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Apple Maps to Include Transit Directions, Improved Points of Interest Data in iOS 8

Tuesday March 11, 2014 8:18 am PDT by Kelly Hodgkins
Apple is preparing to significantly improve its Maps application in iOS 8, claims a report in 9to5Mac. Apple will slow its work on UI changes and focus instead on improving the underlying infrastructure that powers the application. These data-level changes will make Maps more informative and reliable for iOS users.
The new application will also be injected with new points of interests and new labels to make places such as airports, parks, train stations, bus stops, highways, and freeways easier to find, the sources added. Sources also say that the mapping application’s cartography design has been tweaked to be slightly cleaner and to make streets more visible.
Public transit is another major area that Apple will bring to the iOS 8 version of Maps, tapping into the engineering talent the company has acquired from mapping companies such as HopStop and Embark. The new Maps app likely will allow users to find train, subway and bus information in major U.S. and international cities. These public transit options will be embedded in the maps themselves and in the Directions panel, where they will show up in a new tab next to "Driving" and "Walking."

ios_8_maps_transit
Mockup of iOS 8's transit features

These changes are only the beginning of Apple's proposed plans for its Maps application, as the company is reportedly also working to add indoor mapping views, improved car integration, and augmented reality features in the future.

Apple switched away from a Google-powered mapping solution in 2012 when it introduced its own Maps application alongside iOS 6. Apple's Maps faced extensive criticism at launch when a series of high-profile incidents highlighted embarrassing inaccuracies in mapping data and missing features like street view and transit directions that were available in its competitors' products. Apple CEO Tim Cook even issued a personal apology to iOS owners, promising to improve the app until it lives up to Apple's "incredibly high standard."


Tag: 9to5mac.com
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AngerDanger
67 months ago
The Apple maps slogan should be "Life is a journey, not a destination". :p
Rating: 18 Votes
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RubenTheys
67 months ago
Good to hear they're working on POI.

In my experience, Apple Maps is a solid product from the moment you've got the exact address of your destination. Too often I can't find my destination by just searching the name, while Google has no problems whatsoever.

Other than that, Apple maps is a great navigation tool :)
Rating: 14 Votes
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ng-design
67 months ago
Last night I typed in "Hollywood" while trying to find a map in Los Angeles, and of course Apple Maps took me to Hollywood, FL instead by default.

Is that a first-world problem? Absolutely. But it's little quirks like that which still make it feel like a completely counter-intuitive app. So I hope it does continue to improve.

Edit: I also gave Apple Maps a try while vacationing in San Francisco. I typed in "Golden Gate Bridge" and it gave me directions to a diner. C'mon Apple. You prominently show the GGB in the background of your page for CarPlay, yet can't even take people to it when they type it in?
Rating: 13 Votes
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Razeus
67 months ago
LOL, the fallacy of updating apps that are tied to the OS only once a year. This is why Apple is STILL behind and why people use alternative apps.
Rating: 10 Votes
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Nimrad
67 months ago
This "failure" will probably ensure that Apple Maps for iOS 8 will be better than it ever could have been if they did OK from the start.
Rating: 9 Votes
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twochoicestom
67 months ago
In the UK, right now. The business listings are absolutely APPALING for Apple Maps.

It's a deal breaker for me. They need to have the same coverage as Google for it to work out!
Rating: 9 Votes
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dallardice
67 months ago

In the UK, right now. The business listings are absolutely APPALING for Apple Maps.

It's a deal breaker for me. They need to have the same coverage as Google for it to work out!


Couldn't agree more. I've been telling Apple since the first beta of Apple Maps that there isn't a McDonalds at the end of my road (in London) and it's still there. I thought I would be a good cyber citizen and reported lots of changes in my neighbourhood (restaurants and shops that closed down in some cases YEARS ago) and very very few of the changes I submitted have been actioned. I've stopped bothering now...
Rating: 8 Votes
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Puponautas
67 months ago
I wish they would improve their maps not only for USA. Because in Europe, especially small countries, address search is horrible. 90% of time gives wrong results while map data is +- fine... :/
Rating: 7 Votes
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Puponautas
67 months ago

Couldn't agree more. I've been telling Apple since the first beta of Apple Maps that there isn't a McDonalds at the end of my road (in London) and it's still there. I thought I would be a good cyber citizen and reported lots of changes in my neighbourhood (restaurants and shops that closed down in some cases YEARS ago) and very very few of the changes I submitted have been actioned. I've stopped bothering now...


Report here http://www.tomtom.com/mapshare/tools/ Apple maps based on TomTom maps. I have reported via Apple maps 100 times and nothing. Reported via TomTom, they verified and after two weeks it was on Apple maps
Rating: 7 Votes
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Xenomorph
67 months ago
I wish they would fix the issues I report.

Stop telling me to exit the highway, do a U-turn, get back on the highway going the other way, exit it again, do another U-turn, get back on the highway going the other way (ETC...).

Stop telling me to turn down Street A, do a U-turn, turn on Street B, make a right on Street C, then "arrive at my destination", which is actually back on Street A.

Stop telling me to go down random road X, park, and "prepare to walk" the quarter of a mile through a field instead of having me drive directly to my destination.

Report a Problem -> "Location is missing"

"Drag the pin to the correct location." OK. How? I can drag a pin, but it was placed 20 miles away from the incorrect location. Do you know how long it would take to drag the pin, pan the map, drag the pin, pan the map, etc. Why not just have a "drop pin" button so I can find the spot and then pin it?

Report a Problem -> "My problem isn't listed"

Just fill in some text and hit Send. No, no one will look at it. I've been trying to report the same problems for years. I don't think anyone ever reads what you submit.

Report a Problem -> "Problem with directions"

Please select one of the few listed routes you've taken. The problem route not listed? Too bad. The problem route listed? Just fill in this comments box and hit "Send" to have it promptly deleted. No one will review the issue.

Report a Problem -> "Street or other label is incorrect"

"Tap the incorrectly labeled street or feature"
HA! When it HAS NO STREET LISTED (even though a street has been there for 30+ years), you cannot tap on the "blank" space. You cannot hit "Next" until you tap on the street. You cannot tap on a street that isn't listed. See the problem?

Report a Problem -> "Search results are incorrect"
It simply lists some of your previous searches. How can you search for a street that isn't listed? You have to search for something that isn't there before you can submit a problem that it isn't listed??

Apple Maps are a COMPLETE JOKE
Rating: 6 Votes

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