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Tag: apple maps

  • Apple Maps Now Showing COVID-19 Vaccination Locations

    Apple Maps Now Showing COVID-19 Vaccination Locations

    Apple Maps has been updated to display COVID-19 vaccination locations, making it that much easier to set up an appointment.

    As the US rolls out COVID-19 vaccines, one of the biggest challenges is finding a location and setting up an appointment. Some have relied on their local pharmacy, or used websites such as those provided by local governments.

    Apple is making it a bit easier, integrating vaccination locations in Apple Maps.

    Apple today updated Apple Maps with COVID-19 vaccination locations from VaccineFinder, a free, online service developed by Boston Children’s Hospital that provides the latest vaccine availability for those eligible at providers and pharmacies throughout the US. Users can find nearby COVID-19 vaccination locations from the Search bar in Apple Maps by selecting COVID-19 Vaccines in the Find Nearby menu or by asking Siri, “Where can I get a COVID vaccination?”

    The placecard will include operating hours, phone number, address and a link to the provider’s website. Although the data is being provided via VaccineFinder, providers and businesses can also submit their information directly to Apple.

    Along with the data provided by VaccineFinder, healthcare providers, labs, or other businesses can submit information on COVID-19 testing or vaccination locations on the Apple Business Register page. Once validated, Apple may display information about the testing or vaccination locations to people using Apple services such as Apple Maps.

    Apple’s move is good news for Mac and iOS users, removing one more hurdle to people accessing the vaccine.

  • New Apple Maps Rolls Out Nationwide

    New Apple Maps Rolls Out Nationwide

    Apple has been working on improve Maps since 2018 and the company announced the new version has rolled out to all U.S. customers.

    Image Source: Apple
    Image Source: Apple

    Apple Maps has lagged behind Google Maps since its introduction, but Apple began an intense effort to close the gap, deploying fleets of camera-equipped Apple Vans to gather much more detailed information about roads, buildings, landmarks and topography.

    “We set out to create the best and most private maps app on the planet that is reflective of how people explore the world today,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, in the press release. “It is an effort we are deeply invested in and required that we rebuild the map from the ground up to reimagine how Maps enhances people’s lives — from navigating to work or school or planning an important vacation — all with privacy at its core. The completion of the new map in the United States and delivering new features like Look Around and Collections are important steps in bringing that vision to life. We look forward to bringing this new map to the rest of the world starting with Europe later this year.”

    Maps also offers a similar feature as Google Maps’ Street View.

    Image Source: Apple
    Image Source: Apple

    “Maps offers interactive street-level imagery with high-resolution, 3D photography and smooth and seamless transitions through major cities with Look Around. Customers from anywhere in the world can navigate through New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston and Oahu, with many more places to come.”

    One area where Apple has worked to differentiate itself from Google and other tech companies is its strong commitment to privacy. The company took the opportunity to point out how Maps respects user privacy.

    “Apple is committed to keeping personal information safe and has built privacy into the core of Maps. With Maps, no sign-in is required and it is not connected to an Apple ID in any way. Personalized features, such as suggesting departure time to make the next appointment, are created using on-device intelligence. Any data collected by Maps while using the app, like search terms, navigation routing and traffic information, is associated with random identifiers that continually reset to ensure the best possible experience and to improve Maps. Maps goes even further to obscure a user’s location on Apple servers when searching for a location through a process called “fuzzing.” Maps converts the precise location where the search originated to a less-exact one after 24 hours and does not retain a history of what has been searched or where a user has been.”

    It remains to be seen if Apple Maps completely matches Google Maps, but today’s announcements and the myriad improvements are a good start.

  • LA and Google-Owned Waze at Odds Over Cut-Through Traffic

    LA and Google-Owned Waze at Odds Over Cut-Through Traffic

    Waze has long been a darling among travelers. A smartphone app that notifies drivers of delays, construction, vehicles pulled over on the side of the road or police trying to catch speeders, Waze provides valuable information and alternate routes to road warriors.

