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

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

#61

Post by ececconi »

bstar77 wrote: post #50

Edit: somehow I screwed up my response, should be a response to @kjackson2012. Apple's main issues are with their location information from TomTom. If apple is able to partner with a company with better data, these types of problems should not be nearly as bad. Here's where Apple's maps product is better... The maps are vector based so there is not such a huge dependence on a data connection. I live near the pine bar…

The new google maps on iOS uses vectors

From the blog post: "The app shows more map on screen and turns mobile mapping into one intuitive experience. It’s a sharper looking, vector-based map that loads quickly and provides smooth tilting and rotating of 2D and 3D views. "

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/google-maps-is-now-av...

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

#62

Post by macspoofing »

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.

Oh come on. I like to make fun of Apple maps as much as the next guy but the reality is that they aren't that bad. Certainly a few more iterations and constant development effort will iron out any quirks.

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

#63

Post by ececconi »

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.

If he shuts it down, then Google wouldn't have much incentive to make a great maps product on iOS. It would stay stagnant like it was beforehand.

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

#64

Post by recursive »

lawdawg wrote: post #53
bstar77 wrote: post #50

Edit: somehow I screwed up my response, should be a response to @kjackson2012. Apple's main issues are with their location information from TomTom. If apple is able to partner with a company with better data, these types of problems should not be nearly as bad. Here's where Apple's maps product is better... The maps are vector based so there is not such a huge dependence on a data connection. I live near the pine bar…

Google Maps are vector based as well...

Not on my cell phone.

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

#65

Post by mynegation »

netcan wrote: post #6

Could there have been a (pro android) business case for not releasing this app? Edit: accidentally wrote 'pr android.'

Now there is none. Android has already won, if not by profit margins then by market share for sure. Let alone the fact that (as others pointed out) Google gets your attention and your searches, so they do not care. Google created Android precisely for the reason not to give any vendor (Apple predominantly) power to lock them out of mobile search markets.

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

#66

Post by nicholassmith »

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.

I am. I talked about it on the other, now super long, thread and my reasons boiled down to: I prefer how Apple Maps works and feels, in general for my usage it works fine, it has gotten better over time and if I stop using it it won't get better.

Horses for courses, if Google Maps scratches your cartographic itch then go for it but please don't say things like "shut down the entire Apple Maps division" as some of us are using it very happily and are watchfully waiting for Apple to start pushing their datasets forward.

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

#67

Post by ajdecon »

criley wrote: post #54
pdx wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, no worries then. A few thousand people who don't get to hospitals or who end up in dangerous situations is not LOOOOOONG term thinking and can safely be ignored.

Wow, what did people do BEFORE a smartphone! It's a wonder a human being ever found a hospital before Google saved the human race from it's own helplessness!

The problem is that a wrong map is a lot worse than no map.

If you don't have a map, you might ask a local for directions or take a cab if you're in a hurry to get somewhere that you don't know the location for. If your map is wrong, you are more likely to actually end up in the wrong place -- and then become that much more confused and make poor decisions while trying to find your way without it.

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

#69

Post by mdc »

criley wrote: post #54
pdx wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, no worries then. A few thousand people who don't get to hospitals or who end up in dangerous situations is not LOOOOOONG term thinking and can safely be ignored.

Wow, what did people do BEFORE a smartphone! It's a wonder a human being ever found a hospital before Google saved the human race from it's own helplessness!

There's a difference between not having a smart phone and having a smart phone that actively misleads you.

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

#70

Post by nicholassmith »

criley wrote: post #54
pdx wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, no worries then. A few thousand people who don't get to hospitals or who end up in dangerous situations is not LOOOOOONG term thinking and can safely be ignored.

Wow, what did people do BEFORE a smartphone! It's a wonder a human being ever found a hospital before Google saved the human race from it's own helplessness!

I think people need to ask their parents, "hey mum, dad, how did you use to find things before smartphones?" and they'll point out things like road signage and maps, and asking people for directions.

We've really only had mobile mapping for about 7-8 years now, it's amazing how quickly people have forgotten how to get places without it.

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