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Forums - Gaming - Apple maps is terrible.

rocketpig on 25 September 2012
superchunk said:
rocketpig said:
superchunk said:

As for the map errors and what you'll take... I'm betting a TON of non US users would disagree with you as they lost all functionality with this new map app. Not just errors, but entire cities and countries.

Should Google have delayed the release of services like Google Drive? Should they have scrapped the project entirely? Because, after all, it was buggy as shit on launch day and it cost me hours of productivity as I tried to adopt the system and integrate it into my workfolow. It was basically useless to me (worse than useless, actually) and I PAID MONEY FOR IT.

But no, I accepted the fact that I was a launch day customer and that systems often release with bugs. I waited out the 2-4 weeks it took them to shore up the service's deficiencies and now, I'm a happy Google Drive customer.

Pretty much the same thing applies to when I upgraded to Mountain Lion on launch day (in retrospect, a rather stupid decision on my part). It was buggy, it pissed me off, I waited it out and now it's a pretty great OS. I've also had these experiences with EVERY version of Windows (which I've been using since Win95).

In short, shit happens. If this is still a problem in two months, then I'll start complaining. The long-term benefits of an Apple-created Maps application FAR outweigh the short-term negatives of buggy software.

There is a difference between going from nothing to a new app that has issues and going from a fully functional map system to a nothing.

As for OS upgrades...yeah bad decision. I always wait for it to get at least one service pack. (talking Win of course)

I am a software dev. I know it happens and very large complex systems will have issues day one. However, in this instance you have a product that had a perfectly function application. You had Apple a nearly infinitely wealthy company that could have purchased 100% of its map data from mapquest or some other large company before launch. There are 100s of other scenarios where it could of at least matched what they were taking away from their customers with the forced removal of Google's maps. They could have rolled it out in chunks, i.e. US first, then other nations as their map data was within some degree of what Google had.

But they didn't. Even in the US there are serious issues like directions to Sea World San Diego that take you to the island across from the park. I'm not talking about the 3D, which has crazy imaging issues.. but real data like directions or simply wrong roads/maps entirely.

Apple f'ed its customers. It should have realized they were removing significant functionality for a very large part of their userbase and that should have been the priority NOT removing Google.

You honestly don't think that Apple bought up a slew of data for their maps system already? Where do you think they found all the data they currently have in the system?

If that data is buggy (which it obviously is), then they have to shore up that information. The problem is that you don't KNOW it's buggy until you put it in the wild with millions of users. No development team can do a comprehensive check of a system this massive.

Again, we're back to "Apple needed users". Should they have beta-tested the software? Yeah, I think that would have been a good idea. I mean, why not? But now that it's out, they have to fix the problem (which, AGAIN, is being overblown by the Internet in typical dogpile fashion). The application hasn't erred for me and I even started a thread for it on VGC, which garned one response of "it didn't properly parse center/centre".

In the long-term, this means NOTHING if Apple fixes it in the next couple of months. That's all there is to it. And the map software that comes out the other end is going to be more valuable to both Apple and iOS users than the Google Maps software that preceded it.




Or check out my new webcomic: http://selfcentent.com/

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oldschoolfool on 25 September 2012

why did'nt they just keep google maps. I guess it doesn't matter when people still buy the hell out of your products and defend you until the cow's come home,all in the name of brand loyality. ^^ to some people,apple is the best thing to happen,since sliced bread,which I just laugh at.



superchunk on 25 September 2012
rocketpig said:

You honestly don't think that Apple bought up a slew of data for their maps system already? Where do you think they found all the data they currently have in the system?

If that data is buggy (which it obviously is), then they have to shore up that information. The problem is that you don't KNOW it's buggy until you put it in the wild with millions of users. No development team can do a comprehensive check of a system this massive.

Again, we're back to "Apple needed users". Should they have beta-tested the software? Yeah, I think that would have been a good idea. I mean, why not? But now that it's out, they have to fix the problem (which, AGAIN, is being overblown by the Internet in typical dogpile fashion). The application hasn't erred for me and I even started a thread for it on VGC, which garned one response of "it didn't properly parse center/centre".

In the long-term, this means NOTHING if Apple fixes it in the next couple of months. That's all there is to it. And the map software that comes out the other end is going to be more valuable to both Apple and iOS users than the Google Maps software that preceded it.

Definitely needed better beta testing.

As for how it will be in the long term... I think Google will get their actual app out with the normal voice navigation and the only reason people will still use Apple's is because of how Apple forces it on you. i.e. Siri will only work with Apple etc. If iOS was like Android and you could set ANY app as the default, then Google Maps would be the predominate just as it is in the rest of the world on computers and phones.



rocketpig on 25 September 2012
superchunk said:
rocketpig said:

You honestly don't think that Apple bought up a slew of data for their maps system already? Where do you think they found all the data they currently have in the system?

If that data is buggy (which it obviously is), then they have to shore up that information. The problem is that you don't KNOW it's buggy until you put it in the wild with millions of users. No development team can do a comprehensive check of a system this massive.

Again, we're back to "Apple needed users". Should they have beta-tested the software? Yeah, I think that would have been a good idea. I mean, why not? But now that it's out, they have to fix the problem (which, AGAIN, is being overblown by the Internet in typical dogpile fashion). The application hasn't erred for me and I even started a thread for it on VGC, which garned one response of "it didn't properly parse center/centre".