    For cities, however, Waze and similar apps are often a nuisance, routing traffic through neighborhoods, subdivisions and backroads in an effort to avoid slowdowns on the main routes. This often causes congestion in neighborhoods and results in additional wear and tear on roads that were never intended to handle the extra load. In addition, because mobile mapping apps aren’t always accurate, there have been instances where drivers were directed to streets that were closed or being evacuated, not to mention sometimes recommending illegal turns.

    According to the Daily Breeze, at least one major city is trying to tackle the problem head-on. Los Angeles ran a pilot program designed to help control cut-through traffic. The goal of the program was to “develop data sharing agreements” and the city “proposed restricting vehicle routing onto impacted street segments as a condition of entering into any data-sharing agreements.”

    Apple Maps, TomTom and Waze were invited. Apple and TomTom were both willing to be part of a pilot program but Waze and, by extension, Google Maps were unwilling to participate. In response, L.A. Department of Transportation officials are looking at changing the L.A. Municipal Code to prohibit navigation apps from rerouting traffic “inconsistent with City street designations.”

    Cities around the country will likely be watching L.A. to see what effect any proposed changes have.

  • It Looks Like Apple Street View is On the Way

    It Looks Like Apple Street View is On the Way

    It looks like Apple is getting ready to significantly boost the quality of its Maps product, possibly with its own Street-View like feature.

    Greg Sterling at Search Engine Land points to a page on the Apple Maps site describing its vehicles and discussing locations they will be covering. Here’s what it says:

    Apple is driving vehicles around the world to collect data which will be used to improve Apple Maps. Some of this data will be published in future Apple Maps updates.

    We are committed to protecting your privacy while collecting this data. For example, we will blur faces and license plates on collected images prior to publication.

    Locations it’s covering include London, Paris, and places in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Washington.

    As Sterling notes, Apple vehicles with Cameras were spotted on both the east and west coasts last year.

    Image via Apple

  • Apple Maps Is More Important To Your Business Than Ever

    If you run a small business and aren’t taking Apple Maps seriously as a place where people will find your business, you may want to rethink that.

    Do you pay attention to your business listing in Apple Maps? Have you seen any indication that it’s an important tool for people to find your business? Let us know in the comments.

    When Apple first ditched Google Maps on iOS to offer Apple Maps, things went so horribly that CEO Tim Cook actually had to write a public letter of apology to users. This began:

    At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.

    Not a great start.

    Eventually, Google Maps found its way back onto iOS devices and those who still preferred Google would continue using that. It’s not really all that often that we hear much about Apple Maps, but guess what. More iOS users use Apple Maps than use Google Maps, so the joke isn’t on Apple after all.

    A report that hit BetaBoston.com earlier this month says:

    Apple says its mapping service is now used more than three times as often as its next leading competitor on iPhones and iPads, with more than 5 billion map-related requests each week. Research firm comScore says Apple has a modest lead over Google on iPhones in the US, though comScore measures how many people use a service in a given month rather than how often.

    Google still dominates among all US smartphones, though, in part because Apple Maps isn’t available on Google’s Android system, which is more prevalent than iPhones. In October, Google Maps had more than twice as many smartphone users as Apple Maps. Much like Apple, Google benefits as the default on Android.

    So people are using Google Maps more, but it’s a different story when it comes to iPhone. Here’s what the operating system market share looks like in the U.S. (courtesy of Nielsen):

    The main takeaway here is that you really shouldn’t be ignoring Apple Maps.

    Apple gets its business listings from a lot of different places, so if you have a business, you’ll probably want to make sure you’re listed appropriately as to not miss out on searches that take pace in Apple’s app.

    Local search expert Mike Blumenthal has put together an updated list of data providers Apple is using for business listings. The information comes from Apple’s Map acknowledgements and information from an Apple email.

    “With the release of iOS 9 and its increasing foray into local search, it is important to stay on top of who is actually providing business listing data to Apple,” Blumenthal noted in a blog post.

    Sources include Acxiom, Booking.com, DAC Group, Factual, GasBuddy/OpenStore, TripAdvisor, Localeze, Yelp, Yext, and many others. Head on over to Blumenthal’s write-up for the full list.

