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

[Eug]

I'm fairly sure that apple will pull this off (maybe not to Google's level) but they need to remember that maps need to be functional not just pretty.

They'll pull this off... eventually. I'm just not optimistic they'll pull it off by the iOS 6 launch.

Apple has a history of doing this. Re-inventing the wheel an then advertising it as the best thing since sliced bread, and then pissing everyone off when the product actually launches. When it actually gets good may be years later.

eg. iMovie '08. iMovie got useful something like three years later.

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/17/apple-takes-a-step-back-with-imovie-08/

Final Cut Pro X. It was so bad at launch, Conan O'Brien's production team created a video about it. It's a year later now, and Apple is finally adding missing features that were complete showstoppers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxKYuF9pENQ

http://jefferyharrell.tumblr.com/post/6830049685/what-went-wrong-with-final-cut-pro-x

BTW, from the iOS 6 SDK:

"Map data will continue to evolve—only a limited amount of high resolution satellite imagery is currently available."

 

[WelshBloke]

...

BTW, from the iOS 6 SDK:

"Map data will continue to evolve—only a limited amount of high resolution satellite imagery is currently available."

Yeah, I cant help thinking that if they rely too heavily on satellite images they will have to half-arse the whole thing.

Maybe I'm coming into this too much from expecting a decent TbT nav app, but IMHO thats the killer smartphone app.

 

[Steelbom]

Google just provided the map data for the previous apple application, Apple actually made it.

What apple have done is just change map providers, they still have to make a decent mapping app and that takes a lot more than pretty pictures.

You keep mentioning "high quality vector satellite maps" which I'm sure look nice but satellite images aren't actually that great for navigation. What Apple need are accurate street level maps and an equivalent to street view, those are the two things that work for navigation.

I'm fairly sure that apple will pull this off (maybe not to Google's level) but they need to remember that maps need to be functional not just pretty.

Oh, I'm not so sure about that, they look pretty good for navigating to me lol. They do have street level maps, though no street view.

 

[psych2]

Still waiting for proper transit stops in Apple Maps, oh wait, it isn't there, at all

 

[Mopetar]

Looks like Apple has finally found a way to fix all of their problems.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Oh, I'm not so sure about that, they look pretty good for navigating to me lol. They do have street level maps, though no street view.

I've never navigated in satellite mode for me because it does't make sense.

 

[bigrash]

Looks like Apple has finally found a way to fix all of their problems.

lol funny

 

[Red Storm]

I've never navigated in satellite mode for me because it does't make sense.

When I'm walking or biking I use satellite (Seems Navigation defaults to satellite for walking anyway). There are a few times when I'm driving the car that satellite maps are more helpful, but not many.

 

[openwheel]

Only if you slapped an Apple logo on a Tom Tom software, will people actually use Tom Tom.