All Devices Updated Apple Maps

[Feenician]

I wanted to check Street View and Look Around side by side so I randomly picked Castro Theatre to take a virtual walk around. Man, I forgot how bad Google's UX is. I couldn't even find how to access street view for an embarrassingly long time. Frustrated, I went to the web version and found the familiar little yellow guy but couldn't drag him out. I went back to the app and finally realized long pressing on the road would give me the option for street view and, boy, was it not worth the wait. Google's "fly halfway down the road with a smear, then load a poor resolution picture before loading the proper resolution" experience looks antique next to Apple's implementation here. Is it just me?

Anyway, scale will be Apple's challenge here. They need to roll this stuff out fast, far and wide.

 

[G1Ravage]

Apple Maps vehicle was driving around Manhattan yesterday and the day before.

 

[baihan8]

POI data is still the key here. Has anyone tried the updated reporting feature they mention? I wonder how different it is than iOS12?

I've only ever reported a couple of things in iOS 12, so I can't speak much to that. However, what I did see when I pulled up the report an issue page in AM right now is not too different from iOS 12. Is there anything specific that they mentioned about how the process will change?

I'm noticing from a lot of these screenshots that when searching for a POI to drive to, the new Apple Maps will now tell you that the place is closed? Will they finally be working hours of operation into their POI information?

That's one of the few positives I have for Google Maps. If the place will soon be closing, or won't have opened yet when you're scheduled to arrive, it warns you before beginning navigation.

I noticed in iOS 12 that it would let you know if the location was closed, closing soon, or opening soon based off of Yelp operating hours. I can't recall if CarPlay showed that info in iOS 12 like it does in iOS 13, though. Same with the Yelp rating (not that those are accurate half the time anyway -- good Chinese restaurants always have bad ratings!).
[doublepost=1559689902][/doublepost]

I wanted to check Street View and Look Around side by side so I randomly picked Castro Theatre to take a virtual walk around. Man, I forgot how bad Google's UX is. I couldn't even find how to access street view for an embarrassingly long time. Frustrated, I went to the web version and found the familiar little yellow guy but couldn't drag him out. I went back to the app and finally realized long pressing on the road would give me the option for street view and, boy, was it not worth the wait. Google's "fly halfway down the road with a smear, then load a poor resolution picture before loading the proper resolution" experience looks antique next to Apple's implementation here. Is it just me?

Anyway, scale will be Apple's challenge here. They need to roll this stuff out fast, far and wide.

I haven't used Google Maps in quite some time, but now I'm curious what Street View is like again... "Fly halfway down the road with a smear, then load a poor resolution" is far too accurate from what I recall!

 

[Alan Gordon]

From the brief demo they gave in the keynote, it looked substantially better than Google Street View, in terms of clarity, true 3D rendering, and the ability to move smoothly down the street. I was quite impressed. But I'm suspecting that coverage will be way less than Street View for quite some time.

Not only is it considerably smoother when moving than Google's implementation, but the resolution/detail is considerably better than Google's. I showed it to someone today on my XR who was thoroughly impressed by the detail compared to Google.

As for coverage, I live in a rural area, and the Apple car was in my county a couple months ago, so I suspect they already have the data, they just have to make it all work now. LOL.

Outside of the Bay Area in California, Las Vegas, NV is also available on Apple Maps.

I would think they'd have a lot of street view data ready to go for the areas where they've already updated Apple Maps with their new data, so I'd think anything West of New Mexico could pop up very shortly.
[doublepost=1559692698][/doublepost]

Apple still has a long way to go to earn back trust with Maps, but dayum...everything I hoped they would implement is happening even faster than I thought it would.

POI data is still the key here. Has anyone tried the updated reporting feature they mention? I wonder how different it is than iOS12?

I've only ever reported a couple of things in iOS 12, so I can't speak much to that. However, what I did see when I pulled up the report an issue page in AM right now is not too different from iOS 12. Is there anything specific that they mentioned about how the process will change?

Going to tonight and tomorrow in fact, BUT as for how different it is (beyond design wise), they have an option to report temporary closings (beyond just permanently closed), the ability to place in a LOT more Categories, which is GREAT, as well as a place to edit entrances (for navigation purposes), and the section to add/correct hours is much simpler.

I may be forgetting other changes.

 

[bchery21]

I’ll grab some screenshots next time I hop in the car. Let me know if there is anything in particular you would like to see other than the split view.

If you could show a few different locations of where Look Around is available compared to Google’s Street View would be appreciated. Not sure if you have already! Thanks.

 

[G1Ravage]

I’ll grab some screenshots next time I hop in the car. Let me know if there is anything in particular you would like to see other than the split view.

If possible for you to safely do so while navigating on a highway, I'd like to see what this "junction view" is all about.

 

[MozMan68]

If possible for you to safely do so while navigating on a highway, I'd like to see what this "junction view" is all about.

So...I was just reading an article to find out more about this. Apparently, “junction view” is specific to China.

We already have it In the US...”lane guidance”...

 

[gwhizkids]

Apple still has a long way to go to earn back trust with Maps, but dayum...everything I hoped they would implement is happening even faster than I thought it would.