    Above all else, this is an important reminder that your local search listings extend well beyond Google. Take the time to make sure your business is represented everywhere possible.

    Have you spent the appropriate amount of time going through Apple Maps’ data sources and checking the representation of your business? Let us know in the comments.

  • Where Your Business Needs To Be Listed For Apple Maps

    Where Your Business Needs To Be Listed For Apple Maps

    It’s hard to believe, but it’s been three years since Apple dropped Google Maps from iOS in favor of its own maps offering. It got off to a rocky start, and Google would later offer iPhone users a new Maps app, but Apple has improved its own offering over time.

    Apple gets its business listings from a lot of different places, so if you have a business, you’ll probably want to make sure you’re listed appropriately as to not miss out on searches that take pace in Apple’s app.

    Local search expert Mike Blumenthal has put together an updated list of data providers Apple is using for business listings. The information comes from Apple’s Map acknowledgements and information from an Apple email.

    “With the release of iOS 9 and its increasing foray into local search, it is important to stay on top of who is actually providing business listing data to Apple,” notes Blumenthal.

    Sources include Acxiom, Booking.com, DAC Group, Factual, GasBuddy/OpenStore, TripAdvisor, Localeze, Yelp, Yext, and many others. Head on over to Blumenthal’s write-up for the full list.

    iOS 9 was released on September 16th. Early research from Tapjoy found that users were taking their time in updating their devices compared to previously released versions of the operating system. Still, many more have gotten the update since then, and will continue to do so.

    Image via Apple

  • Apple Gives Business Local Listing Tool For Maps

    Apple launched a new way for businesses to verify listings on Apple Maps – Apple Maps Connect. Between the popularity of Apple devices and the company’s increasingly independence from Google services, it’s probably a good idea to make sure you appear there.

    First, you have to have an AppleID to log in. Then, you’re prompted to add your business. It then tells you it will use your updates to improve Apple Maps for users and partners.

    It will then prompt you to search, and see if your business is already on Apple Maps. If not, you can proceed. You will enter your relationship to the business, and the phone number and address info. Then, it will give you the option to verify with a phone call. After that, you’ll confirm the actual location by dragging a pin on a map over the correct building.

    After you confirm that, you’ll add the business to one to three categories. If you can’t find an appropriate category, you can suggest one. Then, you’ll confirm your open hours. After that, you can add links to your website, your Facebook Page, your Yelp Page, and/or your Twitter account. The links will be used to validate the business and collect more info, Apple informs you.

    Once you complete all of that, you can review the information, and submit it to Apple.

    The service is reportedly only available for U.S. businesses for the time being with more countries coming soon.

    Images via Apple

  • Apple Continues To Distance Itself From Google

    Apple has taken one more step towards distancing itself from Google. The company has now started incorporating its own Apple Maps on the iCloud.com beta site and for the “Find my iPhone” feature. It previously used Google Maps.

    This is a smaller deal than some others it has made in the past – namely replacing Google Maps with Apple Maps as the default Maps experience – but it continues in the tradition of Apple relying less and less on Google. 9to5Mac reports:

    In addition to the iOS Maps app since iOS 6, Apple was already using its own Maps powered by data from a number of partners in its Find My iPhone app for iOS devices and elsewhere on its mobile devices. Today’s change removes Google Maps from one of the last products that was still using it, the Find My iPhone web app available at iCloud.com.

    Apple appears to be trying to wean its users off of Google. Its latest operating systems have tapped Bing for some key features, and the company continues to try and improve its own search offerings (including Siri).

    Just a month ago, news emerged that Apple had bought Spotsetter, a search company. This came after the company acquired a couple others: Topsy and Cue.

    Image via Apple

  • Apple Reportedly Using A Lot More Data Sources For Maps

    It looks like Apple has been busy quietly expanding the number of partners it uses for data for Apple Maps.

