“iOS 6 Maps. An unmitigated disaster, right?” John Brownlee asks for Cult of Mac.
Apparently not, “a recent poll suggests that most people don’t think Maps has degraded at all in iOS 6,” Brownlee reports. “The survey was conducted by Mike Blumenthal using the Google Consumer Surveys tool. There weren’t a lot of responses — only 168 — but of those polled, over 50 percent thought it was a non-issue, while an additionaly 23% thought it was firmly good enough.””
Brownlee reports, “Of those who responded, women were less likely to find iOS 6 Maps wanting than men.”
MacDailyNews Take: This is likely because women in general don’t use and/or don’t see maps in the same way as men*.
Ever get directions from a woman? It’s all landmarks. “Turn left by the big tree, then go past the new nail salon and, um, when you see the house with the pink shutters…” Get directions from a man and it’s a whole different spatial ballgame: “Turn left on Main Street, in a mile and a half, turn right onto Elm Street and go up the ramp to I-40. Take exit…”
*Before you get your panties in a bunch, don’t blame us, blame evolution. 😉
Brownlee reports, “City dwellers tended to be more happy than users in rural areas (this makes sense, as the data of major cities tends to be in better shape than for obscure country locales). At the end of the day, only 8.8 percent said that iOS 6 Maps had measurably changed their likelihood of buying future Apple products. In my mind, that’s still a pretty alarming number, but it’s certainly not a catastrophic one. People aren’t going to flee the iPhone for Android in droves because of Maps.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Update, 7:30pm EDT: Rewrote first sentence of Take above for the sake of clarity.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Dan K.” and “Judge Bork” for the heads up.]
Women do many, many things very well.
Men won’t ask for directions.
The reason men don’t like to ask for directions is that they are told by their wives to go and ask for directions. It’s very rare that the wife herself asks for directions. And if she says “Let me ask for directions.” it’s when the husband actually knows where he is going and for some reason she doesn’t trust him. 🙂
Hmm. Pretty well thought out…
Women do many things well. Having said that, have you ever seen a woman with a Bluetooth air piece? Ever? Next time you’re sitting at a red light watch the traffic go by. Count how many women go by with a cell phone up to their ear. Also count how many are talking but you don’t see the phone thus they have a Bluetooth earpiece. You will count many women with a phone up to their ear, or as is fashionable now to hold it horizontally in front of your face, but you won’t see any using a Bluetooth. They just simply won’t do it. It isn’t that they don’t have the time. Everyone is busy. They just damn well will not do it! Therefore according to all the cops that I know the most dangerous drivers are as follows : 1.) teenage girls, 2.) soccer moms in their 30s and 40s, 3.) teenage boys. And according to the professionals, teenage boys are a distant third. Women are different. I have certainly loved the fact that they are different from me. But they are from another planet.
I have a few problems with your observations being stated as universal.
I see plenty of female drivers using Bluetooth headsets. They tend more towards classy professional dress (real estate? sales women? executives?) whereas I see men from all walks of life.
When my oldest daughter began driving, my car insurance agent told me that we wouldn’t notice this on our insurance rate nearly as much as when my son would begin driving. True! Both kids have Good Student discounts, but my adding my son tripled the insurance.
Isn’t the lower increase more likely because going from one kid to two kids isn’t as big a deal as adding the first kid? I doubt the gender of the kid being added matters that much.
——RM
As the old joke goes: Why does it take a million sperm to fertilize one egg? Men won’t ask for directions!
Despite the meme created by stand-up comedians in the ’80s, every study that’s ever been done on the subject reveals that women are far less likely than men to ask for directions. The studies usually conclude that women are afraid to appear vulnerable in an unfamiliar place, and therefore will not ask for directions from a stranger.
Excellent point.
People aren’t going to flee the iPhone for Android in droves because of Maps.”
No, but writers found people were flocking to click on stories saying Apple’s new maps app was “an unmitigated disaster”
People were doing that because they wanted to find out more information.
In my honest opinion there is very little wrong with maps. I’ve used it everyday since launch and it works.
If anything maps is better than google in many ways :
1. Maps loads really fast
2. Better use of screen real estate
3. Simpler design
4. Clear legibility
5. Integrates amazingly with Siri
6. Instant re-routing
It works.
“Survey says Apple’s Maps app issues aren’t that big of a deal”
That is truly shocking.
After all those disasters that happened to Apple in the latest years, when the company was said to be all but doomed, you could only think that bankruptcy is the next thing that will inevitably happen.
