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Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

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Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#61
post #12

This matches my experience trying to use Waze, multiple times, over multiple years. Sometimes the "creative" routes would seem to save time, other times exiting the freeway to take a surface street would have me sitting at the offramp for 10 minutes... possibly with all of the other Waze users who were routed that way. There's also a familiarity level of safety taking known routes. Sure, cutting down some residential…

There is a "I saved a minute or two (maybe) but driving down odd unfamiliar streets wasn't that fast and kinda a hassle" factor. The mathematically better path is sometimes not THAT much more efficient or simply not more efficient for us humans even if it is just a driving preference. I really hate too many cuts through neighborhoods.

Yeah. And even without considering unfamiliarity, simpler (in terms of number of steps) paths are better, even if they’re slightly slower.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#62

This matches my experience trying to use Waze, multiple times, over multiple years. Sometimes the "creative" routes would seem to save time, other times exiting the freeway to take a surface street would have me sitting at the offramp for 10 minutes... possibly with all of the other Waze users who were routed that way. There's also a familiarity level of safety taking known routes. Sure, cutting down some residential…

It's just scary cutting through streets in SOMA which are two lanes of heavy traffic each way because Waze thinks it's fast to go down a narrow alley.

Indeed — you can choose to “reduce difficult intersections”[0] when selecting a route (tap the gear icon when the route list comes up), which might help in these situations. The article says they the feature was initially rolled out in LA, but it’s at least in the Bay Area at this point.

[0] https://www.engadget.com/2016/06/19/waze-avoid-difficult-int...

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#63

What I like about Waze: All the data other than the route itself, he location of speed traps most importantly. What I like about Apple Maps: The actual on-screen navigation experience. I find it’s the clearest about which lane I need to be in. Waze is terrible about weirdly-shaped intersections and ramps, both in the maps themselves and the instructions about where I need to be to turn/exit. If you think all the alle…

> he location of speed traps most importantly.

How in any was is that legal or ethical to have that data available.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#64

So I switched to CarPlay so I am forced to use Apple maps. It’s not that bad. I think the turn by turn is better then Google was. The only issues I cannot figure out is when you have to paths showing on the screen (dashboard screen) and you want to pick the other one (not default). There seems to be no way to do that. You just have to know to make that alternate turn then it picks it up.

Where do you live? I live in Canada and I find that Apple Maps is way too late to tell me when to turn. I'm driving along at 90km/h and it tells me to turn two seconds before I pass the rural intersection, which isn't enough warning for me to slow down safely. Hearing someone say that turn-by-turn works well makes me wonder if there is something fun going on with Apple testing in miles vs. me using kilometers.

Bay Area. Traffic only moves at 5 mph so no worries! The funny part here is I did the dot.bomb also. Traffic was so bad. Then it crashed and the area cleared out. No traffic but no money. So us old guys always remind ourself now that the traffic sucks, but we are getting paid!

I find that Apple Maps is better at which lane should I be in from what I have seen.

My biggest issue with all of them is you cannot say “hey I have 2 people, ie, carpool” which makes a difference depending on the time of day.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#65
post #13

So I switched to CarPlay so I am forced to use Apple maps. It’s not that bad. I think the turn by turn is better then Google was. The only issues I cannot figure out is when you have to paths showing on the screen (dashboard screen) and you want to pick the other one (not default). There seems to be no way to do that. You just have to know to make that alternate turn then it picks it up.

As far as I can tell you have to choose at the beginning, once you locked a route in you have to cancel and start over to get another route.

Correct. I just ignore it for the routes I know. I use it for the traffic view more then anything as I know the route.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#66

Just personally I'll never use Apple Maps because their customer/developer support suck. I've filed numerous tickets on one intersection that's been closed for 2.5 years in Downtown San Francisco of all places. Yet Apple Maps still routes uber drivers through there forcing them to do a 10 minute roundabout. When they pick me up I again have to direct them not to follow Apple Maps. I don't know why they persistently d…

That’s really strange.

I’ve made literally dozens of changes around Australia. Changes to POIs, street names, off ramps etc. Every single one has been actioned although usually takes a few weeks.

The problem with Apple Maps is they source the data from third parties so it’s up to them whether changes are accepted or not.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#67

Just personally I'll never use Apple Maps because their customer/developer support suck. I've filed numerous tickets on one intersection that's been closed for 2.5 years in Downtown San Francisco of all places. Yet Apple Maps still routes uber drivers through there forcing them to do a 10 minute roundabout. When they pick me up I again have to direct them not to follow Apple Maps. I don't know why they persistently d…

Out of curiousity, what intersection was it, and is it still unfixed?

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#68

The only reason I use Apple Maps is I trust Cupertino with my map queries, which can mindlessly leak lots of information. They aren’t trying to sell me ads and have a record of putting privacy first.

As long as you're not a Chinese citizen, you should be alright! /s

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#69
post #63

What I like about Waze: All the data other than the route itself, he location of speed traps most importantly. What I like about Apple Maps: The actual on-screen navigation experience. I find it’s the clearest about which lane I need to be in. Waze is terrible about weirdly-shaped intersections and ramps, both in the maps themselves and the instructions about where I need to be to turn/exit. If you think all the alle…

> he location of speed traps most importantly. How in any was is that legal or ethical to have that data available.

What legal or ethical laws does it violate to have that data available?

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps vs. Waze

#70
As an Apple Maps hating, Waze fanboy with neutral opinion about Google Maps, I find this post fairly accurate.

But, since iOS 11, I'm using Apple maps exclusively for navigation. Its UX is great, and the ETA is almost always accurate (unless there's some accident/road block not known to app).

I use Waze whenever I'm on the highways, especially on those that I dont drive often.

Google Maps is my go to option for places of interest, which is years ahead of Waze and Apple Maps. But some malls I visit have indoor maps on Apple Maps, and these are certainly better than google maps.

edit: My app usage is mostly in the NE US, especially in NJ-NYC area.

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