    Greg Sterling at Screenwerk reports that Apple has a new copyright page that lists the partners, and that the list is roughly twice as long as the old list. He doesn’t link to the actual page, but says these are the sources listed:

    TomTom
    Acxiom
    CoreLogic Inc
    DigitalGlobe
    DMTI
    Factual
    Getchee
    INCREMENT P CORP
    Intermap
    LeadDog
    Localeze
    PSMA
    MDA Information Systems, Inc.
    Urban Mapping
    Waze
    Yelp
    Department of Natural Resources Canada
    CGIAR Consortium for Spatial Information
    Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset
    GeoNames and contributors
    ESA 2010 and UCLouvain
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Royal Mail
    (OSDM) © Commonwealth of Australia
    OpenStreetMap
    Statistics Canada
    U.S. Census Bureau
    U.S. Department of State
    U.S. Geological Survey
    National Geospatial-intelligence Agency

    Apple’s Maps product was quite controversial when Apple switched to it and away from Google Maps. Complaints were rampant, and the company even had to issue an apology to users, but the complaints pretty much died down after Google Maps became available for iOS thanks to a new app from Google itself.

    It’s unclear how many of Apple’s users are using Apple’s product rather than Google’s, but either way, it must be putting forth the effort to improve it. Of course, Google has been putting forth quite a bit of its own over the years, and now is even said to be close to acquiring Sklybox Imaging for nearly a billion dollars, which could make Google Maps even better.

    Image via Apple

  • Loch Ness Monster Captured On Apple Maps

    Is the Loch Ness Monster real? This question has been debated for years after many people have captured pictures claiming to have seen the famous Nessie.

    Almost all of these pictures have been disproven … until now.

    A new picture, captured by one of Apple Maps’ satellites, shows a shadowy figure in the depths of the North End of Loch Ness in Scotland. The figure is approximately 100ft long, and seems to have two large flippers moving it through the water.

    The image was spotted by two individuals last year as they were searching through Apple Maps on their smart phone app. Andrew Dixon, one of the men who first noticed the picture said: “It was a total fluke that I found it. I was looking at satellite images of my town and then just thought I’d have a look at Loch Ness. The first thing that came into my head when I saw it was, ‘That’s the Loch Ness Monster.’ It was the shape of it, I thought it had to be something more than a shadow.”

    Dixon then alerted the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club, who have since been studying the picture, trying to determine if it is actually shows Nessie. After six months, the club still has no other explanation. Gary Campbell, the club president, said that the image “most likely” shows proof of Nessie.

    “It looks like a boat wake, but the boat is missing,” Campbell said. “You can see some boats moored at the shore, but there isn’t one here. We’ve shown it to boat experts and they don’t know what it is. Whatever this is, it is under the water and heading south, so unless there have been secret submarine trials going on in the loch, the size of the object would make it likely to be Nessie.”

    Do you think the image is proof that Nessie exists? Leave your comments below.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Loch Ness Monster May Have Been Spotted Via Satellite

    A viral image had cryptid believers and skeptics debating whether or not photographic proof of the Loch Ness Monster has at last been found.

    Believers in the sea monster consider an image taken by Apple Maps to be the greatest possible proof to date as to the creature’s existence.

    Meanwhile skeptics see a bunch of waves and nothing more.

    What exactly is the story behind this controversial image?

    Someone toying around with Apple Maps just happened upon a bizarre series of ripples in Loch Ness, the famed home of the monster. The discovery led believers to ask various photography experts their opinion on the image and what it could possibly be.

    The picture of what may or may not be the famous cryptid has been carefully examined for months. Experts are simply at a loss regarding a logical explanation for the waves that show up on the satellite image.

    Upon closer examination, it appears to be the sort of waves caused by a large boat.

    The problem is that there doesn’t seem to be a vessel in the image.

    Waves of that size could be caused by a giant sea animal like the mythical “Nessie”. However the idea that this image, however bizarre, represents proof of the long debated sea monster is too much for some critics.

    Loch Ness fans are too busy feeling validated to be bothered by the continuing skepticism. For them, it’s proof at long last.

    Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club President Gary Campbell told the Daily Mail, “Whatever this is, it is under the water and heading south, so unless there have been secret submarine trials going on in the loch, the size of the object would make it likely to be Nessie.”