A self-deprecating joke?
thats funny!
I’ve been using Maps quite a bit and here’s what I’ve found. Disregarding turn-by-turn, the new Maps is pretty much the same as the old Maps. There are a few exceptions however. The new Maps fails to find most of the restaurants and retail businesses around me. Even very popular ones. If you take into account turn-by-turn, then the new Maps is awful. Even with short distances, Maps always takes “the long way” to get places. It also has no concept of the differences between types of roads. Just yesterday, Maps directed me onto a Thruway to reach a destination located on a surface street. It told me I had reached my destination as the location went by me at 65MPH. I had to go 20 miles to the next exit and then 20 miles back. Very frustrating. I use it to look stuff up and to find locations, but I certainly will never again trust Maps to “tell me” how to get someplace.
I’ve used the new turn by turn a dozen times on distances between 5 and 1,200 miles (most less than 60). Eight of those times was to places I already knew, 4 was to places I had not been before. Every time it worked fine for me. Once out of those 12 times route 1 seemed to be a longer way than route 2. The rest of the times, route 1 was the clear winner. My guess is the quality of directions varies by your locale. I may have a best case scenario in the Cleveland, OH area.
(Incidentally: 20 miles between exits? Where do you live?)
I will agree that the new maps is not as good at knowing about local restaurants and retail establishments. Google maps knew what I was after about 90% of the time I am guessing. The new maps seems to be closer to 50% for me.
I’m in New York. I90 – New York state Thruway, between Rochester and Buffalo, has very few exits. Oh, and it’s a tollway so the round trip cost me a buck sixty 🙂
I’ve used Navigon for years and it’s never let me down. It’s guided me all over the US (including Hawaii) and Canada, I’ll continue using it for turn-by-turn and use Maps to search my surroundings.
I’d agree with “never trust it again” if you were talking about a paper map but an online digital map will be improving all the time. If you have found a mistake take the time to submit a report.
I disagree. I have used turn-by-turn for all sorts of trips, and it has worked flawlessly. I get three route choices anywhere there is an option for multiple routes, and everything has been very accurate. In fact, I have found Apple Maps to be more accurate than Google Maps was.
I agree there seems to be fewer business listings, but the Yelp! integration is a welcome addition. Helped us find a good local pizza place when we were out of town and in unfamiliar territory and avoid one that had poor reviews which we likely would have gone to because it was a little closer.
You just put men and women together
see which one is smarter
Some say men but I say no
Women got the men in a puppet show
That’s right ….
Garcia! Mydland!!
MDN’s take is wholly unnecessary. The article said women DON’T have trouble with the Apple maps app.
No need to bash people, MDN.
Agreed. I don’t quite understand who left or who got promoted, but I think all long-time readers have seen that the editorial voice of MDN has changed dramatically. I think it would be really helpful to hear from MDN on this one, at least in broad strokes.
Yes, the recent tone of MDN occasionally strays into iffy territory, and this ‘take’ on Women is sexist and idiotic.
Dont go where you dont know, MDN.
Stick to Apple news and dont try any more quasi-sociological comments. You sound look like caveman/idiots/nazis.
Haven’t you all heard. Women are only good for 3 things…
F***ing, sucking & cooking.
Seems you have spent your life with the wrong women. Obviously the intelligent ones who do have more in their head than your top 3 skills will have nothing to do with you. So ye reap what ye sow.
Agreed. Perhaps an attempt to be funny, but no one asks for directions anymore since the iPhone came out.
For the criminally obtuse, here’s a translation of MDN’s Take:
Women don’t have trouble with Apple’s Maps app because women don’t use the Maps app.
All mapping and navigation software is presently evolving at an accellerated rate, and ths includes both Apple and Google products, along with theo others.
I remember back in the infancy of MapQuest on the internet, I asked for directions from home to work. It routed me along a freeway, right past the highway I would have taken home. It had me keep going another 5 miles, then take another freeway in the wrong direction, then to another freeway that crossed that same highway, had me get off at that highway, then turn home, passing right under the freeway where I would have originally exited to take that highway.
A year later, it was fixed.
You crossed the line BIG time with these comments MDN!
Well really can’t help but agree. It isn’t on point and was presented in such a juvenile way as to unfortunately hurt the science referenced (yes, men and women’s brain’s are different).
So my question continues to be, and is getting more important, who is the new dread pirate roberts at MDN, and why on earth did the old dread pirate roberts choose them?
