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Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

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Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#91

Post by piebro »

DHPersonal wrote: post #83
CrampusDestrus wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>You can't easily contribute to Apple Maps or add places yes you can, you simply select an item on the map and report a problem. also they already hire third party agencies to add data to the map

Apple Maps pulls in OpenStreetMaps data in my area of the country, so submitting information on OSM means an eventual Apple Maps upgrade for me. I edited the 3D shape of some of the houses in my neighborhood and added missing streets on OSM and saw them imported into Apple Maps a few months later.

Here is a map to see where people affiliated with apple are contributing to openstreetmap: https://piebro.github.io/openstreetmap-statistics/#e19b it seems they use OSM data everywhere but in North America and most of Europe.

Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#92

Post by DHPersonal »

sithadmin wrote: post #5

Everything about walking directions from Apple maps (directions on lock screen; Apple Watch integrations) is better, UX wise. The problem is, despite admittedly massive improvements, I still have issues with it containing stale location data, incorrect POI classification information (e.g. convenience store without gas pumps marked as a 'gas station'), and suggesting paths that don't exist or simply aren't tenable (no…

While I don't like the feeling of being exploited through unpaid/volunteer labor to improve the app, I do know that most or all of your issues can be resolved by reporting errors through the app. Business data can be changed by users pending a review by Apple, and routes can be reported with a thumbs down/up response upon resolution of the trip. The walk through a military facility is a little harder to report, though. :)

Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#93

Post by soupfordummies »

agundy wrote: post #56
starbugs wrote: post #8

In my experience, the following things are notably better in Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: * No dangerous shortcuts where I risk to damage my car * Routes make much more sense in general and are nearer to what someone who knows their way around locally would suggest * Voice instructions are clearer, easier to understand and timed better * Walking directions are easier to understand * The UI is less annoying. In Google…

Two more things that annoy me about Google Maps - Related to the routes make more sense, Google seems to prefer side streets to save one minute but then you get dumped back on the main road not at the light and need to cross traffic and might lose your minute back just waiting for a chance to cross. I'd much prefer a main route with a light that guarantees a safe turn. - Google Maps advertisements on the map. No I do…

My biggest gripe about GMaps is a minor one but when it happens it's crucial:

Sometimes I'll see a road that looks like it may be a good shortcut or something, but it doesn't show the name. So I zoom in, and in, even to the point that the road itself is taking up my entire phone screen. Still no name! Very tedious and aggravating when it's on the fly.

Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#94

Post by carlosjobim »

DHPersonal wrote: post #87
carlosjobim wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compare that with Google Maps, where anybody can easily add businesses or other places of interest that are missing from the map. How do you go about doing that in Apple Maps? Without an Apple device?

Apple has a web portal for adding businesses to a map. https://support.apple.com/guide/apple-business-connect/intro... Existing businesses can have inaccurate information reported on and corrected by users.

Business Connect is sadly a total joke. I can't correct the name of a business I manage and just get the error "Thoroughfare or fullThoroughfare must not be empty, Thoroughfare or fullThoroughfare must not be empty"

Google Maps is far better for businesses to manage and get their information out. That's why their maps are dominating.

Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#95

Post by DHPersonal »

piebro wrote: post #91
DHPersonal wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple Maps pulls in OpenStreetMaps data in my area of the country, so submitting information on OSM means an eventual Apple Maps upgrade for me. I edited the 3D shape of some of the houses in my neighborhood and added missing streets on OSM and saw them imported into Apple Maps a few months later.

Here is a map to see where people affiliated with apple are contributing to openstreetmap: https://piebro.github.io/openstreetmap-statistics/#e19b it seems they use OSM data everywhere but in North America and most of Europe.

Apple Maps also credits TomTom as a data source, so could it be OSM > TomTom > Apple in terms of the data flow?

Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#96

Post by exabrial »

I use Apple maps because I'm tired of Google's bullshit, not because Apple Maps is a better product.

* Google just "has to have" _Web And Search History_ enabled to enable some features. Really? How did we possibly exist before this?

