Revamped Apple Maps Rollout Extends to Northeast U.S.

Meanwhile, most of the world still misses basic transit information in Apple Maps :(

Well over billion, maybe two billion people are now in areas covered by Apple Maps Transit. Yes, it can be frustrating that it is taking longer than Google did, but Apple decided to avoid the issues that have plagued Google transit. Google decided simply to import all the generic data from the different systems, which obviously Apple could have done and simply turned it on everywhere quickly. Instead, like Look Around being much better than Street View, Apple decided it wanted its customers to have a much better experience. Thus, they are customizing each transit region in the world, which requires much more time and much more expense, e.g., sending teams to each region. Here's a great article that explains the very different approach than Google that Apple chose .

https://appleinsider.com/articles/16/07/07/why-apples-transit-maps-are-rolling-out-so-slowly
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So realistically I am looking at 2021/22 before this has a fighting chance of replacing Google maps for me in the UK.

No, Apple has already done the UK, so you should be good to go in 2020.

Sadly, I have to rely on Google Maps. Apple Maps is so far behind when it comes to up-to-the-minute traffic conditions. When Apple Maps catches up, I’ll be happy to delete my last Google app.

Really? So far behind? How so? Many articles have shown that Apple is as good or better than Google when it comes to traffic information. Most complaints come from people being used to seeing the "green" lines and feel better believing there is no traffic there versus Apple's choice to only show traffic, not the lack of it. Google also chooses to show traffic at nearly every traffic light. It's a UI choice, not a true representation of traffic at all times.

Meanwhile, most of the world still misses basic transit information in Apple Maps :(

Define "most of the world". Apple has taken the approach to work with local transit companies to get the exact data. There have been many recent articles written on the integration of actual bus and train positions within Apple Maps that you will not see as much in Google or other transit apps. The spread of updated transit info across Europe in particular has been frequent over the past 2 months.

So realistically I am looking at 2021/22 before this has a fighting chance of replacing Google maps for me in the UK.

And with this comment, we have all the standard "I guess I won't see it until 'insert far off date' in my 'insert country'" comments out of the way.

Apple spent almost 5 years working on the program for their mapping...not the actual mapping. You can see from the data right in the new areas that it was collected within the past year. Knowing this and that Apple cars have been in the UK as early as late 2018, it would make more sense to assume that the UK will show up as early as the first half of 2020.

This is a dumb question. How do I view a street view with Apple maps?
An Apple maps vehicle drove by and I waved. :p

Can’t say for sure, but it’s probable that these countries will have Look Around next year (after the US gets it later this year): Canada, Portugal, Spain, Germany, China, Italy, the UK, Ireland, Puerto Rico and San Marino.
From Apple’s website:
https://mwp14.ls.apple.com/imagecollection/

Go to San Francisco (and other parts of California) on Apple Maps right now on any device running iOS 13 / iPad OS and you can see how good Look Around is. It’s really impressive.

I'd like to know how Apple gathers their traffic data. Could you provide link to any of these articles? I trust the data they show me without knowing where it's coming from.

It's identical to Google with one exception:
* Phone data - Every iPhone ships with the ability to track phone movement for traffic data unless turned off by the user. It's not the easiest thing to find, so almost all iPhones track movement. Yes, anonymously, but sending traffic data nonetheless.
* Traffic authorities - Where available (most major cities) Apple, like Google, gets traffic from transportation agencies including lane/road closures so they may be integrated into the map.
* Traffic history - This is a Google exclusive (sort of like their graphs showing when businesses are "busy"). They use an algorithm that predicts traffic based on past history. This is why Google has chosen to go the route of the "green/yellow/red" on their map. It is expected that Apple is heading down this route as well since they will own the data in the new areas, but has yet to have been confirmed (the prediction of traffic, not adding green to "no traffic" areas)

I've copied the articles so many times, I'm sick of it. Just do a web search. Apple has been shown to give the same or more accurate ETA's than Google or Waze.

At the end of the day, most people will choose their app based on GUI and integration with other apps or specific data they may provide that other apps don't (police alerts, bicycle routes, etc.). I HATE the way Waze looks/works, but when I was commuting, I used it religiously since I like to drive way over the speed limit. Three years ago, I used Apple maps for routing, but always double-checked POI's with Google since the data simply wasn't there yet with Apple. I've used Apple Maps only for the past 2 years without major issues with Google and Waze running in the background (I travel a LOT) just to test them in different areas of the United States. In my experience, whether it is a 15 minute drive or a 12 hour drive, Apple has always had a more accurate ETA from the start than Google or Waze (I gave up on HERE when I stopped traveling to Europe).

I am definitely more of an Apple defender than most, but living in the USA helps with that as well as the fact that my preference for the Maps UI blows away Google and Waze...my opinion. I like the way it looks, shows the data, I love CarPlay, etc. It's good to have choices.
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Well, referring to Europe, for example, transits are missing for Germany, France, Italy, Spain (apart from the capitals) so the bulk of the continent. And I am not sure about the 2 months thing...last addition in Europe according to MacRumors is Scandinavia in January.

To be clear, I am not complaining and I know the reasons. I am just sad because I'd really like to ditch Google and I love how transit is implemented by Apple.

Check the AppleMaps thread on Reddit. There has been a post nearly every week with updates across Italy, Germany, France, Austria?
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You’re funny. You’re saying I should believe “many articles” rather than my own two eyes.

Keep shilling, my friend. Maybe some day Tim Cook will show up at your door and offer you some bran muffins for your unpaid, unsolicited efforts.

You're correct...I should just take your "so far behind" opinion as gospel. noted.

Sadly, I have to rely on Google Maps. Apple Maps is so far behind when it comes to up-to-the-minute traffic conditions. When Apple Maps catches up, I’ll be happy to delete my last Google app.

I'll check. But then it's not my fault if Apple doesn't update its website:

https://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/#maps-transit

Yeah...They do not seem to tout Map changes...for good reason.