4 ms·

You're right, and it's also data and algorithms. A handful of fancy patents on basic smartphone functionality will be no match against hardcore algorithm develo

You're right, and it's also data and algorithms. A handful of fancy patents on basic smartphone functionality will be no match against hardcore algorithm development and data management. Google maps is astonishingly good. The data is accurate, and it always maximizes the amount of information at any zoom level. The depth of quality isn't about features, it's about mastery of a complex dataset. It's not just maps. Google Now vs Siri. Ask yourself which will evolve faster? Where will these products be in 2 years? 5 years? I predict an increasing gap. Google has deep experience developing algorithms and managing data. Apple will have trouble matching this. I love Apple. I used to work there. But they need to wake up a little.

taligent 14y ago
Google is good when it comes to managing the map data but it is hardly unique. Many data providers have been doing exactly what Google has for far longer. And I don't see there being an increasing gap going forward. There simply isn't an unmanageably high turnover of street names/locations in most cities. And Yelp already handles turnover of POI data quite well.
- paulsutter 14y ago
  Maps need to be deeply integrated with other services, as in Google Now. This deep integration goes well beyond what map providers do. And this is where you'll see an increasing gap. I'm in Tokyo right now, and I use my Google maps constantly, but I can imagine how much easier they could make it. I can already read Japanese web pages via Google translate, soon I'm sure the integration will be even better so I dont need to copy and paste addresses between. And Google Now would integrate all that with my calendar and contacts in my address book. If you've ever tried to read Japanese or interpret Tokyo addresses before Google's products, you'd understand the breakthrough here. The needs are way beyond a map dataset. And we'll see how easy it is for Apple to just go out and license a few of those existing datasets you mention to get a product a deep as Google's. EDIT: Integration is what -I'M- talking about because that will make the long term difference in a successful mobile product. Which is the real underlying question. And I dont see how Yelp's data can help me navigate Shibuya station (missing from Apple maps, very detailed on Google maps. Good thing as I got lost within the station a few days ago).
  - taligent 14y ago
    Google Maps != Google Now. So your use case is cool and may well be the future but that isn't what we are talking about here. My point is that street/POI data does not have a high turnover so the gap between Apple and Google will get closer not wider. The interesting question is whether Apple is even going to bother to license data. They could well rely on Yelp's geo expansion to do the work for them. God knows what will happen if Yelp goes out of business though.
- chmars 14y ago
  In the areas of Europe where I live, Apple Maps doesn't know most of the POIs I search for – and if there's a result, it's often wrong. Examples from last week: - I stayed at the Radisson Blu Alcron hotel in Prague. Searching for 'radisson blu prag' (in German) with Google Maps immediately lead to a correct result. Apple Maps delivers no result. Using 'Prague' instead of 'Prag' didn't help either. - I had an appointed at Skyguide's Zurich HQ (Skyguide is the Swiss air navigation service provider). Google Maps again showed the correct location while Apple Maps showed for some reason only results named 'Skyline'. - I often used Google Maps for public transport routing. Apple Maps of course does not support this feature. - On Apple Maps, the street I live on goes through my house. In Google Maps, it's where it's supposed to be, i.e., in front of my house. - I went hiking in the mountains last weekend and the quality of Apple Maps' aerial and satellite images was simply awful in comparison to Google Maps. - Etc.

taligent 14y ago

Google is good when it comes to managing the map data but it is hardly unique. Many data providers have been doing exactly what Google has for far longer. And I don't see there being an increasing gap going forward. There simply isn't an unmanageably high turnover of street names/locations in most cities. And Yelp already handles turnover of POI data quite well.

paulsutter 14y ago
Maps need to be deeply integrated with other services, as in Google Now. This deep integration goes well beyond what map providers do. And this is where you'll see an increasing gap. I'm in Tokyo right now, and I use my Google maps constantly, but I can imagine how much easier they could make it. I can already read Japanese web pages via Google translate, soon I'm sure the integration will be even better so I dont need to copy and paste addresses between. And Google Now would integrate all that with my calendar and contacts in my address book. If you've ever tried to read Japanese or interpret Tokyo addresses before Google's products, you'd understand the breakthrough here. The needs are way beyond a map dataset. And we'll see how easy it is for Apple to just go out and license a few of those existing datasets you mention to get a product a deep as Google's. EDIT: Integration is what -I'M- talking about because that will make the long term difference in a successful mobile product. Which is the real underlying question. And I dont see how Yelp's data can help me navigate Shibuya station (missing from Apple maps, very detailed on Google maps. Good thing as I got lost within the station a few days ago).
- taligent 14y ago
  Google Maps != Google Now. So your use case is cool and may well be the future but that isn't what we are talking about here. My point is that street/POI data does not have a high turnover so the gap between Apple and Google will get closer not wider. The interesting question is whether Apple is even going to bother to license data. They could well rely on Yelp's geo expansion to do the work for them. God knows what will happen if Yelp goes out of business though.
chmars 14y ago
In the areas of Europe where I live, Apple Maps doesn't know most of the POIs I search for – and if there's a result, it's often wrong. Examples from last week: - I stayed at the Radisson Blu Alcron hotel in Prague. Searching for 'radisson blu prag' (in German) with Google Maps immediately lead to a correct result. Apple Maps delivers no result. Using 'Prague' instead of 'Prag' didn't help either. - I had an appointed at Skyguide's Zurich HQ (Skyguide is the Swiss air navigation service provider). Google Maps again showed the correct location while Apple Maps showed for some reason only results named 'Skyline'. - I often used Google Maps for public transport routing. Apple Maps of course does not support this feature. - On Apple Maps, the street I live on goes through my house. In Google Maps, it's where it's supposed to be, i.e., in front of my house. - I went hiking in the mountains last weekend and the quality of Apple Maps' aerial and satellite images was simply awful in comparison to Google Maps. - Etc.