“Inaccuracies and misplaced towns and cities in Apple’s new map software have provoked anger from users,” BBC News reports.
“In June Apple announced it would stop using Google Maps in favour of its own system, created using data from navigation specialist TomTom,” The Beeb reports. “Apple is yet to comment on the complaints about the software, which comes already installed on the new iPhone. TomTom said it provided only data and was not responsible for how it worked.”
“The software is packaged with iOS6, the latest version of Apple’s operating system, which runs on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Previously, the system had an app running mapping software from Google,” The Beeb reports. “But users are now forced to use Apple’s new maps once they upgrade or buy the latest iPhone – which goes on sale on Friday. There is not currently a Google Maps app available in Apple’s App Store, although Google’s system is still accessible via the phone’s web browser.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We rather like Apple’s new Maps app. Beware the FUD. This predictable anti-Apple Maps media barrage smacks of a concerted PR effort.
MacDailyNews Note: TomTom told MacDailyNews via email yesterday:
TomTom supplies maps and related content to the majority of handheld players, including RIM, HTC, Samsung, AOL (MapQuest Mobile), Apple and, yes, Google (for the areas where they don’t make their own maps).
Our maps are used by businesses around the world, which have standards for coverage, detail, quality and safety.
When people use a map, their experience is determined by two things. Firstly, the underlying content, notably the maps. This is what TomTom is currently supplying the mobile industry with and it is what gives their maps the best foundation. Secondly, user experience is determined by adding additional features to the map application, such as visual imagery. This is typically defined and created by the handset manufacturers and third party software providers on the basis of their own vision and needs.
The small village were my landhouse is was nuked in Apples new app. Would be great to get my place back, Timmy.
The Apple maps are spot on in our area. Also the Siri integration to luanch turn by turn navigation is amazing. I feel it is better than Navigon. I am sure it will only get better too.
Google Maps is junk anyway.
I’ve always used Mapquest 4 Mobile.
If Apple’s solution doesn’t work for me, Mapquest will.
I don’t use, need, nor want Google Maps.
Oh and guess what, all those map errors still on TT’s database? They don’t exist on Google’s maps! Googles maps give me the correct directions for certain A to B’s, whereas TT get’s it wrong and tries to send you up oneway streets the wrong bloody way! One of their errors is to still mark a bridge that was once a road but is now a pedestrian way.
Dont care. Fuck Google. I can live with Apple maps until they incrementally improve it. Better than sucking up to liar, ass snitch infringer Schmidt and his asswipe team at Google. Fuckem.
This is the problem. This Google/Apple rivalry affects no one personally, yet we all have to pay the price for it. Why should I care what Eric Schmidt did or didn’t do, when I just want reliable directions?
In East London, South Aftica, the maps are so accurate that the phone can determine its location to the accuracy of a single room. It is mind blowing.
Headlines that scream where users are irate usually stem from one source where an unlucky few are experiencing problems. People! No system in the world can ever be entirely without bugs. Compared to the alternatives out there, Apple comes very close though.
I really like Apple maps and 3D flyover on my 4S. It is much faster than Google maps, which took forever to redraw. Looking forward to it being even better on my new 5!
I really don’t know what the problem is. As we all know Apple are always reinventing how we live. Although many people complain, in the end we all agree that they were right and our lives are much better for it.
The map issue is the same thing. Apple have thought long and hard and determined that some places should be somewhere else. To be honest it is a good thing but may take some time to get used too. That Columbia SC is now in the country of Columbia can be a real benefit. The food is probably more interesting and the coffee must be superb.
My house is now in a bird reserve. That’s a good thing and I can boast to my friends that I live in nature.
I live in London and the 3d maps are great, you get a real sense of the place. It is much better than google maps. Also Tom Tom are the number one sat nav/road mapping company in Europe if not globally. I think google are just trying to cause mapsgate to stop people buying iPhones.
The transit stuff didn’t work at all in London. Was really rubbish.
