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This update may make me switch from Google Maps. The UI in Google Maps has always been confusing and cluttered. There's a search bar, then quick search buttons

This update may make me switch from Google Maps. The UI in Google Maps has always been confusing and cluttered. There's a search bar, then quick search buttons underneath, then the layers button, "Explore nearby", explore, commute, "For you", and then finally the hamburger menu. Apple Maps is a lot cleaner but the only thing missing was the quality of the actual maps. Hopefully that has changed now.

itp 7y ago
There's also the ability to collaborate with people who don't have an iOS device. If someone creates a Collection in Apple Maps I just don't get to participate. If someone creates a shared list in Google Maps I can see it on my phone, a web browser, someone with an iPhone...
- briandear 7y ago
  And Google gets to see it too. And all their advertisers.
  - reissbaker 7y ago
    Google doesn't give your map collections to advertisers. It's true that Google gets to see them, but Apple is no better in that regard: they store your collections on their servers too (where else would they store them?).
    - krrrh 7y ago
      Apple is better in that regard. End-to-end encryption Maps keeps your personal data in sync across all your devices using end-to-end encryption. Your Significant Locations and collections are encrypted end-to-end so Apple cannot read them. And when you share your ETA with other Maps users, Apple can’t see your location. Other useful sections on that page worth reading: "Location Fuzzing", "Random Identifiers", and "(on-device) Personalization" From: https://www.apple.com/privacy/features/ https://www.apple.com/privacy/features/
      - izacus 7y ago
        _SHARED_ collections between multiple Apple users are not E2E encrypted. Don't spread misinformation on privacy, it'll mislead people into sharing too much data.
        krrrh 7y ago
        That’s interesting. Can you point to a reference for that? I would have assumed that shared collections with a group of iCloud accounts would be e2e encrypted like iMessage groups are e2e encrypted. Glad to revisit that assumption.
jschwartzi 7y ago
My favorite feature of Google Maps is how it gets 10x slower when you turn location history off. And then it obnoxiously prompts you to turn it back on for an "improved user experience." I've duplicated this exact experience across several generations of smartphone including a relatively recent Galaxy S7. Turning location history back on makes the slowness go away.
- abawany 7y ago
  Google's treatment of Android users vs. its treatment of iOS users for the same app is insightful: in the former case, the treatment imo borders on the abusive with mandatory and permanent changes required to data collection to be able to do trivial things such as activate a Google Assistant using the Home app.
- what_ever 7y ago
  I don't have this experience on Pixel 3. I also have location history off and have never gotten the prompt. Does that come up in a specific usecase? Disc: Googler but nowhere close to Maps.
  - jschwartzi 7y ago
    Yeah, whenever my fiance or I try to search for a location, it takes maps several seconds to let us start typing. It only does this when we turn location history off. Honestly one of the things that drove me to stop using my G4 was this issue, because I had thought it was a performance issue with the phone. Then my fiance showed me how slow her S7 was with location history turned off versus on. Regarding the prompt, it's always on in the search screen but starting a search makes it go away.
    - what_ever 7y ago
      I just cold-started the Maps app, and search and keyboard opened instantly. May be try deleting the app data and cache? If not, not sure what's the issue honestly.
rodgerd 7y ago
Google maps used to be fantastic, but in the last year or so it's become so fucking toxic - constantly spamming suggestions and asking questions, even during navigation (in other words, distracting me from driving!). Apple maps may not be quite as good (the lack of cycling in my neck of the woods is annoying) but at least it's not trying to crash my car.
- leggomylibro 7y ago
  It is really annoying how it auto-switches to routes that it thinks will be faster. "We've found you a faster route. Switching in 10 seconds if you don't press 'no thanks'..." Come on, Google, there's a semi truck braking in front of me and I'm trying to make sure it's safe to change lanes, can this wait? But the "is [reported hazard] still here?" bubbles don't bother me as much, since they go away after a few seconds. I think all of the cues are intended for passengers who are navigating for someone else, but the developers should keep in mind that some people use their phones as a standalone GPS navigator.

itp 7y ago

There's also the ability to collaborate with people who don't have an iOS device. If someone creates a Collection in Apple Maps I just don't get to participate. If someone creates a shared list in Google Maps I can see it on my phone, a web browser, someone with an iPhone...

briandear 7y ago
And Google gets to see it too. And all their advertisers.
- reissbaker 7y ago
  Google doesn't give your map collections to advertisers. It's true that Google gets to see them, but Apple is no better in that regard: they store your collections on their servers too (where else would they store them?).
  - krrrh 7y ago
    Apple is better in that regard. End-to-end encryption Maps keeps your personal data in sync across all your devices using end-to-end encryption. Your Significant Locations and collections are encrypted end-to-end so Apple cannot read them. And when you share your ETA with other Maps users, Apple can’t see your location. Other useful sections on that page worth reading: "Location Fuzzing", "Random Identifiers", and "(on-device) Personalization" From: https://www.apple.com/privacy/features/ https://www.apple.com/privacy/features/
    - izacus 7y ago
      _SHARED_ collections between multiple Apple users are not E2E encrypted. Don't spread misinformation on privacy, it'll mislead people into sharing too much data.
      - krrrh 7y ago
        That’s interesting. Can you point to a reference for that? I would have assumed that shared collections with a group of iCloud accounts would be e2e encrypted like iMessage groups are e2e encrypted. Glad to revisit that assumption.

jschwartzi 7y ago

My favorite feature of Google Maps is how it gets 10x slower when you turn location history off. And then it obnoxiously prompts you to turn it back on for an "improved user experience." I've duplicated this exact experience across several generations of smartphone including a relatively recent Galaxy S7. Turning location history back on makes the slowness go away.

abawany 7y ago
Google's treatment of Android users vs. its treatment of iOS users for the same app is insightful: in the former case, the treatment imo borders on the abusive with mandatory and permanent changes required to data collection to be able to do trivial things such as activate a Google Assistant using the Home app.
what_ever 7y ago
I don't have this experience on Pixel 3. I also have location history off and have never gotten the prompt. Does that come up in a specific usecase? Disc: Googler but nowhere close to Maps.
- jschwartzi 7y ago
  Yeah, whenever my fiance or I try to search for a location, it takes maps several seconds to let us start typing. It only does this when we turn location history off. Honestly one of the things that drove me to stop using my G4 was this issue, because I had thought it was a performance issue with the phone. Then my fiance showed me how slow her S7 was with location history turned off versus on. Regarding the prompt, it's always on in the search screen but starting a search makes it go away.
  - what_ever 7y ago
    I just cold-started the Maps app, and search and keyboard opened instantly. May be try deleting the app data and cache? If not, not sure what's the issue honestly.

rodgerd 7y ago

Google maps used to be fantastic, but in the last year or so it's become so fucking toxic - constantly spamming suggestions and asking questions, even during navigation (in other words, distracting me from driving!). Apple maps may not be quite as good (the lack of cycling in my neck of the woods is annoying) but at least it's not trying to crash my car.

leggomylibro 7y ago
It is really annoying how it auto-switches to routes that it thinks will be faster. "We've found you a faster route. Switching in 10 seconds if you don't press 'no thanks'..." Come on, Google, there's a semi truck braking in front of me and I'm trying to make sure it's safe to change lanes, can this wait? But the "is [reported hazard] still here?" bubbles don't bother me as much, since they go away after a few seconds. I think all of the cues are intended for passengers who are navigating for someone else, but the developers should keep in mind that some people use their phones as a standalone GPS navigator.