Apple's Maps has a lot of work to do to catchup to Google's

[Phokus]

http://gizmodo.com/5918176/google-maps-vs-apple-maps-a-side-by-side-comparison

Not impressed at all. Google's maps has much more granular information. In fact, it looks like Apple's mapping software is MISSING streets, wtf?

 

[sactoking]

Hmmmm... Apple had best be careful or eventually they'll incur the same DOJ antitrust scrutiny that Microsoft did with IE.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I only looked at it for a minute or two and didn't see anything missing. It's just the Google makes the streets bigger and has names on most of them at that level. Apple has a few streets labeled. I can almost bet that it is this way due to Apples "simplistic" design philosophy. When you think about it, when it comes down to navigating it only needs to list the streets you are close to. Does it really need to list streets that are 2 miles away from your location?
It probably helps speed the app up not having to render as much???

 

[TuxDave]

http://gizmodo.com/5918176/google-maps-vs-apple-maps-a-side-by-side-comparison

Not impressed at all. Google's maps has much more granular information. In fact, it looks like Apple's mapping software is MISSING streets, wtf?

Maybe I'm blind but which picture shows a missing street?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Hmmmm... Apple had best be careful or eventually they'll incur the same DOJ antitrust scrutiny that Microsoft did with IE.

Not a chance it will happen. Nothing has been said about Safari

 

[Mopetar]

Hmmmm... Apple had best be careful or eventually they'll incur the same DOJ antitrust scrutiny that Microsoft did with IE.

Please tell me which market segment Apple has a monopoly in.

The closest they've ever come was the portable music player market, but they only got to about 70% and there were loads of other competitors.

 

[Bateluer]

Maybe I'm blind but which picture shows a missing street?

All of them do. As well as direction indicators on the 1-ways, details on the freeways/surface streets, and pretty much all local businesses. Their Maps app looks like a beta project and not 'launch' ready. I fully expect it to improve with time, and get some updates before iOS6 goes live to users.

 

[cheezy321]

I do like the way googles maps looks for sure. The direction of one way streets is definitely helpful as well.

You can't judge traffic conditions yet since apple will rely on real time info from iOS users.

That being said, apple has a LONG way to go to match Gmaps. Google has a huge head start on them.

 

[Mopetar]

Maybe I'm blind but which picture shows a missing street?

Yeah, I couldn't find one either.

 

[TuxDave]

All of them do. As well as direction indicators on the 1-ways, details on the freeways/surface streets, and pretty much all local businesses. Their Maps app looks like a beta project and not 'launch' ready. I fully expect it to improve with time, and get some updates before iOS6 goes live to users.

Well the point of the article was talking about how there's fewer markings on the map. I didn't see any mention of a missing street and I still don't see any. The closest I got was a missing dead-end in the City Hall Park (top picture) but that's not really a road if you look at street view. Bing, Google and apparantly Apple have different interpretations to that gated road.

 

[chewietobbacca]

I only looked at it for a minute or two and didn't see anything missing. It's just the Google makes the streets bigger and has names on most of them at that level. Apple has a few streets labeled. I can almost bet that it is this way due to Apples "simplistic" design philosophy. When you think about it, when it comes down to navigating it only needs to list the streets you are close to. Does it really need to list streets that are 2 miles away from your location?
It probably helps speed the app up not having to render as much???

Actually, having streets 2 miles away can help a lot, especially if you're in a confusing area and the best you can do is give out intersections - older cities are apt to have this as an issue. Same for rural areas, if the next road is 2 miles down... it can be painful if you missed your street.

That being said, apple has a LONG way to go to match Gmaps. Google has a huge head start on them.

This - Google has been working on it for years. That's a ton of man hours devoted to it and the infrastructure around it.

Going to be a huge undertaking for them to catch up, no doubt

 

[AstroManLuca]

I guess there's something to be said for a clean, uncluttered map view for when you're in the car and only have a second to glance over at your phone. But Apple's maps seem to be lacking too many important details, details that are invaluable if the person in the passenger seat is the one using the phone. The one way arrows are a major omission. Not coloring streets differently depending on their type is another - Google has major city streets in yellow and minor ones in white, but Apple relies entirely on thickness to denote that. Overall it looks very much like a beta and it will probably require a few releases for them to get it right.

