Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#221

Post by ConstantineXVI » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 7:34 PM UTC

hmahncke wrote: post #152

kjackson2012 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, you're wrong. It's not with the data. It's with Apple's ability to search. Like I said below, look up "Pier 39 San Francisco". This is a dead simple query, extremely specific, and they point you to a really bad area of SF. This isn't Tom Tom data, it's how Apple resolves this query to something useful. Search is Google's domain expertise. Apple needs to basically start from scratch and figure out how to create a…

That Pier 39 San Francisco search is an Australia-desert-type disaster waiting to happen to tourists.

Speaking of tourist disasters in SF; when I was there back in May, there were a few blocks somewhere around (IIRC) Post/Van Ness where the GPS in my Galaxy Nexus would actually pick up a mile or so off from where I actually was. Realized what was happening right away and still know how to read maps[0]; but could easily be a problem for anyone who isn't paying attention to everything.

[0] Semi-related: whoever decided to stamp street names into SF sidewalks: thank you.

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#222

Post by KaoruAoiShiho » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 7:35 PM UTC

hpagey wrote: post #13

Actually I think Apple won here. Google was refusing to release a turn by turn direction update to their apps. By developing an Apple Map App with turn by turn, they kind of forced GooG to provide it on iOS platform. Also, it is very difficult for google to ignore ios users.

It's a win for Google. Google was asking for a Google Maps branding in return for turn directions on the official Maps app but was refused. Now that Google Maps exists everyone can clearly see that Google Maps is the better one.

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#223

Post by eddieroger » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 7:50 PM UTC

jgon wrote: post #212

Between this and the gmail release recently I think that some interesting times are ahead for apple. After I told my wife that Google Maps was available in the app store she sent me a text with a screenshot of her phone and the message "I'm pretty much using an Android phone!" Her mail client is Gmail, she uses Google maps, and she browses with Chrome. If google went all out with a Google Calendar app I bet she'd use…

I think it's more interesting in what it means for Google. I very deeply live in a Google ecosystem - GMail for personal and work, GCal, etc, but I have an iPhone. The new GMail app isn't magical or anything, but it is good enough for my usecases, now killing any incentive I had to go back to Android.

I'm glad they're not using their power for evil, but they seemingly aren't doing anything to make Android even just a little more attractive.

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#224

Post by IheartApplesDix » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 7:51 PM UTC

hnriot wrote: post #190

Terretta wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe that was a deliberate tweak in response to the throngs of spam apps titling themselves by the key search terms of popular apps -- and the throngs of users complaining when they idiotically bought one of the spam apps instead of the real app.

while that might be true, it's the wrong way to solve the problem.

Not if you like making money on unnecessary purchases.

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#225

Post by css771 » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 7:52 PM UTC

zrgiu_ wrote: post #219

eco wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Android Market had this same problem in the early days. It was frustrating but pretty amusing how terrible Google, of all companies, was at getting search right in their app store.

still does. Try searching for something relevant, see where an app with that exact name is placed. Example: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=child+books&c=apps The app named "Child Books" comes after coloring book, Nook, WebMD and many others. It's just that popularity matters MUCH much more than what you actually search for, and it takes days from the moment of getting popular (Google Maps style) to the moment…

A better way to search for an app called "child books" would be to use quotes around it.[1]

But I agree, Google Play's search can still be improved. Currently a search for GTA vice city [2] places the actual game in third place behind other related apps. These apps are The important thing to note is that both these apps have 100,000+ downloads while the game is [1]: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=%22child+books%22&#38... [2]: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=gta+vice+city&c=a...

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#226

Post by jonknee » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 7:57 PM UTC

recursive wrote: post #207

jonknee wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps you need to install the App we're all talking about then. It's most definitely vector based.

I thought we were talking about the Google Maps app. Because that's what I'm talking about. Here's a screenshot I took after I enabled airplane mode: http://i.imgur.com/wc5Ie.png

Well, for starters, you're not using an iPhone and that's not what the Google Maps app for iOS looks like.

Regardless, your screenshot shows no evidence that the maps aren't vector based. You simply don't have the high-resolution data for that area and Google's UI is showing that to you by burring it. Apple Maps doesn't blur, it just doesn't show you any details. I like knowing that there is information I am missing, the blur is handy.

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#227

Post by vvhn » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 8:03 PM UTC

kjackson2012 wrote: post #33

Frankly, Tim Cook should shut down the entire Apple Maps division. Who in their right mind is going to use Apple Maps at this point? Try searching "Pier 39 San Francisco". The query can't be any more specific, and it's the most iconic location for tourists, and Apple Maps will bring you to a pretty shady area of town, only a mile or two away from Hunter's Point, one of the more violent areas of SF.

oddly, just entering "pier 39" gives the correct result while "pier 39 san francisco" doesn't. OTOH, if you clicked on the "report a problem" and gave this feedback you could count yourself the saviour of the hapless millions who would have been lead astray by Apple maps and mugged or killed.

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#228

Post by jondcampbell » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 8:05 PM UTC

aioprisan wrote: post #108

nicholassmith wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Due to iOS Maps using vector tiles once it's been loaded you can switch it into offline mode and the tiles will persist.

so that would be a no then. you still need internet connection to download the initial data. nokia's app is fully offline

nokias app has the whole world mapped for you without any internet access needed?

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#229

Post by tonfa » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 8:12 PM UTC

zrgiu_ wrote: post #219

eco wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Android Market had this same problem in the early days. It was frustrating but pretty amusing how terrible Google, of all companies, was at getting search right in their app store.

still does. Try searching for something relevant, see where an app with that exact name is placed. Example: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=child+books&c=apps The app named "Child Books" comes after coloring book, Nook, WebMD and many others. It's just that popularity matters MUCH much more than what you actually search for, and it takes days from the moment of getting popular (Google Maps style) to the moment…

In that case it isn't clear why an app named "child books" should be on top. It's a very generic name.

Re: Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours

#230

Post by SCdF » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 8:13 PM UTC

eco wrote: post #156

wes-exp wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed! This happens with my own app as well! Apparently the app title , even when an exact match to your search query, is no longer considered important. If there is one thing Apple truly fails at, it is search.

The Android Market had this same problem in the early days. It was frustrating but pretty amusing how terrible Google, of all companies, was at getting search right in their app store.

Same thing happened with Gmail back at the start. I guess it goes to show that web searches are a very specific kind of search, and just because Google is good at that doesn't mean it's good at anything else (relevance on the web is one obvious way it deviates from pretty much anything else you search)