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For the umpteenth time: There was never a Google Maps app on the iPhone, there was an Apple app powered by Google's data. The correct way of stating this is t

by capo 14y ago

For the umpteenth time: There was never a Google Maps app on the iPhone, there was an Apple app powered by Google's data. The correct way of stating this is that Apple's iOS6 maps app is more data efficient than previous versions. As for the main reason the current app is more efficient is that it relies on vector graphics instead of image tiles, a technique Google have been using on Android for nearly 2 years: http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/under-hood-of-google-maps-50-for.html http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/under-hood-of-googl... Another Android maps feature lets users select areas to cache offline, which I imagine saves even more data (it auto-caches frequented areas): http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/06/go-offline-with-google-maps-for-android.html http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/06/go-offline-with-g... That feature is also worth mentioning for when Apple duplicates it and some people try to convince themselves that it was Apple's idea.

taligent 14y ago
Calm down. Everyone is just calling it Google Maps out of simplicity. And yes it is vector on Android which was rumored to be one of the reasons Apple even started on this whole maps adventure. Because Google wasn't willing to license the vector data to give Android a competitive advantage.
- nwienert 14y ago
  The title is still misleading, should read "old iOS Maps".
- capo 14y ago
  I'm just a bit bothered by this phenomena of discovering features on the iPhone that were present on Android for ages and then attributing them to Apple: the notifications shade, voice input, voice actions, the ability to answer phone calls with canned texts, and now maps among many other things. Many in the press keep omitting the fact that Android did it first, which I think is important in this climate where Apple is very litigious regarding this stuff and the press keeps touting their originality while simultaneously dismissing other innovators.
  - badusername 14y ago
    No one really claims that Apple did them first. In some cases, these features have gained press just because Apple's solution was more elegantly designed.
    - capo 14y ago
      That is nonsense. It's because Apple generates huge PR, their device launches are treated like news items on most publicans. Also it could be because Apple feels the need to give every minute feature a name which is also a PR thing. Oh, and none of the features I've mentioned are better executed on iOS.
      - badusername 14y ago
        So, it probably means that Apple is pretty good at marketing features to customers. It sounds like your motive is not to have an honest argument, but rather diss Apple/iOS and how they violate your worldview. This is not the forum to do that. Go to engadget or something.
  - taligent 14y ago
    I'm just a bit bothered by this phenomena of discovering features on Android that were present on Palm phones for ages and then attributing them to Android: voice input, voice actions, the ability to answer phone calls with canned texts, and now maps among many other things. You have heard of Palm, right ?
    - capo 14y ago
      Neither have the press evidently.
    - modernshoggoth 14y ago
      The reason I dived into Android with so much relish was because it was so much like my Asus WinMo PDA. The TOMTOM maps on that was brilliant. GPS was way more accurate than Google Maps, both as in "determining what road you're on" and "pinpoint accuracy in the middle of nowhere".
- supercanuck 14y ago
  I think is his point is that the onus for the lack of data efficiency is on Apple and not Google, which is what the conclusion I came to after reading the article. but after reading you point, as a laymen, I have no idea what to believe.
- esolyt 14y ago
  >Calm down. He is calm and pointing out a fact. >Everyone is just calling it Google Maps out of simplicity. No they aren't calling it Google Maps out of simplicity. Read the article: "Apple Maps has been getting its share of negative attention since being released, but some new research shines a bright spot on the comparison between Apple’s and Google’s mapping apps." "Results for the satellite view in Maps showed Apple’s app used about half of Google’s mapping application."

by capo 14y ago

taligent 14y ago

Calm down. Everyone is just calling it Google Maps out of simplicity. And yes it is vector on Android which was rumored to be one of the reasons Apple even started on this whole maps adventure. Because Google wasn't willing to license the vector data to give Android a competitive advantage.

nwienert 14y ago
The title is still misleading, should read "old iOS Maps".
capo 14y ago
I'm just a bit bothered by this phenomena of discovering features on the iPhone that were present on Android for ages and then attributing them to Apple: the notifications shade, voice input, voice actions, the ability to answer phone calls with canned texts, and now maps among many other things. Many in the press keep omitting the fact that Android did it first, which I think is important in this climate where Apple is very litigious regarding this stuff and the press keeps touting their originality while simultaneously dismissing other innovators.
- badusername 14y ago
  No one really claims that Apple did them first. In some cases, these features have gained press just because Apple's solution was more elegantly designed.
  - capo 14y ago
    That is nonsense. It's because Apple generates huge PR, their device launches are treated like news items on most publicans. Also it could be because Apple feels the need to give every minute feature a name which is also a PR thing. Oh, and none of the features I've mentioned are better executed on iOS.
    - badusername 14y ago
      So, it probably means that Apple is pretty good at marketing features to customers. It sounds like your motive is not to have an honest argument, but rather diss Apple/iOS and how they violate your worldview. This is not the forum to do that. Go to engadget or something.
- taligent 14y ago
  I'm just a bit bothered by this phenomena of discovering features on Android that were present on Palm phones for ages and then attributing them to Android: voice input, voice actions, the ability to answer phone calls with canned texts, and now maps among many other things. You have heard of Palm, right ?
  - capo 14y ago
    Neither have the press evidently.
  - modernshoggoth 14y ago
    The reason I dived into Android with so much relish was because it was so much like my Asus WinMo PDA. The TOMTOM maps on that was brilliant. GPS was way more accurate than Google Maps, both as in "determining what road you're on" and "pinpoint accuracy in the middle of nowhere".
supercanuck 14y ago
I think is his point is that the onus for the lack of data efficiency is on Apple and not Google, which is what the conclusion I came to after reading the article. but after reading you point, as a laymen, I have no idea what to believe.
esolyt 14y ago
>Calm down. He is calm and pointing out a fact. >Everyone is just calling it Google Maps out of simplicity. No they aren't calling it Google Maps out of simplicity. Read the article: "Apple Maps has been getting its share of negative attention since being released, but some new research shines a bright spot on the comparison between Apple’s and Google’s mapping apps." "Results for the satellite view in Maps showed Apple’s app used about half of Google’s mapping application."