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0 pointsduaneb14y ago0 comments

I think it's really great to have some competition in the maps world (Google, OpenStreetMap, Apple, Bing, MapQuest), but I'm worried that Apple won't allow Google maps to put out their own app on iOS, meaning if it's inferior, we're stuck with it.

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6 comments · 1 top-level

dr4214y ago· 5 in thread

Yes. I wont be updating to IOS 6 unless there is a choice of mapping apps. I'm sure Apple maps will be a good product, but unless it's really as good as Google, or I can still install a Google maps app, then I will not update to 6.

I'm less concerned about transit and walking routing (because I am sure Apple will get there), but more concerned about search of maps. OSM search is currently nowhere near the level of Google maps search.

On google maps I can search for things like "usps near south lake tahoe" and it do what I expect. Try that on OSM, or anything remotely not a well formed address. Google maps has some sophisticated logic for biasing towards current location, and it knows the names of places, like 'moscone center', or 'facebook offices'. And of coruse, I cna mispel them all and it still find it.

If Apple maps can't do the same, then no matter how pretty the 3D view is, it will disable one of the main (for me) functions of the device.

edge1714y ago

you shouldn't ignore that Apple's trying to do what it's taken Google 10 years to do. They'll get it right, but expecting feature parity on day one isn't reasonable. At the end of the day there are humans making all this stuff work.

ajdecon14y ago

It's not reasonable to expect it... but it is reasonable to use that as a reason not to use Apple Maps.

endersshadow14y ago

Out of curiosity, I wonder what it would have taken for Google to provide all of the updates it's provided to the Android Maps app these past few years. Was it just Android and iPhone competition? I feel like there's probably more to the story.

I've switched from iPhone to Android and back to an iPhone again, and the only things I liked better about the Android were Swype and the Maps. The iPhone app is at least now servicable. The 6.0 will break it for me (I use transit directions all the time), so I'm left hoping Google saves the day.

dwynings14y ago

It appears to work pretty well: https://bu.mp/zwTsWE

beej7114y ago

I read somewhere that you can still install Google's Map app.

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