Earlier this week, we reviewed iOS 6. And with the release of the iPhone 5 yesterday, more and more users are testing out its new features. As we noted in our review, Apple’s home grown maps feature 3D views, integrations with Siri (she gives directions), and turn by turn navigation, among other things. Users have been installing the new version of iOS on their iPads, iPhone, and iPods, and as they experimented with many of its new features and apps, several pointed out that Apple’s maps app (a replacement for the previous app map fueled by Google’s API), was... not quite what some expected. Apple acquired mapping companies C3, Poly9, and Placebase in order to build the new app, and despite many changes and new features, the new maps have been the target for a lot of criticism.
In the Macintoshian Achaia forum, users discussed some of the initial reactions to the map app in the thread iOS 6 Bugs, Grumbles, Workarounds and Solutions. User Oleph notes that points of interest are missing, while Alan H. says that “I had a frustrating time using turn-by-turn in Maps in my car. I was getting no audio over Bluetooth as I would expect. I found Maps will only work over Bluetooth IF I have set the input source for the stereo to Bluetooth Audio. So basically, I can't listen to the radio or a CD when doing turn-by-turn, ONLY to the Music app on the iPhone, or perhaps other audio apps on the iPhone. I would expect it to work like the phone or Siri over Bluetooth, where it just interrupts whatever is playing (or not playing for that matter) on the stereo and then give the verbal prompt.”
William Munny is not pleased with the new maps, either: “According to the new maps app, I live in the middle of a huge blur of green and brown. It really is absolutely awful. I have upgraded my iPad (just to see), but I will be trying to keep my iPhone on iOS 5 until they sort out Maps. As my iPhone has GPS, I actually use the maps on it to find my way around. For me at least, there isn't that much in iOS6 that screams 'upgrade!'"
By the way, if you are waiting for Apple to address discrepancies in its mapping data but you want to stick with iOS 6, you have other options for your mapping needs. There are several mapping apps in the App Store, and if you should miss Google Maps from your iOS device (including the very useful transit directions), don’t forget that you can view Google Maps in the Web browser at http://maps.google.com. You can also download Chrome and view it there, if you like a more dedicated app for your maps.
But is everyone experiencing the same level of inconvenience? Ars contributor Iljitsch Van Beijnum wanted to explore this question, and he posted a poll to the OpenForum to see in more detail how good or how bad the maps really are. You can find the poll in the thread Apple Maps: any good?
The poll results (at the time of this writing), turned out to be really interesting. Though Apple’s maps don’t necessarily come out as a winner in user experience and functionality, there are many positive votes for it in comparison to votes against.
The discussions in the thread provide several arguments in support of or against Apple’s bold move to build and implement its new maps app. Stef does not like the lack of public transit data (which we also noted in our review), and Schpyder confirms that the accuracy is not very good.
OAW cannot be deterred from his viewpoint on the problems in using maps: “I have an iPhone 4. And IMO ... the new Maps is a wash. Sure we have the vector based imagery and a smooth UI. That's great. But losing Street View blows any way you slice it. The 3D flyover view seems 'interesting'... but unless you are flying around in a helicopter what good does it do you if you are trying to actually get somewhere as opposed to just visually viewing a skyline a la Google Earth? Street View was incredibly useful for seeing what an unfamiliar destination actually looked like so it would be recognizable when you finally approached it on foot or in a vehicle. But no matter... since I still have a couple of months left on my iPhone 4 contract I can't use that feature anyway. I was hoping the new turn-by-turn navigation would make the new Maps be a net positive for me but after using it a few times I simply must say that it sucks.“
njponzer thinks that focusing on how the maps work today is not looking at the big picture: “The question is will the maps data get better over time, as Apple passively collects information from people using Maps, or will it languish for a year and see only marginal improvements like Siri? Google Maps was not the Google Maps of today when it first launched, after all. Pessimistically, this sort of software service does not seem to be an organizational strength for Apple.”
Joel_B expects Apple is working on fixing the issues with mapping data: “Of course Apple will fix problems in the map data. Back when Google Maps first started there were inaccuracies. At least three main roads in Central London were marked as two way when they were in fact one way... The only difference then was that before the iPhone, the number of people who were using Google Maps on a smartphone were tiny. But it gives people something to complain about.”
Pods also finds many features to like, but definitely finds issue with the new database, saying that Google Maps is a “masterpiece.” Pods also adds, “Apple, you know that I love you, that I have too many of your logos in my house, but I'm with Google on this maps fiasco. Shake hands. Do it for me. Let Google Maps on to the App Store. And Google, don't stiff us: we want you to compete tooth-and-nail with Apple Maps. We want the best possible Maps app from you and we want it now.”
If you are using the new maps app, how is it making you feel? How has it impacted your own travel? Maybe it has also had an effect on your driving, now that it supports turn-by-turn directions? Share your thoughts and reactions to Apple’s new maps with us in the OpenForum or in the comments below. Join in the conversation with us in the Ars OpenForum. Register for an account to participate in the discussion.
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