I love a lot of things about Apple Maps, but I have to admit I've regretted relying on it a few times for directions. It's terrible with abbreviations like "nyc" and it frequently fails to locate common businesses.
I'm not surprised by this result in the US market, but it would be interesting to know how it looks elsewhere. I am curious exactly how these data were derived though, and what the estimated error might be.
Probably more to do with Apple Maps being the default. Besides "geek customizers" I doubt a high number of iPhone/iPad users change over to something replacing what their device came pre-installed with.
That may be so but if, as appears to be the case, Apple's maps are less accurate and comprehensive in other parts of the world, it would be interesting to know how much that affects user choice. I would expect that it does have some effect, at least with some users. If not, and user choice is generally either the default for the device except in the case of pre-existing preference that is uncorrelated with functionality, then that itself would be interesting. Disappointing, but interesting.
I like Apple Maps, the 3D flyover images are actually informative at times. The feature of the Notifications Center having a mention of how long it will take me to get to work or home with a tap bringing up Apple Maps with alternate routes and current transit times is useful, albeit just this tad creepy...
That may be so but if, as appears to be the case, Apple's maps are less accurate and comprehensive in other parts of the world, it would be interesting to know how much that affects user choice. I would expect that it does have some effect, at least with some users. If not, and user choice is generally either the default for the device except in the case of pre-existing preference that is uncorrelated with functionality, then that itself would be interesting. Disappointing, but interesting.
A couple years old now, but a 2011 study found that only 5% of desktop users bothered to change any defaults. In my personal opinion I don't think mobile users are all that different. For most the assumption would be that things came set as they are for a reason. To paraphrase the article "(Apple) must know what they're doing" so nothing should be changed. That's why iAds and location-mining are on by default. http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2011/09/14/do-users-change-their-settings/
Are they still adding 3D flyover to more US cities? I haven't heard much about that lately (last city I think was Paris). When it rolled out I figured they would have maybe 100 or so US cities by now.
Why would you need any GPS at all, on a route you obviously know?
Getting audio and/or advance notice of traffic issues ahead in time to plan an alternate route has it's benefits. A lot of commuting is probably like mine: over the same route(s) but dependent on traffic for the specific choice, when something is all red I make a change…
If Sergey Brin/Google didn't screw Apple then iOS would still come with Google Maps and other Google apps. Since that is not the case Apple Maps will come into its own eventually
I mostly use google maps, but two things irritate me enough to occasionally use iOS maps: I hate being asked to sign into a google account whenever gMaps loads (I don't have one, I'm not making one just to end the harassment) and I dont understand why they removed the ability to manually drag you route to modify it on the fly. Say I want to take such and such highway instead of the other highway, but everything else is the same. iOS maps let's you do that, gMaps used to, but they removed it with an update back in the summer. Why? I hate when designers change things just to change them.
Do you think Apple would be trying to integrate their own profitable services to replace Google ones anyway no matter what Google did or didn't do? Apple has a history of creating their own baked-in features to replace popular 3rd party ones, not that there's anything surprising about that. IMO Apple would be replacing Google services anyway as they saw opportunities for more profit, just perhaps not as quickly as they recently have.
It's not really about profit. It's about controlling the experience, being masters of their own fate, and not relying on their biggest competitor for one of their most important apps. Now that Apple has maps in house, the possibilities of how they can extend and expand it within its own ecosystem are endless. If they stayed with Google, there would have so many political, and technical obstacles to doing what they really wanted to do and having deep integration with their own services. They had no choice.
It's not really about profit. It's about controlling the experience, being masters of their own fate, and not relying on their biggest competitor for one of their most important apps. Now that Apple has maps in house, the possibilities of how they can extend and expand it within its own ecosystem are endless. If they stayed with Google, there would have so many political, and technical obstacles to doing what they really wanted to do and having deep integration with their own services. They had no choice.
That's the way I see it too. Google was going to be dumped at some point no matter how much they cow-towed to Apple.
Oh, goody. An Apple car. It's an all new product, so you can't expect it to have everything. Door handles on the inside will be added within the first six months.
Pathetic. Are you incapable of creative thought? Don’t think outside the box, think outside the tesseract.
Why would an Apple Car need door handles? Proximity to your iDevice and it would open the door for you.
Getting audio and/or advance notice of traffic issues ahead in time to plan an alternate route has it's benefits. A lot of commuting is probably like mine: over the same route(s) but dependent on traffic for the specific choice, when something is all red I make a change…
So you learn nothing from previously taken routes and will blindly drive according to the prompts from a GPS, even when you know it is wrong?
We did a silly search yesterday and found something interesting.
