Looks like Apple's map software has lots of issues

[ControlD]

It is interesting to see the wildly different reviews for the new maps application. The Anandtech review up on the front page pretty much gives it a glowing recommendation. Other reviewers basially call it trash. It will be interesting to see some user takes on it over the next few days/weeks.

 

[TuxDave]

I'm pretty sure Tom Tom knows where Japan's biggest airport is located.

Either way, Apple deserves the blame for putting out a beta product here.

Actually I probably should've double checked. But searching for Narita Airport drops a pin right on the airport for me. It's not showing up for you Eug? I only searched for Narita Airport and not "Tokyo Narita Airport"

 

[Sheep]

I thought TomTom gave the map data. (and people wonder why I chose Garmin over TomTom)

I use a Garmin GPS in my car as well (it's built into my head unit) but I'm pretty sure Tom Tom's mapping isn't bad enough to be missing airports/train stations and have rivers that seemingly start and end without touching other bodies of water.

http://theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com/

 

[Dulanic]

It is interesting to see the wildly different reviews for the new maps application. The Anandtech review up on the front page pretty much gives it a glowing recommendation. Other reviewers basially call it trash. It will be interesting to see some user takes on it over the next few days/weeks.

I'd guess Anandtech review didn't take it places where there are as many issues?

 

[jpeyton]

Actually I probably should've double checked. But searching for Narita Airport drops a pin right on the airport for me. It's not showing up for you Eug? I only searched for Narita Airport and not "Tokyo Narita Airport"

The author of that blog was searching through their Japanese language database.

TIL that I live in a giant urban park:

http://theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com/post/31926365329/east-portland-is-one-giant-park

 

[TuxDave]

Apple is to blame. TomTom had Stratford-upon-Avon in their GPS software.

iOS6 has it too? (assuming whatever I'm looking at is some place on River Avon and south of Coventry)

 

[WelshBloke]

I thought TomTom gave the map data. (and people wonder why I chose Garmin over TomTom)

I think Apple sort of mooshed together data from a lot of sources.

 

[Eug]

Yeah, it looks like it could partially be a language issue. However, last I checked, England speaks English.

 

[TuxDave]

I'd guess Anandtech review didn't take it places where there are as many issues?

Yeah, that's possible. Cupertino (where I am) is mapped flawlessly.

 

[Bateluer]

Looking forward to seeing the iFans defend iOS Maps as the greatest mapping app ever.

Terms like iFans are forbidden round these parts. There is a sticky at the top of the page outlining why.

Moderator TheStu

 

[TuxDave]

The author of that blog was searching through their Japanese language database.

TIL that I live in a giant urban park:

http://theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com/post/31926365329/east-portland-is-one-giant-park

lol, well I'll admit that East Portland may as well be an urban park with the number of trees it has integrated into the city. (I helped plant a few!)

 

[jpeyton]

Yeah, that's possible. Cupertino (where I am) is mapped flawlessly.

Apple has a room full of trained monkeys ready to fix errors found by crowd-sourced testing.

Apple cares a lot about their image. Remember how quickly they patched Siri to fix the "what is the best cell phone" Lumia 900 issue.

 

[s44]

The dataset is obviously a mess but is the skeumorphic fake map page corner hurting anyone else's eyes?

 

[Dominato3r]

The author of that blog was searching through their Japanese language database.

TIL that I live in a giant urban park:

http://theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com/post/31926365329/east-portland-is-one-giant-park

Lol, most of them seems like simple software fixes, this one is hilarious though:

:biggrin:

The dataset is obviously a mess but is the skeumorphic fake map page corner hurting anyone else's eyes?

I believe iOS has always had that. when you flip it over there's some settings you can fill in.

 

[TuxDave]

The dataset is obviously a mess but is the skeumorphic fake map page corner hurting anyone else's eyes?

Yeah I wish they reduced the size of that corner. Somehow it looks more noticable.

 

[pm]

I played with the iOS 6 maps last night and while I wasn't very impressed, I also didn't notice any obvious mistakes. I still think Google's/Android's version is substantially better.

And Apple not including voice routing for iPhone 4 (you need a 4S) is just so annoyingly wrong. It's one of the things that really annoys me about the company, this funky artificial differentiation.

 

[cheezy321]

Maps is pretty incomplete. I can see why Apple did it from a business standpoint, but this app is obviously incomplete and not near the quality of google maps.

I doubt apple will ever go back to google maps no matter how much its users complain.

 

[Oyeve]

Maps is pretty incomplete. I can see why Apple did it from a business standpoint, but this app is obviously incomplete and not near the quality of google maps.

I doubt apple will ever go back to google maps no matter how much its users complain.

True. But they will buy their own satellites and someday their map app will work.

 

[cronos]

Looking forward to seeing the iFans defend iOS Maps as the greatest mapping app ever.

It's not.


But it will be.



^_^

 

[Fingolfin269]

Issues?

The more I look at the Maps app the more I realize it's a monumental screw up. What were they thinking? Why take such a step back on something so important to many people? I imagine there must be something (perhaps legally?) going on behind the scenes that caused the change but I'm really disappointed that my Maps just went from what they were to what they are in the span of about 15 minutes.

 

[ilkhan]

Issues?

The more I look at the Maps app the more I realize it's a monumental screw up. What were they thinking? Why take such a step back on something so important to many people? I imagine there must be something (perhaps legally?) going on behind the scenes that caused the change but I'm really disappointed that my Maps just went from what they were to what they are in the span of about 15 minutes.

Welcome to iOS, where its Apple's-way or STFU and buy it any-way.

 

[mosco]

We might never know all the reasons that Apple switched off of Google Maps. There are some rumors that Google wanted too much branding and Apple wouldn't agree and lots of stuff like that.

I think in the long term, Apple is right to get off of Google Maps. Amazon is doing it too with Nokia.

But I don't think their own Maps is ready to compete with Apple. I think this is very un-Apple like. Usually they don't take such giant steps backwards. This tried something like this with Final Cut Pro and it backfired a lot. This might too.

I have already emailed Tim Cook with my displeasure.

 

[mosco]

Welcome to iOS, where its Apple's-way or STFU and buy it any-way.

There are other Maps apps on the App Store, including free ones that use Google Maps and Bing Maps.

But I agree that its pretty disappointing that the OOTB Maps experience took a HUGE step back.

 

[shortylickens]

I'm sure google and MS will have free map apps.
And there will be paid 3rd party apps as well.

 

[bearxor]

That's one hell of a hilly place to build an airport.

My GUESS is that that's how the terrain actually is, but the strips are leveld out on concrete. Pretty funny.

Data mining is big business. In fact, that's almost Google's entire's business. Apple wants a piece of the pie, and is pissed at Google for Android too, and this is retribution.

Bingo. This is Apple trying to take away revunue sources from their main competitor. And honestly, who can really blame them for trying?

My time with the iOS Maps applications has been pretty pleasant so far. I actually like the interface a lot better than the older iOS app and the Maps application on JB.

It's also not like Google Maps locations are perfect either. There's a Pizza Hut down the street from me that Google Maps says is about 2 miles from where it actually is. I don't know how many times I've reported the correct location...

But I'm also not too worried. I think Apple went in with this knowing they're going to have to sepnd some $$$ over the next couple of years to bring it up to par. TomTom users will also benefit. I don't think there's anything wrong with the app itself, so all the fixes should be on the server side. Google Maps is better, at least for the forseeable future, and I'm sure Google will be releasing a Maps iOS application.

It's going to come down to how much is Apple willing to spend on this in what time frame. I hope they really commit to it because I really like the app.