Apple Maps Data Is Now Improving Every Day

In September 2012, Apple launched iOS 6 with Apple Maps as a default mapping replacement for Google Maps. When Apple Maps was introduced, it was plagued with errors so CEO Tim Cook issued an apology. Cook said that Apple Maps "fell short" and he recommended alternatives like Bing Maps, Waze and Google Maps. Fortunately, Apple is now improving Maps every day.

The Apple Maps app was missing many places of interest (POIs) and many of them were listed in the wrong location. A user on Reddit said that he used the "Report a Problem" feature for two years and none of the changes were ever implemented until now. In the last few months, it seems like Apple corrected data once per week. Now it looks like Apple is updating Maps every day at 3AM Eastern Time, according to 9to5Mac.

Personally, I have noticed an improvement in Apple Maps. One of the major highways connecting Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan near me has been shutdown due to construction for the last several months. Apple Maps said that the highway was actually open as of three weeks ago. But it was updated last week to reflect the closure.

Apple acquired several mapping companies to improve its software like transit navigation app startups HopStock and Embark, indoor GPS startup WifiSLAM, location data startup Locationary, mapping app startup Spotsetter and mapping data startup Broadmap. It is rumored that Apple will integrate transit schedules and routes into Apple Maps when iOS 8 launches this fall. This means that users would be able to check bus, train and subway times with Apple Maps in the future.

Due to the improvements, many users will likely start to trust the Apple Maps app again. Do you use Apple Maps? If so, have you noticed any improvements? Let us know in the comments below.