* I'm tired of typing in stuff into Google Maps and seeing ads across the entire fucking internet for bass fishing of I time bass (as in guitar) into Google Maps

* There is no reason I should have to "sign into" a mapping product or even have a fucking account. When I sign out, all the sudden somehow I'm signed out of google in my browser. What in the actual fuck? What are these cross-app attacks even a thing?

Apple maps leaves a lot to be desired but it's worth the hassle to get around Google. Its the same reason I own an iPhone... Android phones are superior in hardware, durability, speed, picture quality, interoperability, but you can break Google's creepy addiction to your gazing up your buttox for anything personal.

Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#97

Post by matt-attack »

soupfordummies wrote: post #93
agundy wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two more things that annoy me about Google Maps - Related to the routes make more sense, Google seems to prefer side streets to save one minute but then you get dumped back on the main road not at the light and need to cross traffic and might lose your minute back just waiting for a chance to cross. I'd much prefer a main route with a light that guarantees a safe turn. - Google Maps advertisements on the map. No I do…

My biggest gripe about GMaps is a minor one but when it happens it's crucial: Sometimes I'll see a road that looks like it may be a good shortcut or something, but it doesn't show the name. So I zoom in, and in, even to the point that the road itself is taking up my entire phone screen. Still no name! Very tedious and aggravating when it's on the fly.

Yes this is infuriating. The old google maps was excellent at adding street labels everywhere using just the font size and layout. It was more on par with his traditional paper maps used to be designed. Maximize the information for the user. Nowadays online maps are no longer thought to be used as traditional maps in the sense of using them as a tool to explore / navigate. Now they’re 100% focused on giving you directions. Make it easy to understand the directions, suppress other useless detail because all you need to focus on is the next turn.

Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#98

Post by carlosjobim »

CrampusDestrus wrote: post #80
carlosjobim wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compare that with Google Maps, where anybody can easily add businesses or other places of interest that are missing from the map. How do you go about doing that in Apple Maps? Without an Apple device?

Businesses should have in their best interest to add themselves to Apple Maps (which they can do). If you see something not showing just pop inside and tell the manager. That's what I did one time at a hairdresser's

Business owners spend their time and effort where it pays off. If they don't have spare time to navigate Apple's user-hostile backend for adding or updating their business, they won't. The network effect means customers will rely on Google Maps.

Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#99

Post by mistersquid »

cassianoleal wrote: post #82
starbugs wrote: post #8

In my experience, the following things are notably better in Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: * No dangerous shortcuts where I risk to damage my car * Routes make much more sense in general and are nearer to what someone who knows their way around locally would suggest * Voice instructions are clearer, easier to understand and timed better * Walking directions are easier to understand * The UI is less annoying. In Google…

* Cycling directions, where available, are vastly superior to Google Maps's. My cycle computer uses Google Maps. I frequently see myself planning a route on Apple Maps, then replicating it on Ride With GPS, then importing it into the device. It's a pain but has allowed me to avoid some pretty bad routes.

> My cycle computer uses Google Maps. […] [Replicating Apple Maps directions is] a pain but has allowed me to avoid some pretty bad routes.

(Sorry for aggressive quote edit.)

Google Maps cycling directions include routes that go against the direction of traffic, even though cycling against traffic is illegal as is riding on sidewalks (where I cycle).

Apple Maps cycling directions take me to the nearest intersection of a destination and instruct me to dismount if the remaining leg would require wrong-way cycling.

Re: Apple Maps Gradually Winning over Google Maps Users, Report Suggests

#100

Post by torsday »

agundy wrote: post #76
soco wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In which country do you see ads in Google Maps? My Swiss phone (a Samsung) doesn't show anything of sorts.

United States, they highlight retailers or restaurants on the map that are paying for ads alongside other large landmarks.

Yep. This is increasingly pushing me away from Google Maps. Once offline mode comes to Apple, I'll move over completely ...just wish i could bring all my saved locations over.
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