The much anticipated iPhone 5 and iOS 6 release the in past weekend would have been Apple, Inc.’s biggest success if not for the Apple Maps issues that users soon discovered after using their brand new iPhone 5 devices or upgrading their existing Apple devices to iOS 6. Apple dropped Google as the data provider for the map App in favor of Tomtom and Yelp who are competing providers for mapping data.
Numerous articles online are bashing Apple for the map issues citing incorrect or missing information, most notably on public transport, incorrect search results for addresses and ridiculous images of many popular structures. A lot of examples of the issues are found at http://theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com.
So how does the Apple Map compare to the Google Map if you are in Bohol? Let’s put it this way: Apple Map is still in its infancy. Fortunately, we locals don’t rely on any map app otherwise we’d be seriously lost. Let’s hope the tourists tag along a tour guide, even if they are in Tagbilaran City where Apple Map’s best effort would show you major streets inaccurately.
For example, J.A. Clarin Street suddenly ended somewhere near the junction of Tamblot Street, and that’s after cutting through several blocks of houses and buildings. New streets are drawn like Tagbilaran East read further towards the sea from V.P. Inting Avenue which is already the coastline read. T. Butalid Extension slices through the St. Joseph Cathedral and CPG East Avenue is no longer connected to CPG Avenue.
Apple Maps version of a major intersection in downtown Tagbilaran. Streets are mislabeled and JA Clarin appeared to slice through several blocks of houses and buildings.
The Google based map for the same major intersection as the Apple map on the other photo. This one has the streets correctly labeled and the street overlay accurately match the satellite image.
Looking at the area near Talibon and Bien Unido, both Google and Apple maps show comparable results. Map view with satellite image are comparable. Both also show the Chocolate Hills monument on the wrong side of the highway in Carmen.
The Tagbilaran-Dauis junction shows that Google Maps have more information about the major sites there like the Assumption Parish Shrine and the bridge between Tagbilaran and Dauis.. Apple Maps have no other detail except the Dauis-Panglao Road.
The inaccuracy and lack of information on Apple Map enraged a lot of users worldwide who previously had relied on the Google based map on their iOS5 based devices. This led to Apple CEO Tim Cook to issue a public apology and recommended the use of competing map applications like browser based Google Map and MapQuest App.
Who would win the map war? Would Apple overtake Google’s apparent lead in map data and software? Would this misstep by Apple make way for Android based devices to win customers who are used to Apple devices? Only time will tell. Let’s just hope there will be healthy competition bringing with it improved and much more reliable map services in the near future.
by Jerome Auza, Technology Consultant , Auza.Net
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