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Does Apple have a Maps program on the Android devices? Are there other Maps programs available on the iOS devices? Saying Apple is 'forcing' users onto their

by shawnc 14y ago

Does Apple have a Maps program on the Android devices? Are there other Maps programs available on the iOS devices? Saying Apple is 'forcing' users onto their product is a bit much.

adildoatemybaby 14y ago
You're being obtuse, people have money invested in the Apple ecosystem, it's not easy to switch, and no other mapping app will have the iOS integration Maps does. Until a comparable app is available on the OS, yes Apple is forcing users onto their product.
- taligent 14y ago
  You're not forced to upgrade to iOS6 nor is Apple blocking Google Maps on the browser.
  - mavhc 14y ago
    Unless you want, say, security updates. You're also forced to buy a new phone/device if you want them after x years too, where x is a low number
    - astral303 14y ago
      Where X is a number considerably higher than for Android. Look at the number of years the 3GS has survived and compare that with your average Android phone not getting latest OS updates or any security updates. But I agree that anyone buying a new phone is stuck with iOS 6.
      - fpgeek 14y ago
        It depends on what kind of updates you're talking about. OS updates are a problem, but I personally know that the G1 got around 3 years of Maps app updates, and given the current OS version distribution newer devices are likely to do even better than that.
      - jronald 14y ago
        My Motorola droid is able to run Android 4.1 - not a super snappy experience, but it does run. It released in october of 2009. Every feature in 4.1 works on it. I don't have the "fun" apple is pulling with a guessing game on what features work on what phones: http://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/ http://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/ Also, while the 3GS (June 09) is getting ios6, the original ipad (April 2010) is not. Apple will abandon their equipment just as fast if it suits them.
        bobwaycott 14y ago
        > Also, while the 3GS (June 09) is getting ios6, the original ipad (April 2010) is not. Apple will abandon their equipment just as fast if it suits them. Indeed. I am quite frustrated that my first-gen iPad is, for whatever reason(s), not deemed worthy enough of iOS 6.
  - untog 14y ago
    You're not forced to upgrade to iOS6 Oh, come on. nor is Apple blocking Google Maps on the browser And nor are they allowing third party apps to integrate into the OS in the way their Maps app does.
  - hadem 14y ago
    What about the people upgrading phones?
  - underwater 14y ago
    I upgraded to iOS6 to get the turn-by-turn navigation. Now I discover that only iPhone 4S and 5 devices get voice guidance. There is no way I can get Google Maps back without jailbreaking my phone. The voice limitation appears to be simply planned obsolescence; Waze can handle it without issues. This is a slap in the face to someone who paid a lot of money to Apple for a current-generation phone a little over a year ago. Apple's closed platform has worked only because they've been able to give consumers such a high-quality experience. I think this fiasco will be a big wake-up call to lots of iPhone owners about how Apple's limitations can hurt them.
    - philwelch 14y ago
      > There is no way I can get Google Maps back without jailbreaking my phone. You can't restore from a pre-upgrade backup?
      - Nicole060 14y ago
        If you didn't jailbreak beforehand and capture the SHSH blob, no, you can't. So for the vast majority of people who upgraded to iOS 6 there is no going back. http://blog.iphone-dev.org/ http://blog.iphone-dev.org/ That's the cost of being inside a walled garden. You don't even have the freedom to install previous firmwares on your device. But since the browser is part of a firmware upgrade it would be a terrible idea anyway, a new security bug has been found on mobile safari recently, you don't want to stay on older fimrwares if you can help it. Google maps, or a secure browser ? Pick one.
- mynameishere 14y ago
  Don't know if it's any good. http://www.esri.com/news/releases/10_3qtr/arcgis-ios.html http://www.esri.com/news/releases/10_3qtr/arcgis-ios.html
chmars 14y ago
As of today, I don't know of any Apple Maps alternatives in the iOS App Store. And switching a mobile platform is neither trivial nor a short-term perspective … I hope Google is busy worki on its own Maps app for iOS — for the time being, Google Maps in Mobile Safari has to do it for me.
- DigitalJack 14y ago
  There are 100s of navigation apps and almost all have maps, directions, gps integration.
  - jasonlotito 14y ago
    And can be set as the default app so when I click on a location, it takes me to that location without forcing me to jump through hoops in copying the text, and then clicking over and eventually pasting it? You know, like it was in iOS5? Awesome!
    - dholowiski 14y ago
      That is not a "map" thing that's an IOS thing. If you want to change default applications, better switch to android.
      - kordless 14y ago
        You got it.
        headShrinker 14y ago
        Wow, that was easy. I have a bridge to sell you.
      - fpgeek 14y ago
        Or jailbreak, from what I understand.
      - 14y ago
danparsonson 14y ago
Yes there are other maps programs available for iOS - the Google Maps app that comes with iOS 4 and 5 is very capable.
- hadem 14y ago
  That app has been replaced with the Apple Maps. Google maps is only available via the browser in iOS6 (at this time).
kamechan 14y ago
> does apple have a maps program on the android devices? not that i'm aware of. i don't believe there to be a browser interface for their maps "solution". i could be wrong. > are there other maps program available on the ios devices? yes. google maps, or any other maps via the browser. sure, not the kind of integration one gets from an app. but there, nevertheless.
sylvinus 14y ago
iTunes is certainly going to ask people to upgrade without giving them a warning about the Maps downgrade!

