The wait is finally over. Google Maps is in Apple's App Store, available for both the iPhone and iPad, bringing hope to those who have been having trouble getting around since the Apple mapocalypse.
Google's app, which arrived late Wednesday night, improves on the Google-powered maps app that Apple shipped included in iOS before version 6 -- when Apple ditched Google to go out on its own. The most important new feature, of course, is turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation.
Unlike Apple's maps app, Google's navigation feature isn't integrated with Siri. But it's also much less likely to direct you into the Pacific Ocean.
Other differences: Google Maps uses Zagat listings, and Google's own local search, for charting and rating restaurants and retailers, while Apple uses Yelp. And if you have a Google account you can sign in to sync searches, directions, and favorite places between your iPhone, iPad and other computers.
Public transit, a glaring omission from Apple Maps, shows up on iOS's Google Maps too. So bus, subway, train, walking and driving directions are all here. And what would Google Maps be without Street View integration? Google Maps on iOS has that too, with the ability to view 360-degree panoramas of both outside streets and the inside of businesses.
Google is also releasing a Google Maps SDK for iOS, which will allow third-party app developers to incorporate Google Maps instead of Apple Maps. The new Google Maps app runs on any iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch that can run iOS 5.1 or newer and is available in 40 countries and 29 languages.