    This is a boon to Nessie fans, who were no doubt disappointed with all the fakes that materialized in 2013.

    What do YOU think: Does the satellite image look like it could possibly be the legendary Loch Ness Monster or is it just a bunch of waves? Share your theories in the comments below!

    Image via STV News

  • Apple Buys Embark To Continue Its Maps Debacle Recovery

    Apple is still working to improve its Maps product for iOS, which was the subject of a great deal of grief and ridicule last fall, when iOS 6 launched without Google Maps. The Google Maps app, of course, was eventually released, but Apple would still like to see users turning to its own Maps.

    The company has reportedly acquired Embark, a public transit app, to help beef up its offering. Embark had apps for both Android and iOS, but now the Android app has been shut down, while the iOS app remains.

    Jessica Lessin broke the news based on discussions with “people knowledgeable about the deal,” and says Apple will directly integrate Embark’s technology into Apple Maps. She also shares the canned statement Apple always gives when asked about acquisitions:

    “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

    This is just the latest in a series of map-related acquisitions Apple has made in recent months. The company also reportedly acquired HopStop and Locationary.

    Regardless of how much Apple improves Apple Maps, it’s going to be a challenge for the company to convince users to use it over Google Maps. It will likely take some interesting OS integrations to practically force it on people after last year’s debacle, which led to the firing of the manager responsible and a public apology from Apple.

    Embark

    Image: Embark

  • Google Maps for iOS Gets Google Contacts Support, Local Category Search

    Google Maps for iOS has just received its first major update since launching back in December. Today’s update brings a couple of new features that will make it easier for users to find people and places inside the app.

    Version 1.1 now allows you to search you Google contacts inside the app. When you sign in, you’ll be able to see all of your friends’ saved addresses – even if they aren’t stored on your device.

    The update also adds category searches for locations, meaning that you can browse local bars, restaurants, etc. within the app.

    Here’s the full list of what’s new in v1.1:

    • Search your Google Contacts; sign in to have your saved addresses show up when you search for friends and family by name.
    • Quickly search for local places by selecting popular categories such as restaurants, bars, cafes, gas stations, etc.
    • Choose between Kilometers or Miles for your preferred distance units.

    Google finally launched a native iOS maps app back in December after Apple booted it from iOS 6. Considering how ill-received Apple Maps was, it was no surprise that Google Maps for iOS took off, topping 10 million downloads in just two days.

    You can snag the update right now on iTunes.

  • Google Maps May Be Spurring iOS 6 Adoption After All

    Apple no doubt suffered some humiliation at the hands of Google this past week. Google finally released their own maps app for iOS, after Apple purged them from the ecosystem with the release of iOS 6 – and it was a huge hit. As you probably remember, Apple replaced Google Maps with their own Apple Maps, an inferior product that drew wide criticism from users.

    The silver lining for Apple regarding the Google Maps release was that maybe, just maybe it would finally push people who were on the fence into upgrading to iOS 6.

    But initially reports indicated that wasn’t the case. Google Maps’ effect on iOS 6 adoption seemed negligible, at best. Chitika found that in the first day, the adoption rate climbed less than 0.2%. Not exactly the boost that was expected.

    Apparently, we simply needed to give people time – like a couple of days. A new report suggests that Google Maps actually is having an impact on iOS 6 adoption – and it’s significant.

    This data comes to us from MoPub (via BGR) They looked at around 12,000 of the iOS applications in their network and saw an astounding 29% increase in iOS 6 adoption in the first five days after Google released its Google Maps for iPhone app.

    “We observed since the launch of Google Maps for iOS 6 a 30 percent increase in unique iOS 6 users, and we think it’s related to Google Maps,” said MoPub CEO Jim Payne. “It verifies the hypothesis that people were actually holding back to upgrade until Google Maps was available.”

    Of course, this data comes from the clients of a specific company, and the data that pegged Google Maps as an exaggerated motivator also came from a specific analytics company. The point being these are not necessarily 100% representative of all iOS users at large.

