Apple Maps vs. Google Maps • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#61

Post by devoutsalsa » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:15 PM UTC

heliodor wrote: post #39

voisin wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Apple Maps as my primary GPS in my vehicle. I have spent the last few years on the road driving across North America and Google Maps repeatedly made objectively incorrect decisions in rural areas that would take me in quasi-off road situations. After I got frustrated being led astray I started comparing routes on both and found that it seems to be a logic issue for Google Maps, where it would save 5 km of dista…

The bad choices in rural areas for Google Maps seems to be a recent thing. My guess is that it's a result of a new approach of combining computer vision of satellite imagery with phone location data from ranchers driving on their private dirt roads.

Google Maps took me down all sorts of goofy unpacked backroads in Crete this past month. It’d cut the driving distance in half and double the driving time. Although my Fiat Panda rental did surprisingly well on uneven, unpaved roads.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#62

Post by stuart78 » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:17 PM UTC

I’ve been using Apple Maps since getting my first CapPlay compatible car. I switched because the Google Maps app was (and remains) awful to use. GM forces you to view a very small view of where you are going next. Multiple click to access trip view and custom map scale. In contrast, Apple Maps makes it easy to toggle between multiple views with one click and the UI is less cluttered.

Personally, I like to use the map to occasionally update my mental map, not for turn by turn spoon-feeding. Apple’s app makes this much more convenient.

Additionally, bookmarking in Google Maps remains primitive and hard to manage. Apple introduced collections over the last few years which are great.

What I miss the most about Google Maps is the photos, which are generally better than Yelp (and don’t open a new app).

Apple has work to do outside of US, but their maps make steady progress year after year, and if the US indicate where rest of the world is headed, things will get better.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#63

Post by TimMurnaghan » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:17 PM UTC

cryptofistMonk wrote: post #43

This article just showed me an ad with my exact last name embroidered on a t-shirt... Bit ironic

I never got to the article as I gave up after 25 "no" clicks on the cookie form. (I know I could block better - but sometimes I like to see the state of the bad ui design). Websites like Forbes and The Condé Nast ones don't exist in my world as I don't go there.

As to Apple maps I gave up when the dumped us in a field in Norfolk (England). It was about 5 miles from the proper destination, and no clue how to get to a road going there.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#64

Post by randomperson_24 » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:23 PM UTC

Apple Maps is unusable in any city that is not US City OR Big City in Europe.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#65

Post by beagle3 » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:26 PM UTC

dreamcompiler wrote: post #50

mr-ron wrote: post #29

I opened up my settings to allow Google maps to have access to my location all the time, even when not using the app. I have found the Timeline feature in Google maps to be a huge game changer in terms of 'where ive been' and 'what Ive done'. I can look back months, see exactly what routes I went down, where I was at a given time. It will even match pictures with the locations. Especially for journaling vacations (so…

> I can look back months, see exactly what routes I went down, where I was at a given time. So can Google. I'd love to have these features but the price is just too high. The price would be too high even if I trusted Google (which I don't), because every company that collects personal information will be hacked because no company is properly incentivised to protect users' data.

You know your phone service provider has that location information in resolution that’s almost as good, right?

The only way to opt out is to turn your phone off (equivalently, leave it at home).

For some people, the fact that google also knows it is no big deal. For some it is. But if you are worried about your whereabouts being leaked, how can you justify using a phone in the first place? Verizon and AT&T are more likely to get hacked than google (or just sell that info outright, which they have done wholesale before)

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#66

Post by T3RMINATED » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:27 PM UTC

apple maps sux

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#67

Post by sbuk » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:27 PM UTC

saurik wrote: post #56

madeofpalk wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was very happy when Apple "finally" added cycling directions in London. That was the only reason why I used Google Maps. Apple does give me some funky directions through Victoria Park, though I'm always surprised when any map service can route through parks somewhat well.

Why did you switch?

> I was very happy when Apple "finally" added cycling directions in London. That was the only reason why I used Google Maps.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#68

Post by whimsicalism » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:29 PM UTC

voisin wrote: post #54

whimsicalism wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not a fair comparison in China, where Apple has decided to provide the Chinese govt with data so they can operate and Google has refused to.

Source? Genuinely surprised to hear Google had the superior privacy policy.

Well, Google doesn't operate services in China so is not giving data to China. If you look carefully in the TOS for your Apple products, you'll see that iCloud data (including like messages) are operated by Apple with the exception of China, where they are operated by a third-party contractor who does the dirty work of complying with Chinese government speech laws/police requests.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/technology/apple-china-ce...

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#69

Post by zerocrates » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:30 PM UTC

acdha wrote: post #37

steve_adams_86 wrote: post #3

I’m curious - does anyone reading this agree with the notion that Apple maps is becoming comparable to Google maps? I haven’t given it a fair shot in almost a decade I guess, and it was almost unusable then. Does anyone here use it as a daily driver? What are the strong and weak points?

Yes. I stopped using Google Maps years ago because Apple’s estimates are far more accurate and less stressful (mostly DC-Boston corridor). Google would suggest routes which were allegedly faster but that was based on assuming no traffic anywhere so things like unprotected left turns across major roads would be a net time savings. Actual arrival times tended to be about the same as Apple’s original estimates when, say…

Huh. I know for sure here (DC metro area) Google's navigation definitely takes traffic into account both for time estimates and routing. It'd be pretty useless otherwise: traffic is pretty much the major component of travel time for many/most trips.

Re: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

#70

Post by moogleii » Sat, Jul 10, 2021, 4:31 PM UTC

steve_adams_86 wrote: post #3

I’m curious - does anyone reading this agree with the notion that Apple maps is becoming comparable to Google maps? I haven’t given it a fair shot in almost a decade I guess, and it was almost unusable then. Does anyone here use it as a daily driver? What are the strong and weak points?

I greatly prefer the UX of Apple Maps for navigation, but the search is still bad compared to Google Maps. The verbal directions and UI are clearer IMO.

Both have been equally bad at keeping directions up to date, though, but I live in a relatively mutable city. If I were living in the burbs, I would probably stick with Apple Maps.