To understand Apple’s motivation in doing its own maps you really need to see this analysis:
http://beta.fool.com/jaans/2012/08/20/understanding-apple-vs-google-maps-deep-analysis-e/9606
Work Great for me! No issues… already have check about 20 different addresses in different countries in multiple continent.
I have had many issues with Google map though! I am glad they got rid of it.
Worked for me driving 180km through the UK this morning, but I will go back via my TomTom app since I need the extra features.
The colours on the Apple App look nice and it is very smooth. I thought I could do turn-by-turn in hybrid mode, but it is 3D cartoon only.
I’m calling b**llsh*t on the whole Apple Maps “inaccuracy” controversy. For me, it’s pretty accurate here in SE Virginia. People are bed-wetting about a non-problem.
So just to be clear: based on your assessment of Apple’s maps in southeast Virginia, you’ve concluded that no one, anywhere, is having issues with it?
Re MDN Take:
I have owned Apple products since before the Mac and stock since 2001. Am typing this on a Mac Pro with an iPad 3 and iPhone 4 nearby. The iPhone 5 is to be delivered tomorrow- so I’m no Apple hater.
The mapping software is a joke running on an iPad 3 compared to the Google Maps running on my iPhone side by side. It’s not ready for prime time.
Google has announced that Maps- like You Tube will be available- with ad support. Otherwise, Apple has delivered it’s users into a quandary of:
a) accepting inferior new apps.
b) sticking with iOS 5- impossible with the new iPhone.
c) putting up with ad supported Google apps.
I think Steve Jobs is spinning in his grave.
Mapgate – definitely. Just like HeatGate (New iPad), AntennaGate (iPhone 4), ScratchGate (Clear coated iPod Nanos), CrackGate (G4 Cube) everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon. It’s so predictable I’m surprised there wasn’t an MDN poll earlier this week asking for submissions.
To everyone who is having problems: Are you using the “Report a problem” link in the Maps app? Tap the page curl and then tap on the “Report a problem” link. You can let Apple know the “Search results are incorrect” “Street or other label is incorrect” “Location is missing” “Problem with directions” and “My problem isn’t listed”
Or you can ineffectually go on line and complain to the world at large…
there are * major major * issues with accuracies in the UK data – as an example: around the first 20 things I tried to do all turned up missing, erroneous, bizarre results + its not got any better.
From feedback it seems to be not such an issue with service in the US.
But this is certainly not a manufactured campaign – the UK service is at present virtually unusable.
I’ve been an Apple user since the 80s and the UK Apple Maps functionality in iOS6 is by far worst thing I’ve seen them produce.
No good to me without street view.
Apple’s Maps is great, except for one thing. Transit directions absolutely suck. I am in disbelief that the current system is an Apple implementation. Absolutely terrible, and not even close to Google’s offering. They NEED to fix this.
The good thing about this (say compared to other Apple software that needed attention) … Every apple map app developer has to live with this new app and will want the same changes we want. If you have an iPhone you use maps.
That’s encouraging. iOS 6 sucks just like Google Maps, so why switch?
the only thing that bugs me is the small streets and roads are hard to see on the iPhone (4s) screen – poor contrast, and not quite thick enough. zoom is nice, speed is nice, no other complaints so far. will test more this weekend.
WORKING MAPS
I’ve been an Apple user since the 80s and the UK Apple Maps functionality in iOS6 is by far worst thing I’ve seen them produce.
Same as here, it’s rubbish.
Not quite Pippin terrible, but still awful.
But it’s not the software, that looks great, it’s the data that Apple are licensing.
Same problem with Siri outside the USA, Apple need to get some decent data because it’s next to useless otherwise.
Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitxh bitch bitch. What a society of whiners we are building. Give them the moon and they want the stars.
The main argument by the negative nabobs is that Google maps was great. It wasn’t. It was awful. It crashed regularly, wouldn’t refresh if I didn’t have 3G and was slow. I travel the eastern US and drive 50K miles per year. I use a stand alone RoadMate and the RoadMate App on my iPhone, a much better solution. I will reserve my opinion on the new Maps app until tomorrow when I actually use it.