APPLE MAPS
“The new mapsapp is radically differenT fromThe app of old powered by google.”
Since the first iPhone, the iOS Maps app has always been powered by Google. However, with the introduction of iOS 6, Apple decided to ditch Google and instead create its own mapping system with data provided mainly by TomTom. With that, the Maps app also (for the first time) comes with turn-by-turn voice navigation. The initial launch of the new Apple Maps didn’t go exactly to plan. The new Maps app was widely criticized for being inaccurate and often led people to the wrong places. Most recently, police in Victoria, Australia commented that they had to rescue several people who had become stranded in the Australian wilderness after following the app’s directions.
These people wanted to go to an inland city but were instead directed to a national park. To begin, the new Maps app is radically different from the app of old powered by Google. While the old Maps app felt like an iOS port of the Google Maps website, the Maps app now feels looks and feels different, and has quite a number of features and functionality. To start, maps are no longer displayed in boring 2D, as there’s now a 3D mode. The interface is similar to the Maps app of old, but there’s now integration with Yelp, a local directory service that provides user reviews. So if you were to look up a restaurant, for example,you would find user reviews of that place provided for by Yelp users. Unfortunately, Yelp has not quite taken off in our region so the usefulness of this feature is limited.
On the other hand, Apple Maps can provide the contact number of the establishment you are looking for. That aside, the search bar is pretty intelligent as it can look up addresses, postal codes and even popular places of interests, restaurants, cinemas etc. Apple Maps will also look through your contacts, and if you have keyed in addresses for the people or establishments in your contact list, Apple Maps can quickly navigate you to them. Also, Apple Maps suggests up to three routes to your destination, and is clever enough to warn you if there will be any tolls along the way. Unfortunately, it cannot tell you how much the toll charges will be. On paper at least, Apple’s new Maps app has improved functionality over the old Googlepowered app. The new app has received much criticism for its accuracy. Actual navigation is quite basic though, lacking navigational aids such as lane assist and junction view.
These two navigational aids have become staples of standalone GPS devices; without them, it can be daunting for drivers venturing into uncharted territories. Thankfully, the graphics are clear and Apple Maps properly indicates when and where you need to make turns. Additionally, Apple Maps has turn-by-turn voice navigation by SIRI and she does a decent job of providing voice instructions.
To end, Apple’s new Maps app worked well enough for us and we think that the reputation it has garnered is probably a bit undeserved. If anything, as Apple continues to improve on their map data, the quality can only go up from there.
No comments:
Post a Comment