Maps

Limited manpower blamed for crappy Apple Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

In case you haven't already known this yet, the Apple-designed iOS 6 Maps app is off to a slow start amid reports of inaccurate data sets, missing or incorrect places, lack of built-in transit data and lacking navigational features in general. Simply put, Apple Maps have a long way to go before taking Google Maps head on.

According to one cartography expert, much of the woes with Apple Maps could be traced back to Apple's lack of qualified engineers and spatial data teams. The company should also look into acquiring major mapping data providers and be more active in crowdsourcing via a dedicated service to allow people to more easily improve the quality of data, akin to TomTom's MapShare service...

How you can help make the new Maps app better

Cody Lee ∙ September 21, 2012

As you've probably noticed, Apple has been taking a lot of criticism over the new Maps application in iOS 6. Google Maps has been replaced in the software, in favor of Apple's own in-house mapping solution. And for most people it's just not up to snuff.

The company commented on the criticism yesterday, telling AllThingsD that because it's a cloud-based solution, Maps will get better as more people use it. But if you aren't buying that, or just want to speed the process along, here's what to do...

Apple responds to criticism regarding new Maps app

Cody Lee ∙ September 20, 2012

Since iOS 6 went live yesterday morning, there has been a lot of commotion regarding Apple's new Maps application. As most of you know, Apple replaced Google's mapping software with its own in-house solution this year.

And people hate it. Reports over the last 24 hours have berated the app for not having transit information, being inaccurate, and just flat out not being as good as its predecessor. Well, Apple responded to the criticism this afternoon...

Apple Maps to integrate Russian Yandex’s data in iOS 6, report says

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 17, 2012

Google's relationship with Apple may be on borrowed time. Apple Maps, set to appear soon in iOS 6, will reportedly use a local company's data Yandex to provide location-search details in Russia. A developer version of iOS 6 will send users to Yandex.Maps for further information regarding locations.

A search of Vladimir Lenin's Mausoleum, for instance, gets "more details on Yandex.Maps application or offers to download Yandex.Maps from App Store if the user doesn't have it installed," a Russian developer now using iOS 6 tells Bloomberg.

Apple’s 3D maps look much better than Google’s

Jeff Benjamin ∙ August 9, 2012

Google, in an attempt to outshine one of the worst kept secrets in the industry at the time — Apple's 3D Maps announcement at WWDC 2012 — hastily put together its own presser 5 days in advance, to announce their entry into the "next dimension" of maps.

That's all water under the bridge now (see what I did there?), and both companies have 3D technology incorporated in their apps — Google, with Google Earth, and Apple, with Maps for iOS 6.

Obviously Apple's maps update is still in beta, and Google just recently released their Google Earth upgrade, but which 3D building implementation looks better up to this point? The answer might surprise you...

Google Earth, now with 3D cities on iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 26, 2012

Google on June 6 held a hastily organized presser to announce "the next dimension in Maps", in an effort to beat Apple's in-house mapping solution unveiling which came five days later at the company's annual developers conference in Sam Francisco.

While Apple Maps won't launch before fall, when the company is set to release iOS 6 alongside the next iPhone and possibly a smaller iPad, the Internet giant is set to beat Apple by updating its Google Earth app for the iPhone with a new 3D view later today.

UPDATE: the new version just went live on the App Store...

Apple to bring iOS 6 Maps to Macs?

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 9, 2012

Having ditched Google Maps in favor of its in-house mapping solution in iOS 6, Apple could now be extending iOS 6 Maps to Macs running OS X Mountain Lion. This would seem logical and inevitable given Apple recently confirmed the use of OpenStreetMap data in iPhoto for both iOS and Mac. Apple conceivably has the maps.apple.com subdomain set up, which currently redirects to the iOS 6 section on its website...

Apple said to tap AutoNavi to offer iOS 6 mapping services in China

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 5, 2012

Bloomberg just reported that Apple likely chose AutoNavi to offer mapping services in China. Citing "two people with knowledge of the matter", the publication claims that Apple chose AutoNavi, a Chinese maker of electronic navigation tools, to offer map services for "users of future iPhones and iPads in China" (what they meant is iOS 6-enabled devices)...

Amazon takes on Apple and Google, snaps up 3D mapping startup UpNext

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

While you were away: not to be outclassed by Apple or Google, online retailer Amazon has just entered the mapping business by allegedly acquiring a mapping startup UpNext, according to an exclusive GigaOM report. The New York-based company is behind an interesting three-dimensional mapping app for iOS devices, UpNext Maps for iPhone and UpNext HD Maps for iPad (Android and Kindle versions are also available).

Both free downloads, these programs offer both the traditional map view, but also have built-in deals and social features and offline mode. There's also a three-dimensional view with models of more than 50 cities in the United States. Something tells me the apps will soon be gone from the App Store as Amazon makes these exclusive to its own tablet...

Apple Maps could feature Yelp check-ins in iOS 6

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2012

Bloomberg reports that iOS 6 will have Yelp check-ins integrated with Apple's in-house mapping solution, allowing people to use built-in Maps app to let friends know about their location.

This capability has apparently been discovered in materials Apple distributed to software developers...

Let the iOS maps war begin

Cody Lee ∙ June 23, 2012

One of the headlining stories of iOS 6 is the fact that Apple has taken over the Maps application. Not only did it rebuild the app from the ground up, but it also stopped using Google's mapping data.

From what we've heard, this was a long time coming. According to an ex-Google employee, the two companies have been battling for years over what Apple wanted to do with the Maps application.

So now that Apple has total control of it, the Maps war is over, right?

How to enable 3D maps on older devices

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 28, 2017

One of the biggest new features of iOS 6 is the new reinvigorated Maps app, which no longer relies on data from Google. The new Maps app also features turn-by-turn directions, and 3D capabilities.

Sadly, for owners of older devices like the iPhone 4 or the iPhone 3GS, you'll get the new Maps app sans 3D capabilities or turn-by-turn directions. As usual, the jailbreak community has come through with a solution to at least one of the omissions — 3D maps.

Check inside as we walk you through adding 3D maps to your officially unsupported older device...