Apparently Apple's New Map App Sucks

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If this is best Apple can do when it comes to maps, they probably should have just stuck with Google Maps. Check out this awesome post-apocalyptic image of the Brooklyn Bridge.

But this time, they're right: Apple's made a new product that actually is pretty but dumb. Worse, they've used their platform dominance to privilege their own app over a competitor's offering, even though it's a worse experience for users. This is the new Maps in iOS 6.
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Can't they be sued (like by the EU) for not allowing competing products from being used? Or giving an option or somesuch.
 
maps_ios5vsios6.jpg
 
Crap. I was looking really forward to their new maps app. :(

Good news is that Google is working on getting google maps as an app in the app store.
 
Trimlock said:
Can't they be sued (like by the EU) for not allowing competing products from being used? Or giving an option or somesuch.
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They do allow alternatives.

Hopefully Google with submit a standalone app. The new one does suck. I typed "Jersey Gardens" into my phone (in NYC) and it took me to London. I then typed "Jersey Gardens LLC" and it found it near me. Its pretty bad.
 
I hate it.

Looks great. Runs way faster. Flyover has a major "ooohhh" factor. But when the rubber meets the road, it has less real-life useful features and way less information available than Google's.

I'm sure it's the fact that this is a brand new product competing with a mature platform, but seriously. It feels like Apple spent all their time on presentation and nothing on actual content.
 
Cali3350 said:
They do allow alternatives.

Hopefully Google with submit a standalone app. The new one does suck. I typed "Jersey Gardens" into my phone (in NYC) and it took me to London. I then typed "Jersey Gardens LLC" and it found it near me. Its pretty bad.
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Ah ok, well that would be pretty funny if they did let them release the stand alone app, where as no body in their right mind would use something like this App it seems. Which would kind of negate anyone wanting to use the standalone in the first place.

My Thomas Map I have in the trunk of my car is more useful then this 'feature.'
 
I was playing with it last night. It really is a step down from google maps.
 
Actually, Apple does not usually allow any app that has the same functions that it does. Even chrome took along time and is dumbed and slow compared to what safari is.

Cali3350 said:
They do allow alternatives.

Hopefully Google with submit a standalone app. The new one does suck. I typed "Jersey Gardens" into my phone (in NYC) and it took me to London. I then typed "Jersey Gardens LLC" and it found it near me. Its pretty bad.
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Once again something that never would have been approved if Jobs was still alive. Heads would have rolled at Jobs' feet and Google Maps would still be place until at least iOS 6.1 if he was still around.

Google is releasing a standalone in the coming weeks so iPhone users only have to suffer for a little while. Hopefully, Google can include navigation with it. I wouldn't trust Apple Maps to get me across the street at this point.
 
off topic:

anyone notice the comments in the section? I didn't read any of them but some of their profile pictures are hilarious.
 
I regret upgrading to iOS6. Many of the features I used were downgraded to the point of worthlessness. Contract ends in November. I'm going to get a Samsung Galaxy SIII.
 
Haven't upgraded my 4s to iOS6 yet. Going to wait til there's a Jailbreak available so I can keep PDAnet. I was also looking forward to the new map features like the GPS navigation, but I think I'll pass seeing how it'll probably take you to places you don't want to be.

But that's ok for me - I've been using the MotionX GPS Drive app for several years now since my 3Gs, and last year I bought myself a Garmin GPS.

I'm sure Apple will fix all of the issues before long. They're pretty good about that. I'm just surprised Tim Cook allowed it to get out as it is. Maps are fairly critical and not something you'd give to anyone when it's filled with mistakes.
 
Ever since Smart Phones came with GPS I haven't touched my garmin ... where is that thing...
 
David_CAN said:
Are you seriously accusing Apple of placing form over function?
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brettjrob said:
LOL
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I'm talking about content. Not form or function.

My university is blob on Apple Maps. Google Maps had a granular map of the actual campus itself, including individual buildings and walkways. I could actually use Google to get walking directions to a specific library/building, now the best I can get is directions TO the campus from a highway.

They should have waited until they had more content before launching this. The form and function are actually acceptable.
 
i totally hate the new ios 6....

the app store is a fuckin mess now.
 
Why is this such a huge deal when you can just load up gmaps or bing in a browser anyway. Besides, anyone who has money to burn on a iphone 5 can afford to buy a decent gps app (like navigon) that is much more useful than online maps anyway. Just sayin ;)
 
auspexd said:
Why is this such a huge deal when you can just load up gmaps or bing in a browser anyway. Besides, anyone who has money to burn on a iphone 5 can afford to buy a decent gps app (like navigon) that is much more useful than online maps anyway. Just sayin ;)
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iPhone 5 cost the same as S3 on contract? Just sayin ;)
 
AceGoober said:
I regret upgrading to iOS6. Many of the features I used were downgraded to the point of worthlessness. Contract ends in November. I'm going to get a Samsung Galaxy SIII.
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Other than aweful maps what feature were downgraded? It runs much better than iOS 5 IMHO. I wish they would have stuck with Google maps though.
 
I actually upgraded to iOS 6, and a few hours later reverted back to iOS 5.1.1. This "feature" will likely cause me to seriously consider an Android phone.
 
wonderfield said:
Jobs was at the helm when Apple bought Placebase, Poly9 and C3 Technologies. Their data was integrated into Maps.app.
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Big difference between purchasing them and approving the final app. Do you honestly think Jobs would have let this abomination see the light of day if he was still around? I sure as hell don't.
 
I don't have an opinion on that. All I'm saying is that I don't think Jobs would have gone through on those acquisitions had he not been at least reasonably pleased with their respective data sets. He was pretty damn adamant about getting rid of their reliance on Google, too, and this does that. With the YouTube app now also gone, the OS itself is practically Google-free.

There are definitely some serious issues with the data, but I think that, on the whole, what they have now is better than what they had before. The elimination of the archaic raster tile system is a big improvement (using a vector data set for data well-suited for vectors makes sense) and there are no longer any fucking incredibly annoying ads you have to deal with when you're just trying to find a place. The directions system is a bit easier to use, too, which is a nice-enough bonus.
 
Works fine for me. Of course, in rural areas there are only 6 roads, so 6 out of 6 isn't bad! :D

Definitely needs improvement before I venture out of town, though. Hopefully, Google can release a version of their maps before too long.
 
Apple, you got some 'splainin to do !

To be honest, I do not think Steve Jobs would have accepted this at all.
 
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