“Google’s much-anticipated iOS Maps application is out today and the early accounts are that it’s awesome,” Matthew Yglesias writes for Slate.
“I haven’t had time to play around with it properly, but I hope people will undrstand that if its as good as it sounds that’s really a vindication of Apple’s business strategy in launching its own Maps product,” Yglesias writes. “Recall that the problem with the old Maps wasn’t that it wasn’t as good as the new Maps. The problem is that it was distinctly inferior to Google Maps for Android. And that wasn’t a coincidence… While Google wants to promote Android, Google also doesn’t want to lose the vast customer base that is iPhone and iPad map users. So they’ve responded by writing a Google Maps program that’s much better than the old Google Maps—one that feature vector graphics and spoken directions and Google’s superior mapping data.”
Yglesias writes, “So pride aside, from Apple’s viewpoint this is a win. Apple’s not in the maps business, they’re in the device and platform business. Their problem as of a year ago is that their platform didn’t have a great maps program. Now it does. Mission accomplished.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote upon release of the app earlier today, “Well, lookie here: All of a sudden Google Maps goes vector-based and gives iOS users turn-by-tun navigation and Street View.
Who says Apple’s Maps didn’t work?”
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Jeff C.” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Google Maps hits Apple App Store, Google admits iOS Maps app is better than Google Maps for Android – December 13, 2012
Apple-Google Maps talks ended over turn-by-turn navigation – September 26, 2012
Personally, Maps is still a better program. I have had no issues with any of the mapping data and the the UI is much more intuitive and friendly. Google maps gives very little direction on how to find different functions in the app and I feel like pieces are missing. When giving directions, you can’t seem to change the map or zooming, and I have yet to find street view still. I’m happy with apple maps and happy to give google less of my info.
Ballmer’s left nut
Thursday, December 13, 2012 – 1:08 pm · Reply
First, enter the address of the location you want to find. It will then drop a pin on the location. At the bottom of the maps window there will be a box with the address corresponding to the pin. Touch the address and the box will ‘lift up’ displaying more options. One of the options will be StreetView – it will be labelled as such on the box bearing a picture of the location.
Anyone still doubt Tim Cook?