Apple Maps used 3x more often than Google Maps on iOS, logs 5B requests per week
It took Apple three years to do it, but Apple Maps is now the undeniable leader in iOS mapping, with a usage rate tripling that of its closest competitor Google Maps.
According to an Associated Press report, Apple says Apple Maps logs more than 5 billion Maps-related requests each week, a number helped along by ongoing efforts to squash bugs, fix incorrect data points and add new features. The turnaround is as much a testament to Apple's commitment to product as it is to the power of unbridled financial investment.
When Apple Maps first launched in 2012, public response was tepid at best, with many consumers pointing out data errors, 3D rendering issues, inaccurate directions and more. The situation devolved to the point where CEO Tim Cook was forced to apologize in a public letter, while the debacle reportedly factored into the ousting of former iOS chief Scott Forstall. Apple spent the next three years addressing those problems, while at the same time adding features to better compete with established services like Google Maps.
"We are fast learners and we are fast at fixing things," said Greg "Joz" Joswiak, Apple vice president of iPhone, iPod, and iOS Product marketing. "We learned the maps business incredibly fast."
Apple's numbers are backed up by market research firm comScore, which noted Apple Maps usage now has a "modest" lead over Google's service. Prior to its own in-house solution, Apple relied on Google Maps for its iOS Maps app.
Contributing to the reversal is Apple's insistence on using Apple Maps as the default iOS service for embedded maps. Along with first-party apps like Siri and Mail, third-party titles also have the option of incorporating Apple Maps for location finding, POI queries and more.
Most recently, Apple added transit directions in iOS 9 covering buses, trains, subways and other pubic transportation alternatives, a much-requested feature that has been available on competing services for some time. Powering Apple's version is technology gleaned from HopStop and Embark, just two of the many acquisitions Apple conducted in the name of building out Maps. Other buys include Coherent Navigation, a high-accuracy GPS technology company.
Apple is also moving forward with internal initiatives to bolster the Maps experience. Over the years the company has hired numerous "ground truth" experts to confirm POI data and partnered with data aggregation firms for business listings, traffic, imaging and other mapping services. The report said Apple now taps more than 3,000 sources for such information.
Looking to the future, Apple earlier this year launched a stealth program involving sensor-and camera-laden vans. The company later confirmed ownership of the mobile surveying platforms, saying the data would be used to "improve" Apple Maps.
According to an Associated Press report, Apple says Apple Maps logs more than 5 billion Maps-related requests each week, a number helped along by ongoing efforts to squash bugs, fix incorrect data points and add new features. The turnaround is as much a testament to Apple's commitment to product as it is to the power of unbridled financial investment.
When Apple Maps first launched in 2012, public response was tepid at best, with many consumers pointing out data errors, 3D rendering issues, inaccurate directions and more. The situation devolved to the point where CEO Tim Cook was forced to apologize in a public letter, while the debacle reportedly factored into the ousting of former iOS chief Scott Forstall. Apple spent the next three years addressing those problems, while at the same time adding features to better compete with established services like Google Maps.
"We are fast learners and we are fast at fixing things," said Greg "Joz" Joswiak, Apple vice president of iPhone, iPod, and iOS Product marketing. "We learned the maps business incredibly fast."
Apple's numbers are backed up by market research firm comScore, which noted Apple Maps usage now has a "modest" lead over Google's service. Prior to its own in-house solution, Apple relied on Google Maps for its iOS Maps app.
Contributing to the reversal is Apple's insistence on using Apple Maps as the default iOS service for embedded maps. Along with first-party apps like Siri and Mail, third-party titles also have the option of incorporating Apple Maps for location finding, POI queries and more.
Most recently, Apple added transit directions in iOS 9 covering buses, trains, subways and other pubic transportation alternatives, a much-requested feature that has been available on competing services for some time. Powering Apple's version is technology gleaned from HopStop and Embark, just two of the many acquisitions Apple conducted in the name of building out Maps. Other buys include Coherent Navigation, a high-accuracy GPS technology company.
Apple is also moving forward with internal initiatives to bolster the Maps experience. Over the years the company has hired numerous "ground truth" experts to confirm POI data and partnered with data aggregation firms for business listings, traffic, imaging and other mapping services. The report said Apple now taps more than 3,000 sources for such information.
Looking to the future, Apple earlier this year launched a stealth program involving sensor-and camera-laden vans. The company later confirmed ownership of the mobile surveying platforms, saying the data would be used to "improve" Apple Maps.
Comments
In case you were wondering about the peaks, mapping apps are always used most on the weekends.
Now this is app usage from a sample of over 8 thousand users. However the article was talking about requests. So I would guess that the reason there are 3x more requests from Apple Maps is people searching for different text to try to find the thing they are looking for! Where as in Google Maps they probably find it the first time.
So basically Apple Maps don't work in most of the world.
Furthermore in Thailand, roads and waypoints are so far behind Google Maps it isn't funny. Not a high priority country I suppose despite large resources at their disposal.
Been waiting years for Maps to work but it just doesn't. Sad.
Anyway, Apple Maps isn't quite there yet:
- Google Map has a much better global coverage for transit stuff.
- When you are traveling from A to B, the system prevents you from pinching in/out, very annoying.
- Google Street View is so much more useful than a 3D map. Killer feature.
- Google Maps is much more reliable when it comes to real-time traffic updates.
I even switched to Google Maps for Public Transport from local (good!) public transport apps, after they added real time delay information.
For normal navigation Apple Maps is fine and accurate, but for complicated navigation in busy cities Google Maps is way better and more accurate.
Furthermore, although it's beautiful, I find myself never using the Apple Maps Fly Over feature, while often using Streetview.
That said, I like the minimalistic approach of the Apple Maps navigation.
Google Maps is disabled, but Apple Maps is available in China.
I wish Apple would throw some money at this, maybe hire some people on the ground to do some of the legwork. It's horrible using google maps knowing google are tracking everything I do.
I am just not comfortable with that.
When Apple Maps came out I did a side by side between Apple Maps and Google Maps. They both had errors but Google had far more points of interest and less errors. I also logged the errors and reported them to both Apple and Google.
Google fixed them promptly. Apple? Not so much.
Fast forward. I still do this comparison 2-3 times a year. 4000 miles round trip. Different routes every time. The roles are reversed. In Rural areas, Google maps is rife with errors and is woefully out of date in areas on construction. Most errors are silly transpositions turning a 2654SW Street into a 2564SW St. But Apple maps are FAR more accurate in rural settings now.
In in the cities, they are about the same. Google maps show more POI but are far more cluttered and harder to read. Apple Maps are more sparse on displaying POI but look cleaner. They both seem to have the same POI's in their database.