In the new iOS 6, users are complaining about what's wrong with Apple Maps. In the new iPhone, iPad, iPod operating system, iOS 6, Google Maps was abandoned for Apple's own version of Maps. Apple Maps has promise. I love that you can ask Siri for directions to an address and get turn-by-turn navigation to take you there. But, even Apple CEO Tim Cook recognizes the shortcomings of its new Map app offering a public apology and suggested alternatives of map apps from competitors in a sort of Miracle-on-34th-Street-Santa move—"We don't have it here but you can try the toy store down the street."
What's Wrong with Apple Maps
Last week, on a road trip through the Nevada desert I had a chance to run the Apple Maps app through a tough test. I didn't hate it, but I recognized that I couldn't rely on it and better have a paper map or another navigation program. The biggest problem for me was about connectivity. To get directions to a destination, I had to be connected to a cellular data network—Edge, 3G, 4G. Out in the middle of the desert, I encountered error messages that maps could not connect to the cellular data network. It was intermittent, but could have been crucial out in the middle of nowhere with unmarked roads. Luckily I had the robust Magellan RoadMate app ($59.99 in App Store) as a backup.
Complaints about Apple Maps include:
- Can't connect to get directions when cellular data network isn't available
- Occasionaly, incorrect tracking of your precise location
- Fewer businesses and points of interest (POIs) than Google Maps
- Inaccurate labels of businesses and locations
- Apple's "Flyover" Street view inferior to Google Street View especially in 3D mode
- Apple's Flyover shows outdated photos that could get you lost
- Poor routing (my experience was good with this and I've had worse with Google Maps)
- Poor transit directions for cities—bus icon only lists other apps you can get for transit information
Map Options
If you really don't know where you are going and you are away from cell coverage, it's a good idea to keep a paper map in the car. It's your safest backup.
It's not that you can't use the Apple map app. Other than the occasional connectivity issues, it had some performance improvements over Google maps and other GPS navigation apps. One feature I liked was the option to choose between routes on the map if there is more than one way to get to your destination. Coupled with the voice turn-by-turn directions, Siri seems to know when you decide to take another route choice along the way. In the desert of Southern Oregon we made a turn to avoid a bad road. Rather than being directed to make a U-turn to "follow the highlighted route" that one hears on other navigation systems, Siri immediately re-routed and told us where to go from the new route.
Alternative Map Apps
In his apology letter, Tim Cook not only suggests where to get other map apps and how to get the Google Maps web app, he tells you how to create an icon shortcut for your iPhone's home screen. You must go to the map websites on your phone to create these shortcuts and access Google Maps.
Below is the text of Tim Cook's Apology Letter:
To our customers,¨¨At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.
We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.
There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.While we're improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.
Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.
Tim Cook
¨Apple's CEO
