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In London I find Apple Maps superior to Google Maps in almost every way. Apple's cycling routing is miles ahead of Google's.

madeofpalk 5y ago
I was very happy when Apple "finally" added cycling directions in London. That was the only reason why I used Google Maps. Apple does give me some funky directions through Victoria Park, though I'm always surprised when any map service can route through parks somewhat well.
- saurik 5y ago
  Why did you switch?
  - sbuk 5y ago
    > I was very happy when Apple "finally" added cycling directions in London. That was the only reason why I used Google Maps.
    - saurik 5y ago
      Yes: I absolutely understood the catalyst, but not the reason. I will rephrase my question: why did you want to switch? Is that less confusing? The person I am responding to seemed eager to leave Google Maps, but couldn't because of one critical feature; once that critical feature was there, removing the reason they had not to switch... but, there still had to be some remaining reason why the person switched: a reason that had caused them to be waiting to switch this whole time (and while I have some ideas as to what that reason might be, it isn't at all obvious which one and I didn't want to bias the answer by suggesting any). Is this really such a strange concept? :(
  - benhurmarcel 5y ago
    Personally I prefer using Apple Maps when possible because the app is a lot more fluid, it has a dark mode, and it feels better about privacy.
  - madeofpalk 5y ago
    > seemed eager to leave Google Maps, but couldn't because of one critical feature I never wanted to use Google Maps, but had to due to the feature. Using "Apple Maps" was the default preferred position. I think Apple Maps looks better and is easier to use than Google Maps. I especially dislike the Google Maps turn by turn directions interface.
komuher 5y ago
Good for you one mega-city in Europe* got proper apple treatment after 10 years lets wait 20 more years for other monster cities, and then they can maybe add some cities under a 10 million population :D
- tshaddox 5y ago
  What’s the other option? Google is the only internet map ever? Or no other internet map can ever release anything until they have perfect global coverage?
  - folli 5y ago
    How about OSM?
    - incone123 5y ago
      Love osm and osmand, but if I'm travelling in town then I go to Google map for real time traffic and public transit.
    - extra88 5y ago
      What is a good iOS app for turn-by-turn directions (driving, biking, walking, public transit) that uses OpenStreetMap data?
      - distances 5y ago
        Organic Maps is IMHO the most usable OSM app for Android. It's available also for iOS, no idea if it's 1-to-1 but worth giving it a try.
        extra88 5y ago
        It’s in the store. It touts working offline, do you have save map data for an area first or can you use it the same way as other map apps? I’ve used Google Maps’ offline saving feature when traveling internationally and where cell service is poor or absent. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps/id1567437057 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps/id1567437057
tpush 5y ago
Apple Maps tends to be better in English speaking countries, or otherwise where there's a lot of iPhones. Google Maps is almost universally better anywhere else.
woadwarrior01 5y ago
Same in Dublin, Ireland. Here, the quality of Apple Maps improved significantly about a year ago.
- cianmm 5y ago
  Their shop/restaurant opening times are still totally useless though. I live in Stoneybatter (next effectively 15 min walk from the city centre for those not from Dublin) and I’d estimate that at least 1/3rd of the correct waypoints, opening times, and associated data in the area is from me slowly correcting stuff over the last few years.
  - wrycoder 5y ago
    For restaurants, etc, I usually start with Yelp, which uses Apple Maps for navigation. I get the rest of the details from Yelp. (I’m in the US)
vagrantJin 5y ago
> In London I find Apple Maps superior to Google Maps in almost every way Google Maps is good in a backwater town in some country you've never heard of.
- cromwellian 5y ago
  You mean like Karachi, Pakistan? Is that a backwater town to you?
airpoint 5y ago
For cycling in London, in my experience: CityMapper >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Apple Maps >>>>> Google Maps
andylynch 5y ago
It is, though one thing apple could improve is the feedback on errors- it’s routing thinks some major streets are one way here and that others aren’t which seems hard to fix.
threatofrain 5y ago
Are you able to plot multiple routes yet?