    But it does suggest that iOS 6 adoption was spurred on by the re-addition of Google Maps to the iOS ecosystem – eventually.

    Google Maps for iPhone app was a big hit among iOS users in general. That we can be sure of. Google says that it saw over 10 million downloads in its first 48 hours in the App Store.

  • Apple Looking at Foursquare to Help with Apple Maps [REPORT]

    Everyone is looking for a way to incorporate personalized, local results into their location services. The new Google Maps for iOS features ratings, price, location, hours, and photo information for hundreds of thousands of businesses. Facebook just launched a huge redesign of it “Nearby” feature that turns it into a true location recommendation tool. Facebook is a new but potentially huge player in local search, considering the trove of user data they have already amassed and the amount coming in new every day.

    But don’t think that Apple is going to sit back and watch Google and Facebook dominate the local search game. Just because their Maps product was initially cast aside by early users and frankly embarrassed by Google’s product, it doesn’t mean they are going to throw in the towel on the whole project.

    According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is in preliminary talks with Foursquare to acquire their location data, in order to incorporate it into Apple Maps.

    Foursquare, which has been around for over three years, boasts over 3 billion total check-ins and millions of tips for local businesses all across the world.

    Although Apple has seen its share of criticism for rushing out an not-ready-for-primetime maps app (most of it rightfully earned), the app does have some things going for it. First, it’s pretty – there’s no denying that. Second, it’s the default maps app integrated into the OS. No matter how good a third-party maps app is, some people will struggle to venture outside the walls. Lastly, Apple has been fixing a lot of the more-egregious errors inside Apple Maps – misplaced landmarks, terrible directions, roads that aren’t there, etc.

    Adding Foursquare location data to Apple Maps could be a very smart move for the company, who has and will continue to have the task of convincing people to stay/come back to their product. Saying that you can deliver top-notch personalized local results is a step in the right direction.

    And for Foursquare, it would give them more exposure. We recently learned that the company will only generate about $2 million in revenue this year. Partnering with Apple may give them the reach that they’ve needed for awhile now.

  • Google Maps for iPhone Sees 10 Million+ Downloads in the First Two Days

    Everyone knew that people were going to rush toward Google Maps when the company finally released their native app for iOS. There have been plenty of disappointed iOS users since Apple unveiled the Google Map-less iOS 6, and most of them have been waiting impatiently for Google to restore the status quo. After all, iOS users had been content with using Google Maps for years, before Apple went and replaced it with a vastly inferior product.

    So we knew it would be popular, and popular quick. We now have to first download figures from Google, and they are as impressive as you would expect:

    Over 10 million downloads in the first 48 hours in the App Store.

    “We’re excited for the positive reception of Google Maps for iPhone around the world. Congratulations to the Maps Team on the recognition for the passion and hard work they poured into it, for this release and over the last 7+ years,” said Google’s Jeff Huber in a Google+ post earlier today.

    Google Maps for iPhone is still the #1 free app in the App Store, a position it has held since around 7 hours after its initial release. It’s currently a 4 and 1/2-star app with over 20,000 reviews posted.

    Although it’s clear that current iOS 6 users were quick to jump on the Google Maps app, it doesn’t appear that non-iOS 6 users have made the switch simply because Google Maps is finally available. In fact, there’s been a less than 0.2% increase in iOS 6 adoption since Google Maps for iPhone hit the App Store.

    But that’s not really Google’s problem, as they can celebrate that fact that iPhone users really missed their maps. Now, with users continuing to make the switch back to Google Maps, the company can start thinking about ads – something that’s been a part of their Android app for a while and something that they couldn’t do when they were built into the iOS framework.

  • Google Maps App Hasn’t Really Made People Flock to iOS 6

    Last week, Google finally launched their native maps app for iOS and users rejoiced. Apple Maps, the map product the company introduced with the launch of iOS 6, has been plagued with a variety of issues – most recently being accused of posing a risk to users’ health. The launch of the undeniably superior Google Maps for iPhone was seen as a positive for users and for Google, who can now develop an ad product for the app (if they so chose).