In the long-term, this means NOTHING if Apple fixes it in the next couple of months. That's all there is to it. And the map software that comes out the other end is going to be more valuable to both Apple and iOS users than the Google Maps software that preceded it.

Definitely needed better beta testing.

As for how it will be in the long term... I think Google will get their actual app out with the normal voice navigation and the only reason people will still use Apple's is because of how Apple forces it on you. i.e. Siri will only work with Apple etc. If iOS was like Android and you could set ANY app as the default, then Google Maps would be the predominate just as it is in the rest of the world on computers and phones.

Within a year, I'd wager that the average user won't be able to tell the difference between Google and Apple Maps. On the other hand, at that point Apple will be able to fully integrate Apple Maps into the OS, just like Google has on Android.




Or check out my new webcomic: http://selfcentent.com/

superchunk on 25 September 2012
rocketpig said:

Within a year, I'd wager that the average user won't be able to tell the difference between Google and Apple Maps. On the other hand, at that point Apple will be able to fully integrate Apple Maps into the OS, just like Google has on Android.

Google doesn't have anything integrated in the same locked fashion as Apple.

Example, lets say I have any number of map or navigation apps installed. (there are a lot, maybe I decided to purchase one from a GPS company)

I then click my google voice icon and say "navigate to sea world". After it confirms it heard me correctly it would then prompt me with a single popup showing EVERY map/navigation software I have installed. Its then asking me which one I want to use AND if I want to make that one my default app where it would open only that one automatically from there on out.

This is the same freedom of choice that you get with EVERY application in Android.

This is the way it should work and why I refuse to use Apple. They don't do that. They don't let you decide what is best for you.



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Cub on 25 September 2012

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famousringo on 25 September 2012
oldschoolfool said:
why did'nt they just keep google maps. I guess it doesn't matter when people still buy the hell out of your products and defend you until the cow's come home,all in the name of brand loyality. ^^ to some people,apple is the best thing to happen,since sliced bread,which I just laugh at.


Because then the iOS Maps app would never have vector tiles or turn-based navigation. Also, Apple would continue paying licensing fees and feeding valuable user data to a major competitor.

@superchunk

Looks like Google currently has no intention of releasing a Google Maps app for iOS:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/09/google-says-no-plans-for-ios-6-mapping-app-yet/

It seems Google wants to leverage their lead in maps into a competitive advantage for Android. Totally fair game. I just don't want to hear any whining about how big, mean Apple is bullying poor little Google around. Google has decided that iOS users don't deserve the same level of service they give to licensed Android users. Simple as that.



"The worst part about these reviews is they are [subjective]--and their scores often depend on how drunk you got the media at a Street Fighter event."  — Mona Hamilton, Capcom Senior VP of Marketing
*Image indefinitely borrowed from BrainBoxLtd without his consent.

rocketpig on 25 September 2012
superchunk said:
rocketpig said:

Within a year, I'd wager that the average user won't be able to tell the difference between Google and Apple Maps. On the other hand, at that point Apple will be able to fully integrate Apple Maps into the OS, just like Google has on Android.

Google doesn't have anything integrated in the same locked fashion as Apple.

I never claimed they did but Google Maps IS integrated into Android. An integration that Apple couldn't properly compete with if they continued to use Google Maps.




Or check out my new webcomic: http://selfcentent.com/

superchunk on 25 September 2012
famousringo said:

@superchunk

Looks like Google currently has no intention of releasing a Google Maps app for iOS:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/09/google-says-no-plans-for-ios-6-mapping-app-yet/

It seems Google wants to leverage their lead in maps into a competitive advantage for Android. Totally fair game. I just don't want to hear any whining about how big, mean Apple is bullying poor little Google around. Google has decided that iOS users don't deserve the same level of service they give to licensed Android users. Simple as that.


Yeah I just read that too. However, Google may feel its a bad idea to spend resources on something Apple may not even allow due to their duplication rule in the App Store.

Apple decided they didn't want Google (a major competitor now) to have that data and access. Google has up to this point decided to not pursue a stand-alone GMaps app on iOS. I kinda feel bad for iOS users though who rely on maps/navigation... granted there still should be paid alternatives in iOS, so its not the end of it all.



superchunk on 25 September 2012
rocketpig said:
superchunk said:
rocketpig said:

Within a year, I'd wager that the average user won't be able to tell the difference between Google and Apple Maps. On the other hand, at that point Apple will be able to fully integrate Apple Maps into the OS, just like Google has on Android.

Google doesn't have anything integrated in the same locked fashion as Apple.

I never claimed they did but Google Maps IS integrated into Android. An integration that Apple couldn't properly compete with if they continued to use Google Maps.

No its not. I can delete Maps/Nav from my phone. Its not a system app. Its not part of Google's "GAPPS" standard applications. I can just as easily use any other maps/nav application on my phone as a default standard. (any app in the Play store is a app you can delete and not an "integrated" app to the OS; just like Google Voice, Google Plus, Facebook, etc)

But yes, due to the standoff between them, neither side could give up what was needed to make the Google Maps a full featured option in iOS. You are right that they had to change. My only complaint is the way they changed. That should of been handled with much more finesse and thought for the millions of customers world-wide.