Apple Maps | Hacker News Reader

Apple Maps

maps.apple.com

111 pointsseanponeil54 comments

Interesting that this seems to redirect to Google Maps for me although we can infer with some degree of certainty that Apple has some future plans for this subdomain.

Apropos to Apple's shift to Open Street Map I feel both excited and apprehensive: for instance someone pointed out to me that the new maps won't display transit information (or don't currently, we'll have to see what happens after iOS 6 is launched) but at the same time I'm happy to see OSM gaining traction.

Edit, here's what dig tells us:

    ; <<>> DiG 9.7.3-P3 <<>> maps.apple.com
    ;; global options: +cmd
    ;; Got answer:
    ;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 742
    ;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 3, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0

    ;; QUESTION SECTION:
    ;maps.apple.com.			IN	A

    ;; ANSWER SECTION:
    maps.apple.com.		2918	IN	CNAME   gsps28.ls.apple.com.
    gsps28.ls.apple.com.	219	IN	CNAME	gsps28.isg-apple.com.akadns.net.
    gsps28.isg-apple.com.akadns.net. 272 IN	A	17.174.2.104

It's only partially OSM based, the Maps app cites TomTom and a few other providers in addition to OSM. At least for my city, OSM is showing a few roads Apple doesn't.

Whoever was speaking at the time (Forstall?) mentioned that they would showcase existing 3rd-party transit apps. Taking a look at the sketchy VTA, BART and CalTrain apps I've tried this is not an adequate replacement. Hopefully there'll be a way to access Google's maps through the web or a Google app.

You should check out Embark's transit apps http://letsembark.com/. I'm not in California so I'm not sure about their BART and CalTrain apps, but I use it in NYC and it's fantastic.

You can use Google Maps via Safari. I've used it before for bike directions as that was never supported on the Google Maps app on the iPhone.

Bit worried if honestly Apple maps can ever stack up to Google. We use directions with public transportation all the time, and if that's missing from Apple maps, it will be a significant decrease in experience.

I think we'll have a Google Maps iOS app in short order. They'll have to do some hardcore OpenGL hacking (reimplement CATiledLayer) to get it working as smoothly as the current maps app without using private APIs though (cf. https://github.com/frankus/NetPhotoScroller)

If I remember correctly the Apple maps are/will be based on Openstreetmap project. If that's the cas, and Apple will provide content to the open community then I think it's great idea they are moving on from Google. But with Apple's history in basically everything my hopes for them helping the Openstreetmaps are low.

Everything like WebKit, LLVM/Clang, and the hundreds of projects listed here? http://www.apple.com/opensource/

not sure about LLVM/Clang, but they based webkit on KHTML, leaving them no choice but to open source it. Apple does good for open source (CUPS being another example), but make no mistake: they're not doing it to be charitable

Who said they were? Better yet, who is? Which for-profit companies contributing to open source solely for charitable purposes? One of the primary reasons anybody — individual or company — invests time and energy into an open source project is because, when all is said and done, it's in their shared interest to do so. Sometimes the invested time pays dividends, sometimes it's mostly charity. But few people — and even fewer for-profit companies — participate in open source projects to be "charitable."

That's just ok, but with OSM, they doesn't have to contribute.

I think it's really great to have some competition in the maps world (Google, OpenStreetMap, Apple, Bing, MapQuest), but I'm worried that Apple won't allow Google maps to put out their own app on iOS, meaning if it's inferior, we're stuck with it.

Yes. I wont be updating to IOS 6 unless there is a choice of mapping apps. I'm sure Apple maps will be a good product, but unless it's really as good as Google, or I can still install a Google maps app, then I will not update to 6.

I'm less concerned about transit and walking routing (because I am sure Apple will get there), but more concerned about search of maps. OSM search is currently nowhere near the level of Google maps search.

On google maps I can search for things like "usps near south lake tahoe" and it do what I expect. Try that on OSM, or anything remotely not a well formed address. Google maps has some sophisticated logic for biasing towards current location, and it knows the names of places, like 'moscone center', or 'facebook offices'. And of coruse, I cna mispel them all and it still find it.

If Apple maps can't do the same, then no matter how pretty the 3D view is, it will disable one of the main (for me) functions of the device.

you shouldn't ignore that Apple's trying to do what it's taken Google 10 years to do. They'll get it right, but expecting feature parity on day one isn't reasonable. At the end of the day there are humans making all this stuff work.

It's not reasonable to expect it... but it is reasonable to use that as a reason not to use Apple Maps.

Out of curiosity, I wonder what it would have taken for Google to provide all of the updates it's provided to the Android Maps app these past few years. Was it just Android and iPhone competition? I feel like there's probably more to the story.

I've switched from iPhone to Android and back to an iPhone again, and the only things I liked better about the Android were Swype and the Maps. The iPhone app is at least now servicable. The 6.0 will break it for me (I use transit directions all the time), so I'm left hoping Google saves the day.

It appears to work pretty well: https://bu.mp/zwTsWE

I read somewhere that you can still install Google's Map app.

It is odd. It is missing but the icon is still there in the app. It looks like it simply lists apps available in the app store that provide routing services (none are displayed though).

Walking directions work.

Also, the maps are (IMO) significantly worse in quality than Google Maps. Turn by turn is nice though. Something that Google Maps should have implemented a long time ago.

It will interesting to see what the Google Maps app introduces and whether Apple accepts it.

>Also, the maps are (IMO) significantly worse in quality than Google Maps. Turn by turn is nice though. Something that Google Maps should have implemented a long time ago.

The build-in Android map application has had turn by turn for some time now.

Indeed. Google could have implemented it on iOS if they had wanted to, but that was a pretty big selling point for some people to get an Android phone over iOS.