Okay so let’s now note that MDN’s take has been updated (which is helpful and appropriate but needs comment). The original MDN take started:
“This is likely because women in general can’t read, don’t use, and/or don’t see maps in the same way as men” …
… than the survey indicated.
reading the article I don’t see how the writer could vet the respondents to only TRUE apple map users.
Some time ago as one researcher checking registered user names found on on one website, out of hundreds of complaints of ‘antennagate’ iPhones, 50% of the names he could indentify also posted on Android websites as ‘apple haters’ i.e most of the antennagate complaints were fake.
Although they WERE legitimate antenna issues with iP4 the facts are the return rate of the phone was 1.7% and it won the J.D Powers consumer satisfaction poll of actual phone users beating out all the androids, BBs, Symbians etc, was the bestselling smartphone — so how could antennagate frenzy of complaints equal the facts? . Many many ‘antennagate’ forum posts were fake “I can never get any reception on my new iPhone. My ten year old nokia is WAAAAAY better… ” etc.
This news is no surprise I’ve said all along that Apple’s map issue has been greatly over exaggerated.
An apology to Women might be a good start, MDN.
How many commercials have you seen that make the male out to be a blithering idiot who has to be set straight by his exasperated wife or even the kids? Too many to count! How many have you seen the other way around? None! Some of you ladies and libs sure have some thin skin.
A little advice, MDN: If you draft a “take” and have any question about whether you should post it, you shouldn’t.
Bingo!
I remember long ago (decades ago) watching a special by John Stossel where he said that men and women navigate differently; that men navigate by a nebulous sense of distance and direction whereas women navigate by landmarks. I had a wide-eyed epiphany at that moment because a vision of an incident flashed in my mind and I realized how true Stossel was.
My wife and I were on a trip and had gone sightseeing in unfamiliar territory a bit more far ranging that we should have. We were trying to get back to our hotel. I knewit was several miles farther west down a particular road; the wife was highly sceptical. Finally we passed a uniquely configured Wendy’s burger joint she recognized and she sat back, content that we were located in the proper place on the planet.
When Stossel said that bit about the difference between men and women’s navigation, a picture flashed through my mind that I hadn’t recalled: I was doing this “tomahawk” gesture with my right hand when I was saying “It’s down here a few miles.” In the mean time, my wife’s head was cranked to the right to look out the passenger window, her head ratcheting back and forth as scenery was passing by, looking for something familiar. I could see that image plain as day—but only after John Stossel mentioned it.
There are few epiphanies that strike like a lighting bolt like that.
The thoughts and opinions expressed within in my above post—where I mention that there are actual differences between men and women’s minds—were not intended to be offensive to any particular minority group (based on race, religion, ethnicity, country of origin, gender, gender identification, handicap, occupation, meat-eating/vegetable-eating practices, and hobbies—even hunting). Note too that parenthetically mentioning “even hunting” in the preceding sentence was not intended to signal any disapproval of the sport; the author does not wish to disparage the legal, safe, and most humane-possible methods of hunting. This preceding statement should not however, be construed as an endorsement of the sport; the author values all the biodiversity of earth and no animal should suffer at the hand of a human. However, that preceding sentence should not be construed that the author is indifferent to the plight of workers displaced by environmental issues; the author is mindful of the plight of timber workers v.s. the plight of spotted owls. The preceding sentence should not be construed that the author thinks there is only one group of workers who have been financially harmed by environmental issues; there are others and not mentioning these others by name should not be construed as suggesting they are any less important than another. The author wishes to insure all who review this communication that he values diversity and has the utmost respect for the law, government officials, the institutions of the United States, and the wide variety of social customs and diversity of its peoples. This statement should not however, be construed as being intolerant of others who have contrary or differing values or who might hold the U.S. in disdain. The author embraces the wholesome notion that one person or group’s values are no less meritorious or valid than another’s, and the author does not wish to suggest that by stating an admiration for America and the U.S. Government, that this ought to be construed as deprecating the many other fine systems of government throughout the world and the social practices of its peoples. Notwithstanding that the author wrote the word “he” three sentences ago, (the author happens to be male by birth) this should not be construed as diminishing in any way, the existence of the word “she” nor does it signal that the author is adverse to the use of the gender-neutral “he/she” where appropriate. Furthermore, the words “he” and “she” should not be construed as being exclusionary or diminishing to the transgendered. This paragraph was not intended to be understood by blondes.
“The author wishes to insure all who review this communication that he values diversity and has the utmost respect for the law […]”
I believe you meant “assure”. Better fix that, lawyers have jumped on use (or lack) of mere commas before ;-p
Actually, I meant “ensure”. Thanks, I’ll have to fix that in my boilerplate, mossman.
