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I started using apple maps a few months ago. This far I haven't had a single reason to look back. Search engine wise they are clearly on top. On the other hand

I started using apple maps a few months ago. This far I haven't had a single reason to look back. Search engine wise they are clearly on top. On the other hand, do enough social engineering and people will start using a worse product regardless. Youtube could of course force ads on its users, but that would also make those users less interested in youtube compared to competing platforms. This is not overly simple.

sametmax 9y ago
As I said, youtube is possible. Apple map ? Outside of the US, not even close. Google search, just forget about it.
- dchesterton 9y ago
  I've been using Apple Maps in the UK for the past year after buying a car with CarPlay. I also used it in hire cars in a couple of other European countries. It's pretty good. Traffic is accurate, although it is be a little slower to update than Google Maps (it seems to be ~5 mins behind). Directions are spot on and the UI (at least in CarPlay) is clear and detailed. The only thing that's poor compared to Google Maps is the search but it's certainly a decent alternative and it's come a long way since it was first released.
  - Angostura 9y ago
    The only thing I dislike about Apple Maps is its screwed up hierarchy of importance. Local trains stations, leisure centres, schools etc seem to be afforded the same level of importance as the local nail bar. It's horribly cluttered.
- arethuza 9y ago
  "Outside of the US, not even close." I'm in the UK I use both Apple maps, Google maps, OpenStreetMap and Bing maps regularly (in addition to the built in nav system in my car) and for me the only noticeable strength that Google has is streetview. The "satellite" view in Google Maps where I live is actually so old (12+ years) that it's actually becoming useful for researching historical stuff...
- emptyfile 9y ago
  Apple maps is not usable in eastern Europe not even for short trips, in my quite popular tourist country they're at least 5 years out of date. I can speculate that outside of Europe its even worse.
- sniglom 9y ago
  I use apple maps in Sweden. Works flawless. A few years ago it was totally useless.
- Lunatic666 9y ago
  Apple Maps in Singapore is perfect since they added support for public transportation (bus system is a little confusing in Singapore). Now it's so easy to take a bus home when you got lost.
StavrosK 9y ago
I don't know how clearly they are on top. I switched to DuckDuckGo more than a year ago and I rarely use Google these days, mostly for the occasional programming-related search that DDG doesn't get right.
- sametmax 9y ago
  You are tech a saavy english speaking HN reader. Now let's see what a mum from Spain that spend most of her time of facebook says. Who do you think click on ads, you or her ?
  - StavrosK 9y ago
    For a mum from Spain, the difference would be even smaller. She probably wouldn't even notice she was using a different search engine, the results would be pretty similar to Google's.

sametmax 9y ago

As I said, youtube is possible. Apple map ? Outside of the US, not even close. Google search, just forget about it.

dchesterton 9y ago
I've been using Apple Maps in the UK for the past year after buying a car with CarPlay. I also used it in hire cars in a couple of other European countries. It's pretty good. Traffic is accurate, although it is be a little slower to update than Google Maps (it seems to be ~5 mins behind). Directions are spot on and the UI (at least in CarPlay) is clear and detailed. The only thing that's poor compared to Google Maps is the search but it's certainly a decent alternative and it's come a long way since it was first released.
- Angostura 9y ago
  The only thing I dislike about Apple Maps is its screwed up hierarchy of importance. Local trains stations, leisure centres, schools etc seem to be afforded the same level of importance as the local nail bar. It's horribly cluttered.
arethuza 9y ago
"Outside of the US, not even close." I'm in the UK I use both Apple maps, Google maps, OpenStreetMap and Bing maps regularly (in addition to the built in nav system in my car) and for me the only noticeable strength that Google has is streetview. The "satellite" view in Google Maps where I live is actually so old (12+ years) that it's actually becoming useful for researching historical stuff...
emptyfile 9y ago
Apple maps is not usable in eastern Europe not even for short trips, in my quite popular tourist country they're at least 5 years out of date. I can speculate that outside of Europe its even worse.
sniglom 9y ago
I use apple maps in Sweden. Works flawless. A few years ago it was totally useless.
Lunatic666 9y ago
Apple Maps in Singapore is perfect since they added support for public transportation (bus system is a little confusing in Singapore). Now it's so easy to take a bus home when you got lost.

StavrosK 9y ago

I don't know how clearly they are on top. I switched to DuckDuckGo more than a year ago and I rarely use Google these days, mostly for the occasional programming-related search that DDG doesn't get right.

sametmax 9y ago
You are tech a saavy english speaking HN reader. Now let's see what a mum from Spain that spend most of her time of facebook says. Who do you think click on ads, you or her ?
- StavrosK 9y ago
  For a mum from Spain, the difference would be even smaller. She probably wouldn't even notice she was using a different search engine, the results would be pretty similar to Google's.