    But we also told you how Google Maps could be good for Apple in one particular way. Some analysts believed that the introduction of Google Maps for iOS could boost interest in iOS 6 and possibly spur adoption rates. Maybe, we thought, people who had been holding out on downloading the OS update because of Apple Maps would now do so considering they now have a viable alternative.

    Well, that idea is being busted. Four days after the launch of Google Maps for iOS, there has been barely any boost in iOS 6 adoption – definitely not enough to call it significant.

    The data comes to us from Chitika, who says that iOS adoption is at 72.94% not that Google Maps is available. Sounds high, right? I mean, it is a pretty high adoption rate. But the rate before the Google Maps iOS app was released stood at 72.77%. So at least for the time being, Google Maps has pushed the iOS 6 adoption rate up less than 0.2%.

    So, either people updated to iOS 6 once they knew Google Maps was on the way (it was widely publicized) or it simply hasn’t had an affect on iOS 6 adoption at all. A previous study determined that Apple Maps wasn’t really a problem for most users, and it looks like the deterrent effect of Apple Maps and the promotional effect of Google Maps may have both been exaggerated.

    [via TechCrunch]

  • Google Maps for iPhone is Good for Apple, Bad for Apple

    Yesterday’s launch of Google Maps for iPhone is clearly a win for iPhone users. Apple Maps, despite being rather pretty, failed when it comes to what really matters. Misplaced landmarks, improper directions, life-threatening errors – the problems were frequent and well-documented. Finally, Google has swooped in with their maps product that draws on superior data obtained from years of improving the product. Of course it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damn good.

    And it’s clearly a win for Google. Of course they get to stick it to Apple by coming in and saving the day – but for Google it’s more about money. The launch of their native maps app for iOS means one big thing: ads, ads, and ads. Not only ads, but ads based of locations data (it’s a maps app, remember?).

    But according to one analyst, the launch of Google Maps for iPhone is a mixed bag for Apple.

    First, the bad. Not only is Apple forced to accept the fact, once and for all, that they failed in rooting Google from their operating system (which was one of the main points of developing their own maps app in the first place), but it’s now going to be harder to make that maps product better.

    “Users’ input is critical in improving the quality of the application, and Apple will now receive less feedback on its own Maps app what with iPhone owners flocking to Google Maps,” says Needham & Company’s Charlie Wolf.

    He’s right, of course. In the wake of the initial Apple Maps hullabaloo, Tim Cook told iOS users that they were better off using a competing maps product, as Apple Maps simply wasn’t up to their standards. He also asked users to help them make the app better by submitting feedback and letting them know where they screwed up. If tons of people switch over to Google Maps, millions of little unpaid scouts leave Apple’s employ.

    Then again, Wolf points out the there is a silver lining for Apple – more interest in the iPhone 5 and iOS 6.

    “It has the potential to attract a meaningful number of new users to the iPhone who had previously shunned it because of Apple’s well-publicized misstep in releasing a less-than-market-ready product in the first place.”

    There’s a chance we’ll hear plenty of the “I can finally get the iPhone 5 (or upgrade to iOS 6) now that there’s Google Maps on it” sentiment over the coming weeks. A recent study did find that Apple Maps’ problems weren’t really a hinderance to people’s desire for the iPhone 5, however.

    Whatever the effect on Apple, we at least know that it’s going to have an effect. Google Maps for iPhone is already making a big splash; it’s the top app in the App Store right now and has been since about 7 hours after its launch.

    [via AppleInsider]

  • Google Maps for iPhone Arrives as Your Knight in Shining Armor

    If you’ve been waiting to be rescued from the evil Apple Maps (and didn’t make a product switch when Tim Cook told you to), you are in luck – as your white knight is here. Google has just launched the all new Google Maps app for iOS.

    This is the first native iOS maps app from Google since Apple kicked them out of iOS 6 and replaced them with (Apple’s) own maps product. That hasn’t really gone so well, as you may have heard (or experienced).

