial photography - incorrectly referred to as satellite data) that Apple uses. Some of it is badly mosaicked leading to melting issues, and others are based on old photography - hence some of it is low res and some of the high res is black and white. Google had this problem about 5 years ago.

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It was pretty good from the very start actually. At least the map data was accurate.

I beg to differ!

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Just because you think it's fine doesn't make it so. Many of us continue to have issues with it and numerous problems I reported a year ago still haven't been fixed.

The Google argument is irrelevant since we were never forced to use it.

You're not forced to use Apple maps either. Google maps is a free download from the app store and now has TBT directions

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Yes. I get that. i fail to understand why don't have cars/people/etc. going around making sure information is correct in Europe. Simply waving their hands and saying 'we got it from poor sources' doesn't really enhance my user experience. But hey, there is always Google Maps. For now. And in the long run if Apple doesn't pull its finger out, there's Google's Android.

Do you have any idea how much it costs for that?

They don't do it in the US either. Google do, yes, but they sell their maps. Anybody that uses google maps APIs for commercial use has to pay. Also Google make money on advertising on their maps. Apple don't.

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there are lots of iSheep on the forums, I do love Apple and iOS 7 but lets be honest their maps efforts are a joke

I'd love to see you do better. It's not easy and it's bloody expensive.

 

[wingsabre]

Just visited Tucson, and the directions to the Tucson Airport directed me to the Costco. Second attempt direct me to the Employee parking lot. Google Maps directed me directly to the terminal on the first attempt.

 

[VulchR]

...
Do you have any idea how much it costs for that <hiring people to do the mapping>?

They don't do it in the US either. Google do, yes, but they sell their maps. Anybody that uses google maps APIs for commercial use has to pay. Also Google make money on advertising on their maps. Apple don't.
...
I'd love to see you do better. It's not easy and it's bloody expensive.

Thank you for posting an informed opinion. I always figured that the cause of the problems was that Apple had picked the wrong partners.

'Expensive' is a relative term when Apple's unused cash is considered. Moreover, it would not cost much for Apple to start addressing user-reported errors. Again, as I said above, there are a lot of people out of work in both the US and Europe and now would be a good time for Apple to employ people to sort out maps. The salaries that people are willing to accept are lower now than they would be if the economy picks up (if it ever does).

By the way, Apple does make money on the basis of their reputation for quality control, but right now Apple's Maps where I am in the UK advertises that Apple thinks a half-assed job is OK. That can be expensive in the long run if Apple cannot convince consumers to pay that little bit more for iDevices.

 

[GlenK]

i find apple maps to be more accurate than google maps

Same for me. Google misspelled the street I live on. Have reported it numerous times over the last year or so and it still hasn't been updated.
Apple maps is far better for accuracy in my area.

 

[robjulo]

Surprisingly little discussion of the interface here. I find Apple maps to be extraordinarily clean, informative, and beautiful. Accuracy of information and ease of search aside, I think it has a beautiful constructed map and navigation UI.

(

I disagree as it is missing one glaring, basic interface feature. You cannot scroll the map or zoom out while navigating.

Often, I want to see where the route is taking me, how where my next turn is, is it a hard turn or more of a merge, etc. etc. You cannot do it with Apple maps. You have to click out to "overview", which gives you the entire route.

Google Maps does it right in this aspect. I can scroll the map, zoom in, zoom out, all while navigating. It is the one main reason I continue to use Google Maps and not Apple Maps.