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Apple Maps up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps

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Re: Apple Maps up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps

#11

Post by jonursenbach »

mtgx wrote: post #4

The title is a little misleading. It may be more efficient compared to the 5 years old Google Maps app on iOS, but Google Maps for Android has been vector based since December 16th, 2010, when they launched Google Maps 5.0. http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/under-hood-of-googl... Also don't forget Apple's Maps retrieve a lot less data than Google Maps, since they don't actually have that data. Google Maps offe…

The title isn't misleading because the test has nothing to do with Android. They're comparing the two iOS map offerings, not cross-platform.

Re: Apple Maps up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps

#13

Post by taligent »

mtgx wrote: post #4

The title is a little misleading. It may be more efficient compared to the 5 years old Google Maps app on iOS, but Google Maps for Android has been vector based since December 16th, 2010, when they launched Google Maps 5.0. http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/under-hood-of-googl... Also don't forget Apple's Maps retrieve a lot less data than Google Maps, since they don't actually have that data. Google Maps offe…

>Also don't forget Apple's Maps retrieve a lot less data than Google Maps, since they don't actually have that data. Google Maps offers a lot more information.

Well this is just stupidity at its finest.

A few extra POIs/streets would pale in comparison to the difference between vector and raster images.

Re: Apple Maps up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps

#14

Post by recoiledsnake »

jonursenbach wrote: post #11
mtgx wrote: post #4

The title is a little misleading. It may be more efficient compared to the 5 years old Google Maps app on iOS, but Google Maps for Android has been vector based since December 16th, 2010, when they launched Google Maps 5.0. http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/under-hood-of-googl... Also don't forget Apple's Maps retrieve a lot less data than Google Maps, since they don't actually have that data. Google Maps offe…

The title isn't misleading because the test has nothing to do with Android. They're comparing the two iOS map offerings, not cross-platform.

How would you infer that from the title? Bandwidth used by apps can and is frequently constant across platforms.

Won't adding a "on iOS" at the end help clarify things?

Re: Apple Maps up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps

#16

Post by DigitalSea »

I guess, it's a lot easier to be data efficient... When you have next to no map data to retrieve in the first place. I am tired of hearing about Apple's Maps, whether it's good or bad, everyone can agree (even Apple themselves agree) that the maps application is sub-par and finding nice things to say about it doesn't change the fact that if you want to get somewhere the new Apple Maps can only promise to get you within 80km of the location you want to be in (if you're lucky), not to mention the missing landmarks, weird black and white colouring of some areas and missing roads.

Let's not detract away from the real problem here. Lets see if Apple Maps are as data efficient in 5 years when they catch up to half the level that Google Maps are currently at provided they work day and night to get to that stage.

Re: Apple Maps up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps

#17

Post by robert_nsu »

jtchang wrote: post #8

Of course you use less data when you don't need to download anything important...like oh say, roads, important subway stations, or cities!

Yeah, I'd rather wait 5 minutes for correct information instead of waiting 2 minutes for incorrect information.

Re: Apple Maps up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps

#18

Post by taligent »

capo wrote: post #10

For the umpteenth time: There was never a Google Maps app on the iPhone, there was an Apple app powered by Google's data . The correct way of stating this is that Apple's iOS6 maps app is more data efficient than previous versions. As for the main reason the current app is more efficient is that it relies on vector graphics instead of image tiles, a technique Google have been using on Android for nearly 2 years: http…

Calm down. Everyone is just calling it Google Maps out of simplicity.

And yes it is vector on Android which was rumored to be one of the reasons Apple even started on this whole maps adventure. Because Google wasn't willing to license the vector data to give Android a competitive advantage.

Re: Apple Maps up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps

#19

Post by molmalo »

mtgx wrote: post #4

The title is a little misleading. It may be more efficient compared to the 5 years old Google Maps app on iOS, but Google Maps for Android has been vector based since December 16th, 2010, when they launched Google Maps 5.0. http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/under-hood-of-googl... Also don't forget Apple's Maps retrieve a lot less data than Google Maps, since they don't actually have that data. Google Maps offe…

Also, compared to Android's app, it's also important to emphasize the ability to download map areas [1]. That way, you can download to your phone's cache the areas you will visit later, using a WiFi connection, so you can use the app without using your data plan or in areas without signal.

iOS's version of Maps was very incomplete compared to Android's version. Most probably, Apple was not very happy with Google about that.

[1] http://googleblog.blogspot.com.ar/2011/07/download-map-area-...

Re: Apple Maps up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps

#20

Post by nwienert »

taligent wrote: post #18
capo wrote: post #10

For the umpteenth time: There was never a Google Maps app on the iPhone, there was an Apple app powered by Google's data . The correct way of stating this is that Apple's iOS6 maps app is more data efficient than previous versions. As for the main reason the current app is more efficient is that it relies on vector graphics instead of image tiles, a technique Google have been using on Android for nearly 2 years: http…

Calm down. Everyone is just calling it Google Maps out of simplicity. And yes it is vector on Android which was rumored to be one of the reasons Apple even started on this whole maps adventure. Because Google wasn't willing to license the vector data to give Android a competitive advantage.

The title is still misleading, should read "old iOS Maps".
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