Engineers’ work on cycling and public transit have transformed the app – but rural directions remain a sticking point

Archived version: https://archive.ph/hguLn

Excerpt (and context):

Apple Maps’ offering might surprise people who remember its disastrous launch in 2012, which the Guardian described as the company’s “first significant failure in years”. Users were more than furious – they were lost, sometimes dangerously so. In Australia, police had to rescue tourists from the huge Murray-Sunset national park, after Maps placed the city of Mildura in the wrong place by more than 40 miles. Some of the motorists located by police had been stranded for 24 hours without food or water. In Ireland, ministers had to complain directly to Apple after a cafe and gardens called “Airfield” was designated by the service as an actual airport.

But mostly the map was just glitchy and unhelpful, its directions always a little off kilter. Users revolted and Apple made a rare retreat, allowing Google Maps to be used as the default on many iPhone apps and apologizing for the product.

  • Obsession@sh.itjust.works
    169·
    1 year ago

    Exception that proves the rule? Cause yeah, Apple Maps is actually a Google Maps competitor now, which is great.

    • melon_lord@lemmy.mlEnglish
      11·
      1 year ago

      If you live in some developed part of the world, sure. But it’s garbage in my country. Still shows my house location to be in a middle of a national park which is like 100 km away.

    • deranger@sh.itjust.works
      92·
      1 year ago

      It really isn’t so long as they’re using Yelp for reviews.

      For just driving directions, sure. Google Maps is far more feature rich and I frequently end up regressing to Google whenever I need more info.

      • LSNLDN@slrpnk.net
        4·
        1 year ago

        Yeah I use apple whenever I want the map on my Lock Screen but if I actually need to find something out comes google

      • Ashley@lemmy.ca
        1·
        1 year ago

        Really? Google reviews is manipulated horribly. The underlying project, the maps, Apple isn’t far behind and in some cases I’ve noticed it’s actually much better.

        • deranger@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          1 year ago

          It’s still more functional than Apple Maps for reviews/discovery. I don’t want to use Google, believe me. Apple Maps is only good for directions/traffic awareness. It’s still lacking when it comes to discovering things / traveling compared to Google maps. I am trying to get off all Google services ASAP but this is one area they’re clearly ahead.