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Cartography Comparison: Google Maps and Apple Maps

justinobeirne.com

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Re: Cartography Comparison: Google Maps and Apple Maps

#11

Post by moogleii »

distances wrote: post #9

Apple Maps is only available for Apple products, right? The claim in the article that it could become some kind of a universal map seems simply ridiculous. I've never seen anyone use it, I've never heard a good word about it. Here Maps, Bing Maps, and OpenStreetMap all seem to have a larger following. Then again, I've been wrong countless times before.

I've seen people use it, and I've heard good things about it. Never seen anyone use bing maps, or say anything good about it.

Having said that, I agree: there's no way in hell Apple Maps could ever become a universal map.

Re: Cartography Comparison: Google Maps and Apple Maps

#13

Post by berntb »

zuppy wrote: post #12

Apple maps is beyond awful where I live (Romania), it's not even worth mentioning it as an option. The problem is not only with the maps, but also with the points of interest.

Google Maps risked my life a few years back, in Transylvania.

(Going to Cluj from the south west of the mountains; that "road" was more a cattle lane unsuitable for bicycles, much less cars).

I assume/hope it is better now.

Re: Cartography Comparison: Google Maps and Apple Maps

#14

Post by rz2k »

moogleii wrote: post #11
distances wrote: post #9

Apple Maps is only available for Apple products, right? The claim in the article that it could become some kind of a universal map seems simply ridiculous. I've never seen anyone use it, I've never heard a good word about it. Here Maps, Bing Maps, and OpenStreetMap all seem to have a larger following. Then again, I've been wrong countless times before.

I've seen people use it, and I've heard good things about it. Never seen anyone use bing maps, or say anything good about it. Having said that, I agree: there's no way in hell Apple Maps could ever become a universal map.

I think Bing's maps are the best for looking at multiple countries in a region, since it seems to better at choosing which detail to drop or keep, and it does a better job stitching photography so that the imagery isn't as obviously from different days or years. The "bird's eye" view is also good for getting an overview of a town you are visiting. I've never used it for directions, but I don't know it's bad for that purpose either.

Re: Cartography Comparison: Google Maps and Apple Maps

#15

Post by CamperBob2 »

dingo_bat wrote: post #2

I liked the previous article and this one too but the website layout is just annoying. 50% width of the page is blank.

Agreed. Call it prejudice -- which it is -- but I'm having trouble believing that someone who would lay out a page like this:

http://i.imgur.com/9kBV5o5.png

... is going to have anything insightful to say about a mapping application.

Yes, I get it. It's hard to make use of a display with a large number of pixels, especially when no two displays seem to have the same size and scale. But you know what? That's something you have to deal with in this business. You don't get to punt by removing or hiding every bit of information possible, or by presenting your thoughts an awkward single-column format inspired by some study or another that was conducted back in the newspaper era.

Re: Cartography Comparison: Google Maps and Apple Maps

#16

Post by nfriedly »

moogleii wrote: post #11
distances wrote: post #9

Apple Maps is only available for Apple products, right? The claim in the article that it could become some kind of a universal map seems simply ridiculous. I've never seen anyone use it, I've never heard a good word about it. Here Maps, Bing Maps, and OpenStreetMap all seem to have a larger following. Then again, I've been wrong countless times before.

I've seen people use it, and I've heard good things about it. Never seen anyone use bing maps, or say anything good about it. Having said that, I agree: there's no way in hell Apple Maps could ever become a universal map.

Bing maps sometimes has better satelite views than google, so that's something. (I think its actually aerial photos rather than satellites for some areas.)

Re: Cartography Comparison: Google Maps and Apple Maps

#18

Post by statictype »

Apple Maps is useless in India and South Asia in general. It was useless on Day 1 and is pretty much just as useless today.

Google Maps on the other hand, not only has turn-by-turn directions, but has even customized it to give directions the way they do it locally (using buildings and landmarks instead of streets where applicable).

If Apple Maps wants to become a Universal Map platform, they have a very long way to go.

I don't see it in their DNA to make these types of platforms.

Re: Cartography Comparison: Google Maps and Apple Maps

#19

Post by yalogin »

statictype wrote: post #18

Apple Maps is useless in India and South Asia in general. It was useless on Day 1 and is pretty much just as useless today. Google Maps on the other hand, not only has turn-by-turn directions, but has even customized it to give directions the way they do it locally (using buildings and landmarks instead of streets where applicable). If Apple Maps wants to become a Universal Map platform, they have a very long way to…

Of course they started at least 10 years after Google.

Re: Cartography Comparison: Google Maps and Apple Maps

#20

Post by bane »

If I had to tl;dr my conclusions from this post it's this, Google is better at showing you how to navigate, Apple is better at showing you places worth going to.

Really great analysis. I wish it was a bit more succinct, but there's a lot of great information here. One thing that's not clear in each comparison is "which is better?"

The analysis seems to be indicating that the answer is "more", but I'm not entirely convinced that's correct in all cases.

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