At least it was for me when I bought my Nexus One unlocked after eBaying a free-on-contract HTC Pure instead of getting the iPhone 3G(S? not sure if it was out back then)

"Indeed. Google could have implemented it on iOS if they had wanted to, but that was a pretty big selling point for some people to get an Android phone over iOS."

No they couldn't, Apple controlled the app, Google was just the pipe. A recent WSJ article claims that both Google and Apple wanted feature parity/turn by turn, but Google wanted an increased amount of Google branding in exchange which Apple refused so they ultimately couldn't come to terms.

I was under the impression that the current iOS map app was created by Apple but used Google's API for data. I could be mistaken.

Maybe they didn't want to take the risk of it being rejected as 'duplicating existing functionality'. I know that some apps have got through nowadays, but has the policy changed to allow this, or is Apple allowing these on a case-by-case basis?

No, they didn't do it because Apple was already paying them to use their maps.

If they came out with their own Google Maps application that had feature parity with the Android app, I would imagine that most iOS users would switch immediately to that app instead of Apple's built-in one.

That could have potentially cost Google a lot of money, assuming that Apple was paying on a per-use basis.

Assuming the poster means Google Maps on the iPhone, which doesn't have turn by turn?

(fwiw, turn by turn and maps are great on my Android)

I was referring to the default maps app in iOS. Not Android. Thanks for clarifying.

IIRC, Apple said in the keynote that the app community handles public transportation routing and other services better than they could, and so they'll provide the hooks and leave it for people to find apps that they like to handle that aspect.

That's exactly the problem, don't want to open another application to find which bus to take and when, we want it integrated into maps.

I like Apple's approach. For example a transit authority could have an application that for example included real-time GPS tracking of buses, they could have options in the app to buy passes, request stops, etc, etc. Within the Google Map's ecosystem it seems to me they would have to wait around for Google to do support all this. It's a very top heavy approach. It looks like Apple wants to basically build a mini-app store inside of Maps.

Not holding my breath. Cash-strapped transit authorities are not going to be able to drive innovation here and losing the integration with maps will mean you'll have to know ahead of time that a transit route is available on your journey.

They just have to provide APIs and other people will do the integration.

Better than Apple can without Google? Maybe. Better than the existing Maps app? I use transit directions in Maps a lot and the transit apps I've downloaded very rarely.

I'm skeptical about this.

"Also, the maps are (IMO) significantly worse in quality than Google Maps."

Which kind of quality are you referring to? Image-wise? In terms accurate representations of the environment?

Image quality. I realize that they're most likely from OpenStreetMap and I applaud the project but Google Map image quality is hard to beat.

I'd say initially it will be substandard in some ways, noting a lack of streetview for example, however it's very likely to receive constant updates to bring it into feature parity. Interestingly (or rather) surprisingly Apple maps already has 20M more business listings than Google. Apple maintaining robust business listings is required by Maps and Siri, which currently is lacking business listings outside of the USA. (The two are also an obvious pair for the user.)

Both Google(Where2, ZipDash, Keyhole, Endoxon, ImageAmerica, Quiksee & Zagat) and Apple(Placebase, Poly9 & C3) have formed their mapping arms via acquisitions. Both companies are large and well resourced enough to innovate here. It's looking good for both platforms.

This isn't news. The redirect has been in place for a while. I posted a link to exactly this a few hours ago before digging around and finding that it's been up there for a while.

This is redirecting to google maps for me

Pointing that fact out is the point of the post, I believe. Interesting that it does that. The new Maps app would definitely benefit from Apple releasing a website, for emailing directions and desktop browsing and such, but it also isn't exactly Apple's forte.

That's the joke.

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I am really skeptical about Apple Maps. Maybe they can get data as good as Google. Maybe they can even do directions as well as Google.

I think they will falter on one of the most important parts though. Google Maps has a fantastic search. If it does not match up, then it will definitely by an issue.

In London Apple Maps on iOS 6 beta are nowhere near beta level. From my Twitter feed today, many including screenshots:

- Streets are shown as numbers, American style. 'A405' rather than Old Kent Rd. Nobody in the UK uses these numbers for directions, or knows what the numbers are beyond 2 or 3 main highways. Nobody will ever say A405 in conversation. The numbers are useless, and the names aren't shown.

- No tube stations are shown

- The water is missing from parts of the Thames

- Searching for 'Bank Tube' takes you to Bank, Azerbaijan.

This is exactly what I was afraid of. To me maps are one of those critical smart phone features, and if maps in iOS 6 suck as much as you are describing, it's reason enough for me to switch to Android.

Apple is really trying to alienate their long term customers. I liked them better when Google were friends and when they made computers software developers and creative pros would use.

This is exactly the same issue I had with Bing Maps. Bing Maps is very superior in many ways to Google Maps except when it comes to what a Londoner actually care about: getting around town, and quickly finding things with a certain degree of fuzziness.

Unless Apple's offering is a direct superset of G maps I will never use it. 3d buildings? Pfft. Cute, but useless.

I have this problem with Google Maps as well, though.

I live in Birmingham, AL. It kept sending me to an Aldi in New York, or Georgia.

Actually, the current Maps app uses Apple's location database as far as I know. In fact, when Apple announced the switch I noticed a significant decrease in the usefulness of searching inside the maps app.

Interesting! I noticed a huge decrease in search usability but wasn't quite sure why. Simple queries like "Met museum" in New York would give me strange results.

Doesn't matter. Apple maps needs flash to be displayed. iPhones don't support flash. Everyone who uses Apple machines has no choice unless they want to use a 3rd party app that isn't integrated into Siri and iCloud.

If they can get it working correctly with multitouch trackpad gestures I'll be stoked.

Full link: maps.apple.com

redirect to maps.google.com

Maybe it just works in the USA?

over under on the time that it takes for this to be changed?

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