Living in New Plymouth, New Zealand we looked up how long it would take us to walk from New Plymouth to the gas works in Kapuni. Google Maps said 13 hours something but took us down the main road to get there.
However, Apple Maps cut us through Mount Egmont National Park and dropped 15 minutes. Apple Maps wins because A) it's a straight line, it's a far more beautiful walk.
I thought they renamed Mt Egmont to Mt Taranaki. I haven't lived in NZ in 20 years though. Did the name not stick?
Comments
I'm not surprised by this result in the US market, but it would be interesting to know how it looks elsewhere. I am curious exactly how these data were derived though, and what the estimated error might be.
Probably more to do with Apple Maps being the default. Besides "geek customizers" I doubt a high number of iPhone/iPad users change over to something replacing what their device came pre-installed with.
That may be so but if, as appears to be the case, Apple's maps are less accurate and comprehensive in other parts of the world, it would be interesting to know how much that affects user choice. I would expect that it does have some effect, at least with some users. If not, and user choice is generally either the default for the device except in the case of pre-existing preference that is uncorrelated with functionality, then that itself would be interesting. Disappointing, but interesting.
I'll start using Apple Maps when they figure out the old Bay Bridge from Oakland to Yerba Buena hasn't been in use for quite some time now.
Why would you need any GPS at all, on a route you obviously know?
I like Apple Maps, the 3D flyover images are actually informative at times. The feature of the Notifications Center having a mention of how long it will take me to get to work or home with a tap bringing up Apple Maps with alternate routes and current transit times is useful, albeit just this tad creepy...
A couple years old now, but a 2011 study found that only 5% of desktop users bothered to change any defaults. In my personal opinion I don't think mobile users are all that different. For most the assumption would be that things came set as they are for a reason. To paraphrase the article "(Apple) must know what they're doing" so nothing should be changed. That's why iAds and location-mining are on by default.
http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2011/09/14/do-users-change-their-settings/
Are they still adding 3D flyover to more US cities? I haven't heard much about that lately (last city I think was Paris). When it rolled out I figured they would have maybe 100 or so US cities by now.
Why would you need any GPS at all, on a route you obviously know?
Getting audio and/or advance notice of traffic issues ahead in time to plan an alternate route has it's benefits. A lot of commuting is probably like mine: over the same route(s) but dependent on traffic for the specific choice, when something is all red I make a change…
Wouldn't that be 100% then, since Apple Maps is only on iOS devices?
Do you think Apple would be trying to integrate their own profitable services to replace Google ones anyway no matter what Google did or didn't do? Apple has a history of creating their own baked-in features to replace popular 3rd party ones, not that there's anything surprising about that. IMO Apple would be replacing Google services anyway as they saw opportunities for more profit, just perhaps not as quickly as they recently have.
It's not really about profit. It's about controlling the experience, being masters of their own fate, and not relying on their biggest competitor for one of their most important apps. Now that Apple has maps in house, the possibilities of how they can extend and expand it within its own ecosystem are endless. If they stayed with Google, there would have so many political, and technical obstacles to doing what they really wanted to do and having deep integration with their own services. They had no choice.
That's the way I see it too. Google was going to be dumped at some point no matter how much they cow-towed to Apple.
Oh, goody. An Apple car. It's an all new product, so you can't expect it to have everything. Door handles on the inside will be added within the first six months.
Pathetic. Are you incapable of creative thought? Don’t think outside the box, think outside the tesseract.
Why would an Apple Car need door handles? Proximity to your iDevice and it would open the door for you.
Getting audio and/or advance notice of traffic issues ahead in time to plan an alternate route has it's benefits. A lot of commuting is probably like mine: over the same route(s) but dependent on traffic for the specific choice, when something is all red I make a change…
So you learn nothing from previously taken routes and will blindly drive according to the prompts from a GPS, even when you know it is wrong?
I'll start using Apple Maps when they figure out the old Bay Bridge from Oakland to Yerba Buena hasn't been in use for quite some time now.
Didn't that re-open in September?
ETA: Amusing, zoom in on Googelmaps and the spans completed roadway disappears...
We did a silly search yesterday and found something interesting.
Living in New Plymouth, New Zealand we looked up how long it would take us to walk from New Plymouth to the gas works in Kapuni. Google Maps said 13 hours something but took us down the main road to get there.
However, Apple Maps cut us through Mount Egmont National Park and dropped 15 minutes. Apple Maps wins because A) it's a straight line,
it's a far more beautiful walk.
I thought they renamed Mt Egmont to Mt Taranaki. I haven't lived in NZ in 20 years though. Did the name not stick?