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Comment by impulser_ | Hacker News Reader

Google Maps is in the top 5 most downloaded iOS apps worldwide.

So even Apple users don't want to use Apple Maps.

I wonder what percent of app downloads are re-downloads onto new/wiped devices. I've had Google Maps since it first came out, back before Apple had its own maps. So every time I purchase a new iPhone or iPad, or restore one of my existing devices, Google Maps gets another download.

It's possible these re-downloads are utterly swamped by people picking apps out of the app store. But it can't hurt to have a huge base of legacy installs that reduplicate every time someone gets a new device.

No, people use Google Maps.

Maps are social. When I search for a place in Google maps, I get reviews, pictures, it feels alive.

When I search for a place on Apple Maps, firstly it may not even exist because who cares about Apple maps, and secondly it's likely to have few reviews or photos.

I just tried with a local restaurant. Google maps has dozens of photos and 100 reviews. Apple maps has 1 review and no photos.

If you just need a satnav, then Apple maps is OK I guess, if it has the place you're going to. But why take the risk? I never open the thing.

Apple Maps shows reviews from Yelp, at least for the POIs I’ve seen. Although I don’t trust Yelp reviews entirely, I trust them more than Google reviews.

> Google Maps is in the top 5 most downloaded iOS apps worldwide.

It was listed in 7th place in this 2021 year-end round-up:

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/12/02/apple-most-downloaded-a...

> So even Apple users don't want to use Apple Maps.

I don't think that this follows from your claim. I have both Google Maps and Apple Maps but use Google Maps only for street view. I use Apple Maps for nearly everything including navigation.

> It was listed in 7th place in this 2021 year-end round-up

That's United States only.

Plus, we aren't even talking about Waze which is also owned by Google and probably has more users than Apple Maps.

Apple has a version of Street View that I find even better than Google’s. Just seems not available for as many places.

I wish there was a VR mode where you can turn your view by rotating the phone.

And I think that's one of the main problems with Apple Maps. Once you leave main metropolitan areas, the features start to dwindle.

Or, like me, you download Google Maps as a backup map app. Not having a map available is higher risk than most apps breaking; it’s worth it to have a second option if Apple goes down.

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