In some places people give directions like that. In Managua Nicaragua it goes something like:
“From the XYZ Park, go two block towards the lake, and then left one block”
My girlfriend owns a lot of Apple stock. Her broker warned her regarding this week and the issue of Maps came up. She sat down with me and I showed her the new Maps app which she hadn’t used yet (despite getting the new iPhone 5 on launch day).
She was blown away… absolutely loves the new Map app.
It doesn’t surprise me at all that Apple Maps would score high in a survey. It doesn’t surprise me at all that Apple Maps would have some data missing or inaccurate like every other service did in the beginning. It won’t surprise me when this data gets fixed quickly.
Totally unscientific and hence findings are entirely unreliable. That this meaningless pap gets published is quite remarkable.
(And I am not even going to comment on the adolescent note the editors give about gender differences.)
From what population did the author draw his sample and what was that sample size? If he surveyed only US respondents, his results are not at all noteworthy, as we already understand that the inadequate and unreliable maps are generated when used outside the US. It is with non-US geography where the shortcomings of the Maps app are most pronounced. This piece, like the app is a joke.
Exactly! Adolescent! Sheesh. Like they’re 12. Tasteless.
I pass an auto accident that’s causing traffic backup and look at my iPad. There it is, on Maps, minutes after it happens. Now I never leave the house without checking Maps!
I’m using Maps in Bangkok, Thailand and it’s working fine. I don’t drive here. I mass transit (and less often taxis) and then walk to my destination. I use Maps to guide to me destination when I get off the bus / light rail etc. Maps seems to have Bangkok down pretty well. Even times I thought I was lost Maps got me to where I was going.
Same here in Manila, just works!
I’ve used the Maps app since day one with no problems. First started with just a map, then turn by turn and found the new Maps worked with no problems. Today was a different story. I visited a sick aunt in a small town about 60 miles away. I used the voice directions with the address at “XXX Buchanan St So.”
The voice had me turn north off main street to what I would assume is XXX Buchanan St North. I turned around around and drove the four blocks to her house. The Maps map showed the address to the north of Main St even though is typed “so” in the contact. When I got home I spelled out So as South and the map immediately changed to the south address. I guess in the future I’ll type out the direction fully. But, that’s the first problem encountered with Maps.
A lot of navigation apps will choke on compass direction abbreviations other than N, S, E, or W (or NE, SW, etc.). “No” in particular, is considered an abbreviation for Number. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t be able to sort this out, but it may help you in future to use the single letter abbreviations.
I’ll try that, thank you!
I tried it as N and S. They both work. I have now learned to use a single letter for the direction. Thank you very much!
the new apple maps app works perfectly for me in chicagoland.. better and faster than google maps.. i think it will develop well for others who don’t
the problem is that news or people, who post here are mostly, are americans. of course, it is fine in US. but you have no idea how it will work outside of country. what about somebody who use iPhone 3rd country or asia? do you think that new apple map is perfect? No. it’s not even closed to google yet. that’s why this article doesn’t make any sense.
Why the stupid gender bias and comments, MDN?! Is out of your wheelhouse, guys. Stick with topics you actually know rather than putting people down based on gender.
Lit’s lke it’s the 1960s and you think that’s acceptable or even true! Stupid, stupid.
Depends on the women and the men. Not all are alike and maybe not even MOST of them are truly that way. Like you’ve met them all! I think it actually depends most on the bias of the blowhard coming to dumba** gender conclusions. Stuff it, MDN! You’re talking out the wrong end.
I didn’t find MDN’s comments sexist at all. There is a difference in how the two sexes give directions, and someone did research on it and it is true that women are more visual with maps, so truth is not sexist. Landmarks are useful info they verify you’re on the right track, and also I like it when people add “If you get to the ________ you’ll know you’ve gone past the place so turn around.” I don’t have time to waste wondering if directions are correct.
But now the iPhone 5 so far has directions that work so well we won’t have a need for verbal directions. It’s been flawless on 2 trips so far, and both took back country roads (not highways) to cities hours away. We’ve yet to have Maps screw up for us.
I should have said we won’t have a need for HUMAN verbal directions. 🙂
For more detailed traffic/construction/hazard warning I can’t recommend Waze too highly.
On a recent 70 mile trip I was alerted every time a car was on the shoulder, or a traffic got slow. It’s a brilliant app and worthy supplement to Apple’s maps.