Google Maps App for iOS

[professorhat]

Google Maps now available for iOS - hurrah! It's free and also includes turn by turn navigation.

Warning - if you do a search for "Google Maps" in the App store, at the moment it's inexplicably seven items down in the list! :wall:

 

[eggontoast]

Excellent.......its up to #5 now, give it a few hours it will be top of the search list ;-)

 

[Andy Clough]

Good spot professorhat, that's going straight on my iPhone!

 

[chebby]

I've replaced the web version I've been using. Thanks.

 

[bigboss]

:cheers:

Google have now released their full set of apps missing so far!

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/apple-ipad/google-releases-youtube-app-for-ios

 

[MajorFubar]

Fantasic I'll be downloading that when I get home.
I reckon they had this ready ages ago but wanted to make sure Apple's ineptitude got maximum exposure before they launched the alternative. Can't blame them for that really. All's fair in love, war and business.

 

[RodhasGibson]

Yep Great,only for iPhone at the moment coming to iPad soon I here.

 

[chebby]

Nice that Apple have been mature about allowing it onto their apps store. They acknowledged their own offering was flawed, apologised and signed off on a competitor's superior app.

 

[MajorFubar]

True but let's be honest, if the rumour had got round that a Google Maps app was ready but Apple were dragging their heels over signing it off, that would do their reputation even more harm still. I'm sure they signed it off grudgingly. There will have been nothing mature about it. It will have been all about which option is best in terms of damage-limitation.

 

[Dave_]

I'm sure the reports of BBQd Aussies expedited their decision...

 

[AlmaataKZ]

I've replaced the web version I've been using. Thanks.

+1

at #4 in the search right now

 

[Ian986]

To be honest I have been using apple one without any problems I will download the google one to see if is any better

 

[MajorFubar]

To be honest I have been using apple one without any problems

Here he is! The satisfied customer who likes Apple Maps! Apple have been hunting the world for you mate! :rofl: Imagine, finding you here of all places! :cheers:

 

[chebby]

I'm sure the reports of BBQd Aussies expedited their decision...

I would 'back up' any GPS or electronic mapping system with good old fashioned (but up-to-date) paper maps + compass if driving into a hostile environment.

The top of our road (not a hostile environment i'm happy to say) has been one-way for 5 years. Every GPS system I have seen still directs vehicles down it the wrong way! It is the driver's responsibility if they solely rely for directions on something that has been widely (very, very widely) publicised as faulty.

Also, if you travel into the wilderness (anywhere, let alone Australia), it's your responsibility to plan and prepare and get all the best survival advice and take the right kit etc.

 

[ukdavej]

I'm sure the reports of BBQd Aussies expedited their decision...

I would 'back up' any GPS or electronic mapping system with good old fashioned (but up-to-date) paper maps + compass if driving into a hostile environment.

I think though that was the whole beef. The app was directing users 40 odd miles away from where they were expecting to be. Unfortunatly, that 40 odd miles took them to the middle of nowhere with no water and poor phone reception.

 

[professorhat]

To be honest, I've also not had any real issues with Apple Maps system - its directions have got me where I wanted to go every time I've used it. The only "issue" I have with it is it's a bit sparse on detail of your surroundings e.g. looking for nearby restaurants / coffee shops / pubs when in a new town. Or the other day, driving past a big country house / large gates etc and wondering where it was. Google Maps nearly always has stuff like this but I've found Apple's version severely lacking at the moment.

 

[scene]

Nice that Apple have been mature about allowing it onto their apps store. They acknowledged their own offering was flawed, apologised and signed off on a competitor's superior app.

Not sure if it's maturity, or commercial acumen (but see below...)

Apple and Google (in the form of Android) are huge competitors, but Apple was paying Google to keep maps on iThings (see here) so cutting off Google Maps from iOS 6 saved them buckets of cash. That was a good commercial move.

The bad move was not to make sure that they had a replacement app ready and working (this last word is important...) to replace Google's offering when it was dumped. Hence the unceremonious departure of Execs involved.

I wonder if Google got word of the fact that Apple's offering had issues, and held back on the GoogleMaps App - who knows? Rumours abound that the app was ready months ago. It certainly didn't hurt Google to let Apple stew a bit.

But, it hasn't hurt Apple's bottom line if they're paying $1-2bn less to Google for the right to have their Maps app AND google now have to provide it for free - which is a win-win scenario for Apple - if they can survive the bad press of the current AppleMaps storm...

 

[6th.replicant]

Initially, Google Maps wasn't exactly the epitome of accuracy or functionality. Will Apple persevere with Maps or will it be quietly removed come the next iOS update?

 

[scene]

Initially, Google Maps wasn't exactly the epitome of accuracy or functionality. Will Apple persevere with Maps or will it be quietly removed come the next iOS update?

Now that is a really good question.

I suspect they might well stick with it, as they want to do the whole location-based services thing. Otherwise, it could be quietly lost in the mists of time.

 

[John Duncan]

Imagine, finding you here of all places! :cheers:

Unfortunately, he searched for 'Watford' on Apple Maps.

 

[MajorFubar]

Imagine, finding you here of all places! :cheers:

Unfortunately, he searched for 'Watford' on Apple Maps.

John, you keep knockin' 'em down and I'll keep settin' 'em up. for ya.

 

[ReValveiT]

Really laggy on the iPhone 4, oddly runs fine on the 3GS.

🙁