Comments on: Not Thrilled with Apple Maps in iOS 6? Bing Maps is a Decent Replacement

By: pertyn

pertyn — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 09:54:05 +0000

Not available outside US AppStore…

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 20:27:04 +0000

As a Brit in Bangkok, Apple Maps is utterly useless. It doesn’t show public transport links and only shows street names in Thai. The data is also at least 2 years old. Means my iOS upgrade makes my phone less useful (and that’s before I even start on the awful App Store interface) I’m using the web based version of Google Maps which has what I need, except for street view, but it works much more slowly than the app ever did.

But here’s the thing: Apple seemingly trumpeted Maps because it was beautiful. It has that flyover crap. But they’re happy to leave you confused as to what street you’re standing on or where the nearest bus stop is. Maybe Apple thinks everyone lives in America. Or maybe they only cater for people who value shininess over usefulness. I don’t know. But they were happy to dump Google Maps for this second-rate app all because Apple didnt like Google anymore. Screw the customer.

So when I look at buying a phone or a tablet, I’ll be looking at other brands first.

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:07:00 +0000

I don’t know about other cities but Bing Maps in Honolulu doesn’t have bus numbers! It would usually show three lines of text on places the bus will go to but that isn’t exactly what you’ll see flashing on buses, not very good on busy bus stops.

Hopstop is good but you have to know the street address of the place you’re going to. Usually it works fine but a friend in Hilo said the app wanted her to go over a volcano.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:58:28 +0000

Dont upgrade. Apple maps sucks!

By: Bret

Bret — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 03:23:00 +0000

No fuzzy searching for destinations, no street view, too literal, loss of public transportation information, loss of walking/bicycling information = miffed… (being polite) Tom Tom has a long way to go to replace Google!!!

Apple maps is Tom Tom, check the rights statement in area that allows the switch to hybrid/satellite views…

By: Parker

Parker — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:57:19 +0000

Waze I choose you!

By: Parker

Parker — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:56:42 +0000

Amen to that! waze is THE best thing out there and it servers multiple countries!

By: vdiv

vdiv — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:12:47 +0000

Indeed, the Google Maps web app is still there and works very well.

Here is another suggestion, if people like Google Maps so much and dislike the changes in iOS 6, maybe, just maybe, they should consider getting an Android phone instead of another iPhone. Just saying… :p

By: johan r

johan r — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 16:06:04 +0000

why not just go to googlemaps in safari on iPhone and save it to your homepage, works fine for me!!

By: Julian

Julian — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:11:46 +0000

Thanks for that, I am now in Oxford and used Waze to get here from Poole, very accurate and superb app.

By: David

David — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 06:28:04 +0000

Replacing Google Maps with Apple Maps was a deal-breaker for me in terms of updating to the new iOS 6. Flyovers? Cute but not particularly useful in finding what I am looking for. Streetview is much more helpful for finding the right place. Loss of public transportation information is a serious downgrade. Try navigating the Tokyo subway and train system or Bangkok’s maze of bus, subway, Skytrain, and boat systems without that information.

The added features of iOS 6 don’t make up for the loss of Google Maps. I don’t need or use Siri and, while I have a Facebook account, I check it maybe every other month.

I use Google Maps almost every day on either my iPad or iPhone so, until Google comes out with a Maps app (and Apple approves it) that works under iOS 6, I’ll be sticking with 5.1.1.

By: John

John — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 00:18:27 +0000

Go with Waze. Not only is it very accurate and gives vocal directions on earlier model iPhones, it has a price that can’t be beat: free.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 22:19:25 +0000

I have the Bing app and it has UK maps – much nicer than the Apple Maps.

By: Julian

Julian — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:02:08 +0000

Just as a side note, I used TomTom for many years, but the charges for updated maps that turned out not to be up to date were ridiculous.

Changed to Copilot on Android for satellite navigation, it’s very much more accurate, also use Googles free navigation as well and that’s bang up to date too.

You need reliable tools when you have to drive 500 to 1000 miles a week for your job, and iPad was brilliant for planning as OS 5.1.1

By: Julian

Julian — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:57:33 +0000

I agree, just kicking myself now