POI data is still the key here. Has anyone tried the updated reporting feature they mention? I wonder how different it is than iOS12?

As I predicted!
[doublepost=1559743675][/doublepost]The one thing I wish they would have implemented (and from the screenshots it appears they did not) is to include the temperature on the Maps Carplay screen. A little thing, but would keep me from having to go back to the vehicle's own home screen to see it (Ford Sync 3). I will post this as an enhancement request. There's no reason they shouldn't be able to do this (ha ha, easy for me to say!)

 

[MozMan68]

As I predicted!
[doublepost=1559743675][/doublepost]The one thing I wish they would have implemented (and from the screenshots it appears they did not) is to include the temperature on the Maps Carplay screen. A little thing, but would keep me from having to go back to the vehicle's own home screen to see it (Ford Sync 3). I will post this as an enhancement request. There's no reason they shouldn't be able to do this (ha ha, easy for me to say!)

But, I'm guessing that is why they didn't..it's ubiquitous in today's vehicles and probably didn't feel it was necessary to take up space on the map when it's right there in the main dash.

 

[gwhizkids]

But, I'm guessing that is why they didn't..it's ubiquitous in today's vehicles and probably didn't feel it was necessary to take up space on the map when it's right there in the main dash.

Probably true, but on the last 2 vehicles I've had, its been obscured by CarPlay, meaning I need to press 2 onscreen buttons to get to it. A minor thing, to be true, but one of those really helpful things.

 

[MozMan68]

Probably true, but on the last 2 vehicles I've had, its been obscured by CarPlay, meaning I need to press 2 onscreen buttons to get to it. A minor thing, to be true, but one of those really helpful things.

Or better yet, let it be one of the things the vehicle manufacturer controls; have it in CarPlay in your situation or not if it is part of the driver dash (or some other spot).

 

[gwhizkids]

Or better yet, let it be one of the things the vehicle manufacturer controls; have it in CarPlay in your situation or not if it is part of the driver dash (or some other spot).

Right. I'd be happy if it showed up on the CarPlay menu screen rather than maps. Ford's Sync app appears there, so why not this.

Perhaps related, I just got in this Ford Expedition about a month ago after driving GM products for 22 years (I worked there, that's why!). For the first time in the Ford, when I got to a low fuel state, I actually got an Apple Maps prompt telling me that and suggesting nearby gas stations. Is that a Ford / Apple (vs a GM/Apple non-thing) or is this new with 12.3, which debuted about the same time?

 

[MozMan68]

Right. I'd be happy if it showed up on the CarPlay menu screen rather than maps. Ford's Sync app appears there, so why not this.

Perhaps related, I just got in this Ford Expedition about a month ago after driving GM products for 22 years (I worked there, that's why!). For the first time in the Ford, when I got to a low fuel state, I actually got an Apple Maps prompt telling me that and suggesting nearby gas stations. Is that a Ford / Apple (vs a GM/Apple non-thing) or is this new with 12.3, which debuted about the same time?

That's a manufacturer thing...if they have the capability, they can synch the low fuel warning with suggesting closest fuel stop in Maps. It's been there since CarPlay came out as far as I know.

 

[gwhizkids]

That's a manufacturer thing...if they have the capability, they can synch the low fuel warning with suggesting closest fuel stop in Maps. It's been there since CarPlay came out as far as I know.

That's what I thought. GM has been a bit reticent to incorporate vehicle controls and gauges with CarPlay. I'd love more integration (HVAC controls biggest among them) but I'll take what I can get!

 

[MozMan68]

That's what I thought. GM has been a bit reticent to incorporate vehicle controls and gauges with CarPlay. I'd love more integration (HVAC controls biggest among them) but I'll take what I can get!

HVAC won't be in there...has to be related to CarPlay apps. Allows manufacturer to split displays, give alerts, control playback options in music, etc.

 

[gwhizkids]

HVAC won't be in there...has to be related to CarPlay apps. Allows manufacturer to split displays, give alerts, control playback options in music, etc.

Actually, I think HVAC and other vehicle functions can be in there per this ==> https://developer.apple.com/documentation/sirikit/carplay

 

[MozMan68]

Ahhh...but through Siri...not through the CarPlay interface (screen).

"Siri, move to seat position one"...."Siri, change the temperature to 70 degrees"

Right?

Even so...I have never seen that in any vehicle I've rented...or maybe it was there and I never knew. Damn...good find! Now I'll be pissed when the car DOESN'T let me change those things with Siri.

 

[gwhizkids]

Ahhh...but through Siri...not through the CarPlay interface (screen).

"Siri, move to seat position one"...."Siri, change the temperature to 70 degrees"

Right?

Even so...I have never seen that in any vehicle I've rented...or maybe it was there and I never knew. Damn...good find! Now I'll be pissed when the car DOESN'T let me change those things with Siri.

