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Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

blog.telemapics.com

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Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#91

Post by rahoulb »

epo wrote: post #48
hythloday wrote: post #13

"[Apple's] problem is that they thought they did not have a problem." Crucial insight, there. From the perspective of an observer who has no special affection for Apple, it's surprising that a company of that competence would succumb to such a basic process error.

Apple is smarter than this. They would not have released such a half-baked replacement unless they were forced to. I suspect Google refused to renew knowing Apple were working on a replacement but were not yet ready. This is Apple's "Vista" moment and will inevitably draw the "wouldn't have happened under Jobs" comments. How Apple recovers will form business school study material for years to come.

I'm not so sure they were forced to. I thought that too, initially, but another commenter somewhere else pointed out how hasty and nervy Google's "maps" announcement was, just before WWDC. In that context, it doesn't sound like something Google was wanting to happen.

Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#92

Post by raldi »

pagejim wrote: post #90
raldi wrote: post #82

I'm sorry, but can someone paste the part of this article where Google announces anything about 400 years? I can't find it.

If you read the OP carefully, you will find that it is an implicit announcement. Google hasn't announced it explicitly. But the amount of hard work and time that they have put in, takes them years ahead. The number 400 is open to discussion and interpretations. Read some of the other comments to find out how it can be interpreted.

Linkbait headline, got it.

Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#93

Post by bmeckel »

brudgers wrote: post #77

I've come to the conclusion that Apple is willing to bet that mediocrity in maps is not really a deal breaker in the segment of the mobile electronics market in which they operate...or rather continued mediocrity will have little effect on sales. Nobody, including Google, consistently delivers functional map data to mobile devices every time, at least not in the Atlanta metro area. I travel there with some frequency…

I don't think that's their thinking actually. I think they knew it would be near impossible to have a product at launch be as impressive as googles and they're ok with that. However, by deploying in a mandatory setting with such a large user base they can catch up to Google quickly. Who knows though, they may have legitimately overlooked it.

Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#94

Post by brudgers »

bmeckel wrote: post #93
brudgers wrote: post #77

I've come to the conclusion that Apple is willing to bet that mediocrity in maps is not really a deal breaker in the segment of the mobile electronics market in which they operate...or rather continued mediocrity will have little effect on sales. Nobody, including Google, consistently delivers functional map data to mobile devices every time, at least not in the Atlanta metro area. I travel there with some frequency…

I don't think that's their thinking actually. I think they knew it would be near impossible to have a product at launch be as impressive as googles and they're ok with that. However, by deploying in a mandatory setting with such a large user base they can catch up to Google quickly. Who knows though, they may have legitimately overlooked it.

For years, Google has been sending fleets of specially equipped cars down countless roads in order to help verify their map data. It is impossible to imagine Apple undertaking such a massive and unsexy project as a first mover, nevermind as in an effort which would obviously be copying Google.

What has changed as Apple has scaled is that they are willing to weather a PR storm.

Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#95

Post by gurkendoktor »

netcan wrote: post #72
emehrkay wrote: post #60

Maps is the only example that I can think of when compared head to head, Google makes better software. I hope people will continue to complain because it will force apple to get their shit together and put out a better product. Myapple maps experience is north compared with my Google maps , however, I haven't had any notable issues with apple amps in the Baltimore area.

What about search?

Apple has no web search so it can't be compared - I guess.

Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#96

Post by JoeAltmaier »

brudgers wrote: post #77

I've come to the conclusion that Apple is willing to bet that mediocrity in maps is not really a deal breaker in the segment of the mobile electronics market in which they operate...or rather continued mediocrity will have little effect on sales. Nobody, including Google, consistently delivers functional map data to mobile devices every time, at least not in the Atlanta metro area. I travel there with some frequency…

Navigation has become a platform feature; people buy their phones for the whole package. To find out a depended-upon assumed competency is missing is perceived as betrayal.

Imagine if it couldn't make calls, or got the wrong person when you did call? That would incite a similar emotional response.

Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#97

Post by ImprovedSilence »

prawks wrote: post #84
raldi wrote: post #82

I'm sorry, but can someone paste the part of this article where Google announces anything about 400 years? I can't find it.

I'm thinking it's a ploy to get people to read yet another criticism of Apple's new maps. We get it, they're bad. EDIT: Frankly, I think it's pretty hilarious this article is so long and formal.

I actually found this article to be the first one that didn't just criticize Apple, but actually made suggestions about how they should go about fixing it. It was rather interesting for someone like me who has no experience in map making, to see how much is really involved in digital cartography.

edit: on a related note, I always took google maps for granted, but now that I realize how fantastic of an effort it must take to map the world to the degree they do, I have much more respect for it, and I think it is amazing in terms of "cataloging the worlds information".

Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#98

Post by peteretep »

0x006A wrote: post #26
peteretep wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the first event that people will put down to a lack of Steve Jobs that I think actually might reflect that...

the decision to switch to there own maps was made while jobs was around. its also not the first time apple replaces a product with an inferior option and insists its better, final cut pro x comes to mind.

Yes, but not the decision to ship it in its current form.

Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#99

Post by corporalagumbo »

InclinedPlane wrote: post #81
lispm wrote: post #35

The article does not really provide much new information. That mapping is hard is known. That there are companies who have much experience in this area and that Apple will have to compete with them is known - from Google, over Garmin to Nokia. It's just that it is hard and that it will take Apple a lot of time and investment to bring the mapping functionality to a better level. I'm pretty sure Apple knows that. It's…

You can get away with releasing a flawed first gen product as long as you are forging into a new field. Both the iPod and the iPhone had plenty of competitors, but they were also so massively differentiated from the rest of the market that they effectively created new product categories (especially the iPhone). When you try to compete with an entrenched product that is feature rich and highly polished (such as google…

If you can call selling millions of iPhones in the blink of an eye magic, then I'd say Apple still has plenty, no?

Re: Google Maps' advantage over Apple Maps

#100

Post by yock »

What is most amusing to me about this whole thing is that two weeks ago The Atlantic published[0] an article offering incredible insight into just how much effort goes into making Google's maps so good. Was it already too late at that point for Apple to see this and think that maybe they hadn't thought this thing through? The only alternatives I can think of are blindingly foolish. Either they thought they engineered their way out of a problem at which Google throws literally hundreds of people or they didn't bother to read the article in the first place.

0 - http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/how-go...

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