by shawnc 14y ago

Does Apple have a Maps program on the Android devices? Are there other Maps programs available on the iOS devices? Saying Apple is 'forcing' users onto their product is a bit much.

adildoatemybaby 14y ago

You're being obtuse, people have money invested in the Apple ecosystem, it's not easy to switch, and no other mapping app will have the iOS integration Maps does. Until a comparable app is available on the OS, yes Apple is forcing users onto their product.

taligent 14y ago
You're not forced to upgrade to iOS6 nor is Apple blocking Google Maps on the browser.
- mavhc 14y ago
  Unless you want, say, security updates. You're also forced to buy a new phone/device if you want them after x years too, where x is a low number
  - astral303 14y ago
    Where X is a number considerably higher than for Android. Look at the number of years the 3GS has survived and compare that with your average Android phone not getting latest OS updates or any security updates. But I agree that anyone buying a new phone is stuck with iOS 6.
    - fpgeek 14y ago
      It depends on what kind of updates you're talking about. OS updates are a problem, but I personally know that the G1 got around 3 years of Maps app updates, and given the current OS version distribution newer devices are likely to do even better than that.
    - jronald 14y ago
      My Motorola droid is able to run Android 4.1 - not a super snappy experience, but it does run. It released in october of 2009. Every feature in 4.1 works on it. I don't have the "fun" apple is pulling with a guessing game on what features work on what phones: http://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/ http://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/ Also, while the 3GS (June 09) is getting ios6, the original ipad (April 2010) is not. Apple will abandon their equipment just as fast if it suits them.
      - bobwaycott 14y ago
        > Also, while the 3GS (June 09) is getting ios6, the original ipad (April 2010) is not. Apple will abandon their equipment just as fast if it suits them. Indeed. I am quite frustrated that my first-gen iPad is, for whatever reason(s), not deemed worthy enough of iOS 6.
- untog 14y ago
  You're not forced to upgrade to iOS6 Oh, come on. nor is Apple blocking Google Maps on the browser And nor are they allowing third party apps to integrate into the OS in the way their Maps app does.
- hadem 14y ago
  What about the people upgrading phones?
- underwater 14y ago
  I upgraded to iOS6 to get the turn-by-turn navigation. Now I discover that only iPhone 4S and 5 devices get voice guidance. There is no way I can get Google Maps back without jailbreaking my phone. The voice limitation appears to be simply planned obsolescence; Waze can handle it without issues. This is a slap in the face to someone who paid a lot of money to Apple for a current-generation phone a little over a year ago. Apple's closed platform has worked only because they've been able to give consumers such a high-quality experience. I think this fiasco will be a big wake-up call to lots of iPhone owners about how Apple's limitations can hurt them.
  - philwelch 14y ago
    > There is no way I can get Google Maps back without jailbreaking my phone. You can't restore from a pre-upgrade backup?
    - Nicole060 14y ago
      If you didn't jailbreak beforehand and capture the SHSH blob, no, you can't. So for the vast majority of people who upgraded to iOS 6 there is no going back. http://blog.iphone-dev.org/ http://blog.iphone-dev.org/ That's the cost of being inside a walled garden. You don't even have the freedom to install previous firmwares on your device. But since the browser is part of a firmware upgrade it would be a terrible idea anyway, a new security bug has been found on mobile safari recently, you don't want to stay on older fimrwares if you can help it. Google maps, or a secure browser ? Pick one.
mynameishere 14y ago
Don't know if it's any good. http://www.esri.com/news/releases/10_3qtr/arcgis-ios.html http://www.esri.com/news/releases/10_3qtr/arcgis-ios.html

chmars 14y ago

As of today, I don't know of any Apple Maps alternatives in the iOS App Store. And switching a mobile platform is neither trivial nor a short-term perspective … I hope Google is busy worki on its own Maps app for iOS — for the time being, Google Maps in Mobile Safari has to do it for me.

DigitalJack 14y ago
There are 100s of navigation apps and almost all have maps, directions, gps integration.
- jasonlotito 14y ago
  And can be set as the default app so when I click on a location, it takes me to that location without forcing me to jump through hoops in copying the text, and then clicking over and eventually pasting it? You know, like it was in iOS5? Awesome!
  - dholowiski 14y ago
    That is not a "map" thing that's an IOS thing. If you want to change default applications, better switch to android.
    - kordless 14y ago
      You got it.
      - headShrinker 14y ago
        Wow, that was easy. I have a bridge to sell you.
    - fpgeek 14y ago
      Or jailbreak, from what I understand.
    - 14y ago

danparsonson 14y ago

Yes there are other maps programs available for iOS - the Google Maps app that comes with iOS 4 and 5 is very capable.

hadem 14y ago
That app has been replaced with the Apple Maps. Google maps is only available via the browser in iOS6 (at this time).

kamechan 14y ago

> does apple have a maps program on the android devices? not that i'm aware of. i don't believe there to be a browser interface for their maps "solution". i could be wrong. > are there other maps program available on the ios devices? yes. google maps, or any other maps via the browser. sure, not the kind of integration one gets from an app. but there, nevertheless.

sylvinus 14y ago

iTunes is certainly going to ask people to upgrade without giving them a warning about the Maps downgrade!