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The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

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Re: The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

#2

Post by grey-area »

What confuses me about Apple's choice of maps here is why they didn't go with OpenStreetMap? It was the perfect opportunity to leapfrog Google and help the open source community at the same time, and they would have had more control over the data - as it is they are beholden to TomTom and other providers to try to get things fixed, or will have to try to merge future map updates with their own patches. As it is they are going to see increasing controversy as people realise just how bad the maps they have bought are, and that this was changed for political reasons, not for the good of their users, and there's very little they can do about it.

They seem to have tried out OSM in the photos app (with a horrible skin), but to have used purchased data for the street maps. Perhaps they felt it wasn't good enough in some locations they tested?

In my experience OSM is superior to Google maps in many locations (even in parts of central London), and it is of course continually improving.

Re: The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

#3

Post by vondur »

grey-area wrote: post #2

What confuses me about Apple's choice of maps here is why they didn't go with OpenStreetMap? It was the perfect opportunity to leapfrog Google and help the open source community at the same time, and they would have had more control over the data - as it is they are beholden to TomTom and other providers to try to get things fixed, or will have to try to merge future map updates with their own patches. As it is they…

I was under the impression that Apple did make use of Open Street Maps.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/11/3078987/apple-tomtom-opens...

Re: The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

#4

Post by sidcool »

I hope this is meant as sarcasm. I cannot open the article from workplace, but I truly hope it's derision.

EDIT - People are downvoting without reading it entirely. I have mentioned I CANNOT ACCESS THE ARTICLE. So the only truth available to me is the Post here.

Re: The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

#5

Post by awkward »

grey-area wrote: post #2

What confuses me about Apple's choice of maps here is why they didn't go with OpenStreetMap? It was the perfect opportunity to leapfrog Google and help the open source community at the same time, and they would have had more control over the data - as it is they are beholden to TomTom and other providers to try to get things fixed, or will have to try to merge future map updates with their own patches. As it is they…

Open Streetmaps is a great project, but it doesn't include orthophotography. Even if they were using it, it wouldn't fix the errors with missing or blurry images, cloud cover, or rubber sheeting errors.

Re: The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

#6

Post by pdaddyo »

sidcool wrote: post #4

I hope this is meant as sarcasm. I cannot open the article from workplace, but I truly hope it's derision. EDIT - People are downvoting without reading it entirely. I have mentioned I CANNOT ACCESS THE ARTICLE. So the only truth available to me is the Post here.

Tagline is "The Apple iOS 6 Maps are amazing. Not."

Re: The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

#7

Post by grey-area »

vondur wrote: post #3
grey-area wrote: post #2

What confuses me about Apple's choice of maps here is why they didn't go with OpenStreetMap? It was the perfect opportunity to leapfrog Google and help the open source community at the same time, and they would have had more control over the data - as it is they are beholden to TomTom and other providers to try to get things fixed, or will have to try to merge future map updates with their own patches. As it is they…

I was under the impression that Apple did make use of Open Street Maps. http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/11/3078987/apple-tomtom-opens...

They're not using OSM data most of the time, I suspect it's just for a small amount of data - the OSM credit is a tiny one amongst a whole load of others on their credits page for the maps app.

http://gspa21.ls.apple.com/html/attribution.html

It's not clear exactly where they get all the data, and what is used where, but simple searches like Paddington Station are not working (Paddington does, but not Paddington Station), and I'm sure they're not using the OSM vector data (in the UK at least) as it differs and is less complete than OSM in rural areas for example.

It would be interesting to know just how they've put their datasets together and what they used from where, but it looks like they use tomtom map data in the UK (along with Yelp places, and perhaps Royal Mail addresses/postcodes).

Re: The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

#8

Post by sidcool »

pdaddyo wrote: post #6
sidcool wrote: post #4

I hope this is meant as sarcasm. I cannot open the article from workplace, but I truly hope it's derision. EDIT - People are downvoting without reading it entirely. I have mentioned I CANNOT ACCESS THE ARTICLE. So the only truth available to me is the Post here.

Tagline is "The Apple iOS 6 Maps are amazing. Not."

Did you even read my entire statement?

Re: The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

#9

Post by jws »

It isn't as much fun, but the imagery of the places I care about is better than google, in some case dramatically better.

Their place data needs a lot of help. e.g. If you look for the nearest hospital from me it will take you to a new retirement community built on the site of an old hospital. It is easy to report the problem, now to see how long until it is fixed.

Re: The Amazing iOS 6 Maps

#10

Post by dr_ »

To be honest, despite its flaws, it's going to be ok for most of the people, most of the time. Navigation is going to be a big boon. Using it I haven't noticed major differences personally. Some restaurants are in the wrong location, but on the flip side I like the yelp reviews. I'm sure they will improve on the areas that are flawed.
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