 

[Deeko]

Hmmmm... Apple had best be careful or eventually they'll incur the same DOJ antitrust scrutiny that Microsoft did with IE.

They aren't even close to having a monopoly in smartphones. Frankly, with higher marketshare, Google is closer than Apple is, so should they be worried for including Google maps, Chrome, etc?

 

[Mopetar]

Actually, having streets 2 miles away can help a lot, especially if you're in a confusing area and the best you can do is give out intersections - older cities are apt to have this as an issue. Same for rural areas, if the next road is 2 miles down... it can be painful if you missed your street.

I thought that Apple was offering turn by turn navigation now? If that's the case, this is probably a non-issue as you won't even be looking at the map and will be turning when the device tells you to turn, regardless of which street it's on.

 

[Ns1]

I thought that Apple was offering turn by turn navigation now? If that's the case, this is probably a non-issue as you won't even be looking at the map and will be turning when the device tells you to turn, regardless of which street it's on.

iOS6 no?

 

[WelshBloke]

I thought that Apple was offering turn by turn navigation now? If that's the case, this is probably a non-issue as you won't even be looking at the map and will be turning when the device tells you to turn, regardless of which street it's on.

Only on the 4S apparently. Unless they change their mind before release.

Linkage.

 

[Zaap]

I guess there's something to be said for a clean, uncluttered map view for when you're in the car and only have a second to glance over at your phone.

I'm confused though. I don't use Google Maps in the car, I use Google Navigation which is very nicely implemented with just enough detail but not too much clutter.

Is Apple's a navigation app as well? Otherwise, I see no point in just aping Google Maps.

 

[TuxDave]

I'm confused though. I don't use Google Maps in the car, I use Google Navigation which is very nicely implemented with just enough detail but not too much clutter.

Is Apple's a navigation app as well? Otherwise, I see no point in just aping Google Maps.

Apple map will include navigation capabilities. Imagine Google navigation and Google maps in one app (I actually didn't think they were separate)

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm confused though. I don't use Google Maps in the car, I use Google Navigation which is very nicely implemented with just enough detail but not too much clutter.

Is Apple's a navigation app as well? Otherwise, I see no point in just aping Google Maps.

Its the same app isnt it? Nav is just a different GUI for maps I thought.

 

[Dominato3r]

Maybe I'm blind but which picture shows a missing street?

I don't see any missing streets but small alleyways/catwalks. There's a one way lanon top of the intersection of Liberty and Nassau (title picture) that's present on Google Maps and not present on Apple maps.

 

[Zaap]

Its the same app isnt it? Nav is just a different GUI for maps I thought.

Well I'm guessing it's the same data of course, but not the same actual app.

It's the different GUI that Nav uses that I would want from Apple, not the Maps app by itself. I'm guessing they must have a 3D navigation interface as well. (I have no idea, this is the first I'm seeing it).

 

[TuxDave]

I don't see any missing streets but small alleyways/catwalks. There's a one way lanon top of the intersection of Liberty and Nassau (title picture) that's present on Google Maps and not present on Apple maps.

Heh, you see the streetview of that road? I'm not gonna be driving down that.

Edit: Nor would I be walking down that. Geez....

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Since its made by apple. Apple users will use it.

 

[sygyzy]

I'm sorry but you iOS users are so used to a sub-par Map experience on the iPhone that you actually are blind. Let's face it, at this point, anything Apple gives you would be welcomed with open arms because you have no other choice. Your current (Google) maps can't do turn by turn navigation. Please don't tell me the directions list it gave you (a la Mapquest 1999 printout) is the same as turn by turn GPS navigation. And who wants to buy Tom Tom or some third party paid software when, really, you should be getting this with your phone.

You suppose a "cleaner interface" is more attractive? It's "less cluttered"? When I look at a map, it's because I am lost or am not familiar with that area. Imagine you are in Manhattan and you are trying to find a restaurant. You call them up and they ask where you are. You can't tell them you are 1 block west of a subway or bus stop. You can't even tell them that you are south of King St. because it doesn't show up on the map.

 

[WelshBloke]

Well I'm guessing it's the same data of course, but not the same actual app.

It's the different GUI that Nav uses that I would want from Apple, not the Maps app by itself. I'm guessing they must have a 3D navigation interface as well. (I have no idea, this is the first I'm seeing it).

I'm pretty sure its the same app. Link