Consumer Reports: Apple Maps Provide Clear Directions, Despite What You Read Online

[onehandle]

This is Exactly what I have experienced using Apple Maps in and around Philly:
____________

Having put it through the paces we subject each portable navigator to in our test program, our original criticisms remain. But having more thoroughly tested Apple Maps alongside a Samsung Galaxy S3 running Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with Google Maps, we have a more favorable opinion--certainly more favorable than comments and articles that we've been reading online.

Our evaluations were performed in the greater New York City area using two phones per platform, each on a different carrier. We found that both Apple Maps and Google Maps route effectively, providing clear guidance and great points-of-interest integration.

Overall, Apple impressed our staff with the graphic presentation for the interface, results, signage, and points of interest info. However, there is less customization throughout than Google--a mixed blessing when driving, where distractions can be dangerous. Google comes across as more business like and less fun.

snip...

Bottom line:
Both the free Apple and Google navigation apps provide clear routing directions. Apple feels like a less-mature product. But as seen with the initial competing applications for the iPhone, we would expect updates to this new app over time--and Apple has promised as much. When getting down to the nitty gritty, Google provides a better overall package, but we feel that both provide a good solution for standard software. We expect the competition between the companies will benefit customers with ongoing improvements.

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/09/smart-phone-navigation-showdown-apple-ios6-vs-google-android.html

[Robb]

1. Unsurprising. When people are asked to quantify what are really matters of taste, accuracy suffers.

[Daemonaquila]

2. Then the Consumer Reports reviewers are biased or stupid.

I kept my iOS 5, refusing to switch. My husband upgraded, and he has had only cuss-words to say about Apple's maps. I've looked at them, and they are NOT at all as useful as the Google product. They are not accurate - this may be worse outside of major metro areas, like where we live. Also, I absolutely rely on Google's listings of public transportation stops for when I travel, such as the subway entrances when I'm at a board meeting in NYC or other major train/bus/subway points in other cities when I don't rent a car. You lose all of that with Apple. The reviewer's point that Google comes across as more business-like and less fun makes me roll my eyes. Few, if any, users are looking for fricking FUN when we use the maps app. We want detailed, accurate map information that will get us to our destinations most efficiently.

Bottom line - I won't "upgrade" to iOS 6 until there's a Google Maps app available. It's not the same to use it online through Safari (among other things, you can't track your movement, which is a huge benefit of the app). Apple failed with their mapping software, just like they failed utterly with Ping, MobileMe, etc. The solution isn't to try to become a Google clone (which is what they'd have to do), but to apologize and go work with Google again, and not try to be all things to all users. In the wake of Steve Jobs' death, I'm watching Apple go the way it did in the Gil Amelio era... rudderless, overly complicated, redundant, clunky, and out of touch with what really matters to the core user base. We don't want Apple this and Apple that - we love Apple because Apple just works. This iCloud crap, the Apple maps, Mountain Lion with its Microsoft-like security options and no useful features (no, making it more social media oriented is NOT a feature!!!) - the latest changes are not going anywhere good for Apple.

[onehandle]

3. Everything that is coming out now, Steve Jobs, and more importantly the people...

...he hand selected and left in place, are responsible for.

And if you hadn't extended your comments into iCloud (100% Steve Jobs) and Mountain Lion, I would have taken you more seriously.

iCloud (Free) works perfectly and Mountain Lion ($19.99) is rock solid.

Google is the world's biggest boner pill ad spammer and Internet data spy. Good riddance.

Maybe Apple should ally with Yahoo, specifically with Marissa Mayer, who is a key figure from the Mountain View Ad Company's better days before they went 'evil.'

[frylock]

4. why would tim cook issue a public apology if there were no issue?

he advised people to use google maps ffs!

[onehandle]

5. PR and Responsibility.

The tech community is split on whether he should have done that.

Some think it was a mistake, because in a few months, the 'problems' (none of which I have encountered in the last two weeks) will be resolved.

Some compare it to how Apple reacted to 'antennagate.' A necessary, short term loss.

Meanwhile, Apple is projected to sell twice as many iPhone 5s as iPhone 4s phones. And the iPad Mini will be announced on the 17th, which will bury the competition.

Apple Maps will improve with use. Apple is not worried.

[onehandle]

6. Additionally: Apple Maps use up to 5x less data than Google Maps.

Pretty important in this age of limited data plans from out of control carriers.
_____________________

Apple Maps has been getting its share of negative attention since being released, but some new research shines a bright spot on the comparison between Apple’s and Google’s mapping apps.

According to Onavo, a company that specializes in helping customers get the most out of their smartphone data plans, there are some big differences between the apps. The company ran tests on the two apps to see which was the most efficient in its data usage. After running a number of scenarios, the tests showed that Apple Maps was up to five times more data efficient than Google Maps.

For instance, when you search for a new location the mapping app has to download the street data you see on the screen — panning and zooming means even more data downloaded.

“On Google Maps, the average data loaded from the cellular network for each step was 1.3MB, the company wrote on its Web site. “Apple Maps came in at 271KB – that’s approximately 80% less data! On some actions, such as zooming in to see a particular intersection, Apple Maps’ efficiency advantage edged close to 7X.”

http://www.loopinsight.com/2012/10/01/apple-maps-up-to-five-times-more-data-efficient-than-google-maps/