The reason why Apple maps sucks, illustrated in two simple screenshots

[baryon]

So back when Apple maps first came out I was disappointed by it and didn't use it for long. Now, many years later, I figured that I'll give it a try again, maybe they have gotten better since then. I found that's not quite the case.

Here's what happens when I type in "vas u" (the name of a street in Budapest, where I currently am) in Google maps:

Result: it finds the correct location immediately, no questions asked.

Typing in the same thing in Apple maps:

Result: It has no clue. It even got the country wrong, and the results have no similarity whatsoever to what I typed in. And none of the results are even in the country I'm in, let alone the city. It's as if it just gave me a huge list of totally random results. And it points to "Neue Sport Mittelschule", which doesn't even remotely sound like "vas u". Like, at all. There isn't even the letter V or A in it. You don't need to be one of the world's richest companies to figure that out.

This isn't just one special case. It does this all the time. I haven't used it extensively but the few times I have used it, it more often than not failed to find what I was looking for.

And yes, if I typed in the full post code, city and country like you used to have to with old fashioned GPS devices from 2004, then it would most likely find it. But Google just knows how to figure this stuff out without fail even if you only give it the absolute minimum information.

This is 2018, searches should be smart and you shouldn't have to provide every piece of information. You often don't know what the post code is, and in 99.9% of cases I'm looking for an address in the city I am currently in.

 

[GGJstudios]

I've found that Google Maps is consistently more accurate than Apple Maps. Having said that, the scenario you described can happen in Google Maps, as well. One question: have you permitted Apple Maps to access Location Services?

 

[Chazzle]

So back when Apple maps first came out I was disappointed by it and didn't use it for long. Now, many years later, I figured that I'll give it a try again, maybe they have gotten better since then. I found that's not quite the case.

Here's what happens when I type in "vas u" (the name of a street in Budapest, where I currently am) in Google maps:

View attachment 754166

Result: it finds the correct location immediately, no questions asked.

Typing in the same thing in Apple maps:

View attachment 754165

Result: It has no clue. It even got the country wrong, and the results have no similarity whatsoever to what I typed in. And none of the results are even in the country I'm in, let alone the city. It's as if it just gave me a huge list of totally random results. And it points to "Neue Sport Mittelschule", which doesn't even remotely sound like "vas u". Like, at all. There isn't even the letter V or A in it. You don't need to be one of the world's richest companies to figure that out.

This isn't just one special case. It does this all the time. I haven't used it extensively but the few times I have used it, it more often than not failed to find what I was looking for.

And yes, if I typed in the full post code, city and country like you used to have to with old fashioned GPS devices from 2004, then it would most likely find it. But Google just knows how to figure this stuff out without fail even if you only give it the absolute minimum information.

This is 2018, searches should be smart and you shouldn't have to provide every piece of information. You often don't know what the post code is, and in 99.9% of cases I'm looking for an address in the city I am currently in.

The name of the street is actually Vas utca as U is simply an abbreviation for Utca (meaning “street” in Hungarian). Google recognizes and uses this abbreviation in their maps, but Apple uses the traditional Utca instead of U. Type in Vas utca in Apple Maps and it pulls right up.

 

[KeepCalmPeople]

I had a frustrating experience with Apple Maps this morning. It sent me 4 miles away from the correct location for a doctor's appointment. Google Maps showed the location correctly. I thought the San Francisco Bay Area was accurately mapped now.

 

[baryon]

The name of the street is actually Vas utca as U is simply an abbreviation for Utca (meaning “street” in Hungarian). Google recognizes and uses this abbreviation in their maps, but Apple uses the traditional Utca instead of U. Type in Vas utca in Apple Maps and it pulls right up.

Yes, what I meant was that while there are indeed ways to get it to find the right address, one small omission on your part means it will be completely lost. Google is just very smart on this front, you can throw anything at it and it will figure it out. There was a time when the user had to know how to handle software to get the right results, but today it's the other way around. Now we are communicated with computers like we would with humans, more or less, and it's machine's job to figure it out. Of course, within reasonable limits, but I think this one's reasonable (since Google can figure it out so easily).
[doublepost=1520948226][/doublepost]

One question: have you permitted Apple Maps to access Location Services?

Yes, if I click the arrow it will locate me so I think that means it's on.

 

[Ray2]

I'm in Italy at the moment. Been here for 3 weeks now. Here's my experience with Apple Maps:

1) "Loading"
2) "Loading"
3 thru 103) "Loading"
104) about 30% of the time it gets me there, which means 70% of the time it doesn't.

This is based on simply humoring myself. I switched over to Google Maps 2 1/2 weeks ago.

Apple user since 1984. They have zero credibility with me anymore. Maps, iCloud, Photos, Notes are important to me. And all are so far behind other providers it should be embarrassing to Apple. But Cooke collects his millions and continues to drive the company into the ground.

 

[AZhappyjack]

The name of the street is actually Vas utca as U is simply an abbreviation for Utca (meaning “street” in Hungarian). Google recognizes and uses this abbreviation in their maps, but Apple uses the traditional Utca instead of U. Type in Vas utca in Apple Maps and it pulls right up.

Apple Maps is still somewhat behind Google maps... especially outside the US... but the old adage that "he who frames the question wins the debate" has never been more true than in this example. It's also true that abbreviations are somewhat arbitrary.