    Here’s what Google has to say about their brand new maps app:

    “The app shows more map on screen and turns mobile mapping into one intuitive experience. It’s a sharper looking, vector-based map that loads quickly and provides smooth tilting and rotating of 2D and 3D views. The search box at the top is a good place to start—perhaps by entering the name of a new and interesting restaurant. An expandable info sheet at the bottom shows the address, opening hours, ratings and reviews, images, directions and other information.”

    On first glance, it is pretty. It’s no prettier than Apple Maps’ interface, but hey – that was never the complaint to begin with. The readily available location information is also a nice touch.

    Of course, with Google Maps, you’re getting everything you know and love about Google Maps – 360 degree Street Views, indoor Street View with over 100,000 businesses across the world. But with this new release, iOS users are finally getting voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation, a feature previously reserved for Android users.

    For developers, Google is also releasing the Google Maps SDK for iOS alongside the maps app. With the Google Maps SDK, devs can easily insert the new Google maps into their iOS apps.

    “The SDK features vector-based maps that load quickly, allowing users to easily navigate 2D and 3D views, rotating and tilting the map with simple gestures inside your app. Developers can also change the Google maps view to include information such as traffic conditions, and control camera positions in 3D,” says Google.

    You can apply for an API key here.

    The app, which is available in over 40 countries and 29 languages, is ready to download in the App Store today. You definitely wouldn’t be the first. The app is already the number one free app in the world, garnered a five star rating with over 8,100 reviews in about eight hours. You may want to grab it before you start that road trip across Australia. Or, maybe not.

  • Samsung Ribs Apple for Australian Maps Fiasco with Hilarious Ad Installation

    Samsung Ribs Apple for Australian Maps Fiasco with Hilarious Ad Installation

    Earlier this week, it was pretty big news that Apple Maps was apparently leading Australian motorists into the middle of a national park instead of the cozy confines of Mildura. Sure, Apple Maps had seen plenty of bad press before, but until then they had never been accused of endangering lives. Despite the often over-the-job jeering, you can’t really feel sorry for Apple. If you’re going to rush out a maps product to displace one as solid as Google Maps, you should be prepared for ridicule if that maps product starts dumping people in the scorching-hot Australian bush.

    The opportunity to turn Apple’s bad press into an advertisement was apparent not lost on Samsung, who recently created one of the most timely and most clever physical advertisements you’re likely to see.

    Spotted by CNET Australia, Samsung’s ad installment on George Street in Sydney is pretty simple, yet so funny. A dirty SUV, complete with camping gear, sits next to a folding chair and a pitched tent. Beside it stand a sign that says,

    Oops, should have got a Samsung Galaxy SIII. Get navigation you can trust.

    Three points. Nothin’ but net.

    Samsung is no stranger to sharply targeting Apple with television ads, but this one is on a whole other level. Advertising as art as great joke.

  • Like Apple, Google Accused of Map Misguidance in Australia

    It appears that Apple isn’t the only maps provider that’s leading Australian motorist astray.

    According to police in Colac, a small city in the Western part of Victoria, Google maps are leading people down a dangerous path.

    Police say that the road in question, Wild Dog road, is a one-way track that’s not suitable for the traffic it’s getting.

    “My issue is it’s a significant safety issue for tourists [and] locals, who are getting the wrong information from their GPSs,” he said. My concern is that one day we’re going to be at the coroners court [being asked] well what did you do about it. We’re trying to do something about it, but if a 22-seater bus rolls off Wild Dog Road today, [there wouldn’t be] the multi-agency response to this issue that I would like,” Sergeant Nick Buenen told ABC News.

    Of course, this safety concern isn’t quite as serious as the one posed by Apple Maps. Earlier this week we told you that police in Mildura were warning motorists not to trust the new maps product, as it was leading them into a remote national park instead of their town. At least one person had to be rescued from the park, as much of it is without a water source and can see temperature well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Apple quickly corrected the mistake – partially.

    What’s the moral of the story? Simply put, don’t blindly trust maps products. Most of the time you’ll be ok, but you should probably start to get suspicious if you wander into an area that seems a little off.