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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

#21

Post by xattt »

My gripe is that neither platform supports dynamic routing based on ferry times.

I live on Prince Edward Island which has a bridge and a ferry connection to the mainland. Halifax is the nearest city centre with an IKEA, a well-known shibboleth of sophistication. ;)

Getting there by ferry (3 h) is slightly faster than driving (3.5 - 4 h) but only if you get the ferry times right. Otherwise, you’ll spend as much time waiting for the next crossing as you will driving.

I would love for Apple to innovate and solve this once and for all!

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

#22

Post by presbyterian »

hbn wrote: post #11

I still can't help but always reach for Google Maps by default because it just seems most likely they'd have the most up to date traffic information from all the Android users they're constantly tracking. I don't think Apple really has access to that data? I live in a smaller city in Canada so I just don't know how Apple would figure out when there's construction or roads blocked off to route me around those things.…

I'm a professional driver (high school bus, so a lot of longer-distance sports trips and stuff), and I swear by Apple Maps for up-to-date traffic info. Google Maps has given me under construction exits, backed up freeways, and just plain inefficient routes too many times for me to rely on it anymore. Sometimes I'll bring it up just because the satellite imagery is newer and I want to see they layout of a parking lot or something, but otherwise it's all Apple Maps.

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

#23

Post by etimberg »

I recently switched to apple maps. The biggest reason for me is that the audible directions are a lot more useful. Instead of "turn left in 200 meters" I get something like "At the next light, turn left".

That reduces the cognitive load immensely and i find i'm not trying to look at the map as much

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

#25

Post by veltas »

ajross wrote: post #15
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…

> * No dangerous shortcuts where I risk to damage my car Can you elaborate on this? This seems like a personal anecdote and not a software feature. How does one even define that? You're saying that there are special roads that Apple knows not to travel bug Google does? That seems odd, since the real world doesn't really mark its roads like that.

I know in Waze at least there is an option to enable tricky junctions, I don't think Google Maps has any such concept.

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

#26

Post by xattt »

ajross wrote: post #15
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…

> * No dangerous shortcuts where I risk to damage my car Can you elaborate on this? This seems like a personal anecdote and not a software feature. How does one even define that? You're saying that there are special roads that Apple knows not to travel bug Google does? That seems odd, since the real world doesn't really mark its roads like that.

Google will assume all tertiary roads are equally passable. Apple’s algorithm appears to deprioritize such roads unless there’s no other possible way.

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

#27

Post by starbugs »

ajross wrote: post #15
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…

> * No dangerous shortcuts where I risk to damage my car Can you elaborate on this? This seems like a personal anecdote and not a software feature. How does one even define that? You're saying that there are special roads that Apple knows not to travel bug Google does? That seems odd, since the real world doesn't really mark its roads like that.

> This seems like a personal anecdote and not a software feature.

It might be.

> How does one even define that?

One example would be a road that is very narrow, but not one-way. Basically so narrow that only one car can drive there. Where I live, there are many such roads on the country side. They tend to be used as shortcuts so that one doesn't need to take the main roads (shorter total distance). But they are dangerous in the sense that you have to pay much more attention when driving there. Google just tends to prefer those for some reason.

> You're saying that there are special roads that Apple knows not to travel bug Google does?

No. I am saying that the directions suggested by Apple Maps tend to avoid those roads, while Google Maps oftentimes doesn't even display an alternative.

> That seems odd, since the real world doesn't really mark its roads like that.

Ever driven on a gravel road slowly to not get stones hitting your car? I am sure there is a way to index the road quality and that this is even easy based on satellite and air photo data.

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

#28

Post by DHPersonal »

ajross wrote: post #15
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…

> * No dangerous shortcuts where I risk to damage my car Can you elaborate on this? This seems like a personal anecdote and not a software feature. How does one even define that? You're saying that there are special roads that Apple knows not to travel bug Google does? That seems odd, since the real world doesn't really mark its roads like that.

The user might mean that Google decides to encourage side roads or dirt paths where Apple sticks to main thoroughfares. This could be related to the input it gained from acquiring Waze, which often took people down residential roads to avoid main road bottlenecks. https://www.streetlightdata.com/waze-traffic-effect-4-steps-...

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

#29

Post by NoMoreNicksLeft »

Apple Maps seems like it will fail at what I find most important, however. Does it try to upsell me unrelated products when all I want is plain instructions to an address or location? Does it misinterpret accidental finger touches as some mid-route change-of-mind and irretrievably lose my instructions to get there?

Maybe I didn't know it years ago, but these are what Google has grown to realize I can't live without.

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

#30

Post by extheat »

Although Apple Maps is way more fluid to use, it's is missing so much local detail in so many places, I find myself often having to switch back and forth between Apple Maps and Google Maps just to make sure I'm not missing stuff on the map. At which point you may as well just not use Apple Maps outside of the biggest cities in the US.
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