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Hopefully Google releases a Google Maps app into the App Store, like they did with YouTube. Apple Maps looks like a major regression from Google Maps.

by mikek 14y ago

brink 14y ago
To me it would almost make sense for them to not add their google maps application so that it would make them, like mtalantikite consider switching to Android. I don't know why Google would have much of an incentive to improve iOS when it has it's own operating system to sell.
- slykat 14y ago
  I think you are forgetting that Google doesn't sell its OS. The point of Android is to enable more eyeballs to their products since eyeballs = ad dollars. So Google will do whatever they can to get users on the Google platform (which is exactly why Google+ is great on iOS). Maps has a huge local revenue opportunity for Google. It has user intent, most of the searches are commercial, you know the user's tastes and hangouts (through past searches), and the user is addressable (since they are close to the item of interest). This means high CPC rates (or equivalent) if you can deliver a real ad product. Thus, I'd bet pretty strongly that a maps product will be coming to iOS since Google would hate to risk losing those valuable eyeballs.
- juiceandjuice 14y ago
  Because they'd still get advertisement money from sponsored listings vs. no advertising money.
- caycep 14y ago
  youtube app just came out, and g+ has been pretty spiffy..
cheald 14y ago
Would Apple even permit it? Last I'd heard they were pretty gung-ho on the "No apps that do the same thing as stock apps" thing.
- MrScruff 14y ago
  I think they relaxed that restriction long ago, hence the variety of browsers, email clients etc available.
  - cheald 14y ago
    I was under the impression that things like browser apps are still just wrapping UIWebViews and such. I know this is the case for Chrome - the (heh) chrome is different, but the browser itself is the iOS stock. Is it a technical restriction rather than a philosophical one?
    - espes 14y ago
      Both. Apple has a restriction on 'executing' downloaded code yourself (javascript).
spartango 14y ago
Google has promised this already, and it should be out relatively soon. It's not clear what all will be in it, though. Apple Maps is a regression in certain areas (public transit, as noted above), and advances others (the turn-by-turn experience), so it's a mixed bag. At the end of the day, most of these things are reconciled through the app ecosystem: if you are heavily dependent on public transit, Google and other app providers support you well. If you're a driver, Apple and TomTom provide worthy solutions. And so on with walking and biking directions. We, as consumer, get choices and it's relatively easy to switch between them.
- jwoah12 14y ago
  What is better about the iPhone's turn-by-turn? I've never used it, but I am really happy with Google's Navigation on my Galaxy Nexus. It's always been accurate and responsive, it starts up much quicker than the standalone GPS units I've seen (small sample size), and the voice sounds much more natural.
  - Tivs 14y ago
    It's the first time they've had it. There isn't turn-by-turn on the iPhone currently. But if they have issues finding addresses in general how good can the turn-by-turn really be?
- 3JPLW 14y ago
  Do you have a source for Google's promise of a new iOS maps app? I can't find anything. That said, even if they do submit one immediately, I'm afraid Apple will tie it up in review for a month or two to allow their version to gain a userbase. I know if a Google version were available upon upgrade to iOS 6, I'd download it immediately. Transit directions are a must-have feature for me.
  - mikeevans 14y ago
    http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/06/google-maps-ios-app/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/06/google-maps-ios-app/

Hopefully Google releases a Google Maps app into the App Store, like they did with YouTube. Apple Maps looks like a major regression from Google Maps.

by mikek 14y ago

Hopefully Google releases a Google Maps app into the App Store, like they did with YouTube. Apple Maps looks like a major regression from Google Maps.

brink 14y ago

To me it would almost make sense for them to not add their google maps application so that it would make them, like mtalantikite consider switching to Android. I don't know why Google would have much of an incentive to improve iOS when it has it's own operating system to sell.

slykat 14y ago
I think you are forgetting that Google doesn't sell its OS. The point of Android is to enable more eyeballs to their products since eyeballs = ad dollars. So Google will do whatever they can to get users on the Google platform (which is exactly why Google+ is great on iOS). Maps has a huge local revenue opportunity for Google. It has user intent, most of the searches are commercial, you know the user's tastes and hangouts (through past searches), and the user is addressable (since they are close to the item of interest). This means high CPC rates (or equivalent) if you can deliver a real ad product. Thus, I'd bet pretty strongly that a maps product will be coming to iOS since Google would hate to risk losing those valuable eyeballs.
juiceandjuice 14y ago
Because they'd still get advertisement money from sponsored listings vs. no advertising money.
caycep 14y ago
youtube app just came out, and g+ has been pretty spiffy..

cheald 14y ago

Would Apple even permit it? Last I'd heard they were pretty gung-ho on the "No apps that do the same thing as stock apps" thing.

MrScruff 14y ago
I think they relaxed that restriction long ago, hence the variety of browsers, email clients etc available.
- cheald 14y ago
  I was under the impression that things like browser apps are still just wrapping UIWebViews and such. I know this is the case for Chrome - the (heh) chrome is different, but the browser itself is the iOS stock. Is it a technical restriction rather than a philosophical one?
  - espes 14y ago
    Both. Apple has a restriction on 'executing' downloaded code yourself (javascript).

spartango 14y ago

Google has promised this already, and it should be out relatively soon. It's not clear what all will be in it, though. Apple Maps is a regression in certain areas (public transit, as noted above), and advances others (the turn-by-turn experience), so it's a mixed bag. At the end of the day, most of these things are reconciled through the app ecosystem: if you are heavily dependent on public transit, Google and other app providers support you well. If you're a driver, Apple and TomTom provide worthy solutions. And so on with walking and biking directions. We, as consumer, get choices and it's relatively easy to switch between them.

jwoah12 14y ago
What is better about the iPhone's turn-by-turn? I've never used it, but I am really happy with Google's Navigation on my Galaxy Nexus. It's always been accurate and responsive, it starts up much quicker than the standalone GPS units I've seen (small sample size), and the voice sounds much more natural.
- Tivs 14y ago
  It's the first time they've had it. There isn't turn-by-turn on the iPhone currently. But if they have issues finding addresses in general how good can the turn-by-turn really be?
3JPLW 14y ago
Do you have a source for Google's promise of a new iOS maps app? I can't find anything. That said, even if they do submit one immediately, I'm afraid Apple will tie it up in review for a month or two to allow their version to gain a userbase. I know if a Google version were available upon upgrade to iOS 6, I'd download it immediately. Transit directions are a must-have feature for me.
- mikeevans 14y ago
  http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/06/google-maps-ios-app/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/06/google-maps-ios-app/