I think its more a question of OEMs being hesitant to allow Apple access to actual vehicle functionality. They are (rightly) obsessed with product liability concerns and they do not want anyone else being in a position to potentially control these features. They're ok with what amounts to a screen mirroring service, but the closer you get to core functionality, the more skittish they will be. Apple knows this and that is probably a lot behind Project Titan. Unless they control the stack, they will be shut out where it matters. If you think about it, that has been their philosophy since the beginning.

 

[MozMan68]

I think its more a question of OEMs being hesitant to allow Apple access to actual vehicle functionality. They are (rightly) obsessed with product liability concerns and they do not want anyone else being in a position to potentially control these features. They're ok with what amounts to a screen mirroring service, but the closer you get to core functionality, the more skittish they will be. Apple knows this and that is probably a lot behind Project Titan. Unless they control the stack, they will be shut out where it matters. If you think about it, that has been their philosophy since the beginning.

Car companies (actually, most companies) are so funny about how sensitive they are when it comes to the customer experience. I'm not sure any of them would care about voice interaction...they just need to relent tat Apple and Google have this figured out and integrated better than they will ever be able to do.

 

[gwhizkids]

Car companies (actually, most companies) are so funny about how sensitive they are when it comes to the customer experience. I'm not sure any of them would care about voice interaction...they just need to relent tat Apple and Google have this figured out and integrated better than they will ever be able to do.

You'd be surprised how much they care. My old company conducted many surveys on this topic and, shall we say, the results were not flattering to the homegrown products. My own kids still laugh at how angry I would get at the ridiculous interpretations of what I was trying to say by the onboard voice system. This company recognized early that CarPlay and Android Auto represented a way out for them: offboard the whole voice thing to Apple and Google. This was not without a lot of internal consternation and turf-protecting (I am only speculating here as I was not privy to the decisions, but I know the relevant players pretty well). These are, at their heart, engineering companies with hundreds of years of experience with autos between them. Many internally thought they could do it too if some upstart Silicon Valley firm could do it. Wrong!

 

[Feenician]

You'd be surprised how much they care. My old company conducted many surveys on this topic and, shall we say, the results were not flattering to the homegrown products. My own kids still laugh at how angry I would get at the ridiculous interpretations of what I was trying to say by the onboard voice system. This company recognized early that CarPlay and Android Auto represented a way out for them: offboard the whole voice thing to Apple and Google. This was not without a lot of internal consternation and turf-protecting (I am only speculating here as I was not privy to the decisions, but I know the relevant players pretty well). These are, at their heart, engineering companies with hundreds of years of experience with autos between them. Many internally thought they could do it too if some upstart Silicon Valley firm could do it. Wrong!

Remember when the Palm CEO said, "“PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.” with regard to smartphones. Seems some never learn.

Anyway, with regard to voice control you can always count yourself lucky that you don't have a Scottish accent that's only gotten weirder from living in England and the US. I post it all the time but this pretty much sums it up. It's a bit NSFW for language - don't say I didn't warn you.

 

[G1Ravage]

So...I was just reading an article to find out more about this. Apparently, “junction view” is specific to China.

We already have it In the US...”lane guidance”...

That seems a little...weird. We've had lane guidance in Apple Maps since the iOS 12 update. Or was it iOS 11? Seems like an odd thing to advertise with all the big things coming soon in iOS 13.

Ah, damn. Found the same article:


12Junction View (In China)
I haven't personally experienced hardship when navigating turns, and that's partly because of Apple's Junction View feature. It visually helps you understand what lane you need to be during upcoming junctions, such as when a highway splits off into two, turns on busy streets, and when entering an elevated road. While this feature was already available in the US, it is available in China in iOS 13.

 

[MozMan68]

That seems a little...weird. We've had lane guidance in Apple Maps since the iOS 12 update. Or was it iOS 11? Seems like an odd thing to advertise with all the big things coming soon in iOS 13.

Ah, damn. Found the same article:


12Junction View (In China)
I haven't personally experienced hardship when navigating turns, and that's partly because of Apple's Junction View feature. It visually helps you understand what lane you need to be during upcoming junctions, such as when a highway splits off into two, turns on busy streets, and when entering an elevated road. While this feature was already available in the US, it is available in China in iOS 13.

Yeah...they weren’t clear that it is just added for China.

 

[one more]

That seems a little...weird. We've had lane guidance in Apple Maps since the iOS 12 update. Or was it iOS 11? Seems like an odd thing to advertise with all the big things coming soon in iOS 13.

Ah, damn. Found the same article:


12Junction View (In China)
I haven't personally experienced hardship when navigating turns, and that's partly because of Apple's Junction View feature. It visually helps you understand what lane you need to be during upcoming junctions, such as when a highway splits off into two, turns on busy streets, and when entering an elevated road. While this feature was already available in the US, it is available in China in iOS 13.

So why call it “Junction View” instead of just saying something like: “And we are bringing/extending lane guidance to China in iOS 13.” It is just confusing as people might expect a new feature, while this sounds to be Lane Guidance Chinese edition?

 

[nicho]

So why call it “Junction View” instead of just saying something like: “And we are bringing/extending lane guidance to China in iOS 13.” It is just confusing as people might expect a new feature, while this sounds to be Lane Guidance Chinese edition?

China already had lane guidance. This is something new.