Apple Maps mislabeling locations in rural Canada
While similar problems have been resolved in other parts of the world, Apple Maps is continuing to use mislabeled places in much of rural Canada, according to user complaints and a check by AppleInsider.
AppleInsider reader, Paul, noted that some areas appear to be using the sort of names found on electoral maps, such as "Cumberland, Subd. B" and "Sunshine Coast F" instead of common ones. This can potentially cause havoc not just with Apple Maps but any other Apple app dependent on location data, such as Weather or Photos.
Problems cited with the substitution include navigation, Siri features dependent on addresses, Apple's Weather app, and photo geotagging.
In an exchange with an Apple support team, the company promised Paul that it would work to address the situation "as soon as possible," while simultaneously admitting that it could "fall into the category of being a longer-term fix."
Courtesy of AppleInsider reader Paul.
Apple has coped with missing or mislabeled locations since it rolled out a Google-less version of Maps in 2012's iOS 6, substituting Google content with data from various other parties. Apple scrambled to make corrections, but drivers using navigation sometimes found themselves getting lost -- perhaps most infamously veering into the Australian desert where they had to be rescued.
Public backlash led to the firing of multiple people at Apple, most notably iOS chief Scott Forstall. Since then Apple Maps has been largely cleaned up, given back public transit directions, and even expanded with features like indoor mapping at airports and train stations.
AppleInsider reader, Paul, noted that some areas appear to be using the sort of names found on electoral maps, such as "Cumberland, Subd. B" and "Sunshine Coast F" instead of common ones. This can potentially cause havoc not just with Apple Maps but any other Apple app dependent on location data, such as Weather or Photos.
Problems cited with the substitution include navigation, Siri features dependent on addresses, Apple's Weather app, and photo geotagging.
In an exchange with an Apple support team, the company promised Paul that it would work to address the situation "as soon as possible," while simultaneously admitting that it could "fall into the category of being a longer-term fix."
Courtesy of AppleInsider reader Paul.
Apple has coped with missing or mislabeled locations since it rolled out a Google-less version of Maps in 2012's iOS 6, substituting Google content with data from various other parties. Apple scrambled to make corrections, but drivers using navigation sometimes found themselves getting lost -- perhaps most infamously veering into the Australian desert where they had to be rescued.
Public backlash led to the firing of multiple people at Apple, most notably iOS chief Scott Forstall. Since then Apple Maps has been largely cleaned up, given back public transit directions, and even expanded with features like indoor mapping at airports and train stations.
Comments
Out in rural America, it will try to route you over unimproved (read dirt or gravel) roads instead of paved arterial roads as it apparently cannot discern the difference to a passenger car at highway speed.
Not sure who Apple needs to hire, but the crew on Maps currently are not getting the job done. I know they buy data from TomTom, maybe they can get better data.
As one example, Apple Maps always sends me along a route that involves a U-turn, whereas Google sends me along a more logical route that has simple right- and left-turns. No idea what logic Apple Maps uses to choose its recommended route.
I understand maps is not a simple problem to solve. But Apple is a big company with lots of resources. They need to decide if they're going to fix this or not; leaving it half-assed is not good.
We have regularly Google Cars driving around and nearly a seemless street view map available.
While driving, I’m mostly using Waze, which is more accurate than Google Map. But Waze guided me ones thru a terrorist infested area, far off the main road. I think the people there never saw a car before.
Yikes! We just have to worry about it routing us through little neighborhoods, or often (for any of these apps) really non-sensical routes in terms of turns or intersections. Terrorists are a whole other level.
Heh. What's interesting though, is that when you really know driving in an area well... and then start using one of these GPS systems... you're like, why the heck would you go that route? When I got my phone and started experimenting, it would get us places, but not at all the route I'd have picked, nor the best route. It often had me making odd (difficult or more dangerous) turns that weren't the most efficient at all.
It has been handy since moving to an area we don't know. I hate trying to look for the little street name signs when I don't know an area, so having it let me know the street is coming up in a couple hundred meters is really nice. That said, I have no idea if it is taking me the best route or not, yet.