madeofpalk 5y ago

I was very happy when Apple "finally" added cycling directions in London. That was the only reason why I used Google Maps. Apple does give me some funky directions through Victoria Park, though I'm always surprised when any map service can route through parks somewhat well.

saurik 5y ago
Why did you switch?
- sbuk 5y ago
  > I was very happy when Apple "finally" added cycling directions in London. That was the only reason why I used Google Maps.
  - saurik 5y ago
    Yes: I absolutely understood the catalyst, but not the reason. I will rephrase my question: why did you want to switch? Is that less confusing? The person I am responding to seemed eager to leave Google Maps, but couldn't because of one critical feature; once that critical feature was there, removing the reason they had not to switch... but, there still had to be some remaining reason why the person switched: a reason that had caused them to be waiting to switch this whole time (and while I have some ideas as to what that reason might be, it isn't at all obvious which one and I didn't want to bias the answer by suggesting any). Is this really such a strange concept? :(
- benhurmarcel 5y ago
  Personally I prefer using Apple Maps when possible because the app is a lot more fluid, it has a dark mode, and it feels better about privacy.
- madeofpalk 5y ago
  > seemed eager to leave Google Maps, but couldn't because of one critical feature I never wanted to use Google Maps, but had to due to the feature. Using "Apple Maps" was the default preferred position. I think Apple Maps looks better and is easier to use than Google Maps. I especially dislike the Google Maps turn by turn directions interface.

komuher 5y ago

Good for you one mega-city in Europe* got proper apple treatment after 10 years lets wait 20 more years for other monster cities, and then they can maybe add some cities under a 10 million population :D

tshaddox 5y ago
What’s the other option? Google is the only internet map ever? Or no other internet map can ever release anything until they have perfect global coverage?
- folli 5y ago
  How about OSM?
  - incone123 5y ago
    Love osm and osmand, but if I'm travelling in town then I go to Google map for real time traffic and public transit.
  - extra88 5y ago
    What is a good iOS app for turn-by-turn directions (driving, biking, walking, public transit) that uses OpenStreetMap data?
    - distances 5y ago
      Organic Maps is IMHO the most usable OSM app for Android. It's available also for iOS, no idea if it's 1-to-1 but worth giving it a try.
      - extra88 5y ago
        It’s in the store. It touts working offline, do you have save map data for an area first or can you use it the same way as other map apps? I’ve used Google Maps’ offline saving feature when traveling internationally and where cell service is poor or absent. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps/id1567437057 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps/id1567437057

tpush 5y ago

Apple Maps tends to be better in English speaking countries, or otherwise where there's a lot of iPhones. Google Maps is almost universally better anywhere else.

woadwarrior01 5y ago

Same in Dublin, Ireland. Here, the quality of Apple Maps improved significantly about a year ago.

cianmm 5y ago
Their shop/restaurant opening times are still totally useless though. I live in Stoneybatter (next effectively 15 min walk from the city centre for those not from Dublin) and I’d estimate that at least 1/3rd of the correct waypoints, opening times, and associated data in the area is from me slowly correcting stuff over the last few years.
- wrycoder 5y ago
  For restaurants, etc, I usually start with Yelp, which uses Apple Maps for navigation. I get the rest of the details from Yelp. (I’m in the US)

vagrantJin 5y ago

> In London I find Apple Maps superior to Google Maps in almost every way Google Maps is good in a backwater town in some country you've never heard of.

cromwellian 5y ago
You mean like Karachi, Pakistan? Is that a backwater town to you?

airpoint 5y ago

For cycling in London, in my experience: CityMapper >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Apple Maps >>>>> Google Maps

andylynch 5y ago

It is, though one thing apple could improve is the feedback on errors- it’s routing thinks some major streets are one way here and that others aren’t which seems hard to fix.

threatofrain 5y ago

Are you able to plot multiple routes yet?