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Google Maps becomes the App Store’s most popular free app in 7 hours
- GotAnyMegadeth 14y ago> iPhone and iPod touch owners download Google’s new Maps title to complement or even replace Apple’s own Google for the directions, Apple for the lulz
- isabre 14y agoApple maps is great if you want to drive yourself into the ocean.
- kyro 14y agoOne of the funnier things I read during the election was "This just in: Apple Maps projects Obama to win Chile."
- bigdubs 14y agoDo we really need to rehash this again?
- w1ntermute 14y agoWell, people on this site don't seem to mind rehashing how great Apple is, ad infinitum. So no, I don't see a problem with rehashing this a few times.
- nicholassmith 14y agoHonestly, I'd say there's a much higher anti-Apple/pro-Google sentiment than there used to be. I've been downvoted heavily for point negative things out about Google. The tech zeitgeist moves onwards.
- alayne 14y agoThere's a big difference between constructive criticism of genuine problems (such as issues with Apple Maps searching) where you may learn something and the "you're holding it wrong" kinds of comments. I'd go to reddit if I wanted to read a bunch of dumb repeated jokes.
- sbuk 14y agoReally? I submitted a story earlier about state police in Australia saying that Google maps are dangerous and it's been completely ignored. Ok, maybe it was a repeat of a story that had been previously submitted, but since not a sniff of the story has appeared, I'd suggest that the pro-Google/anti-Apple sentiment is far more pervasive here. I'd think were the opposite true, we'd have seen much more of this story.
- LnxPrgr3 14y agoI searched HN for this story and was surprised to not find it, so I submitted it myself. It was dead within an hour. And really, thinking about it now, it probably deserved to die, just as the Apple story probably deserved to die. The only real lesson from these stories is that you can't blindly follow your GPS… and everyone should've already known that. But all that did get hashed out in the Apple thread and really doesn't need a rehash so soon after the first story. So… is the missing story the result of pro-Google/anti-Apple bias? It certainly could be, but I can't say that's the only plausible explanation.
- sbuk 14y agoI enjoy hiking as a hobby and while I plan route with the use of a computer, I'd personally neverer rely soley on electronics when I'm out. The only reason that I suggest that bias is there is that the Apple story garnered quite a lot of attention, with much of the criticism extolling the virtues of Google maps. This was a timely reminder that they are not the panacea of mapping either. I wouldn't ever use Google Maps to plan a hike, they simply aren't reliable enough. So I take and accept your point, but will reserve a healthy amount of scepticism. Edit: A case in point is the sub thread on search in the AppStore vs Google Play. I use Google Nexus and iOS devices and can assure you that the Play store on the phone is worse that the AppStore. The online version is significantly better. Discoverability is awful in both. This maybe my opinion, but it's based in real world use of both.
- merraksh 14y agoAgreed. Thankfully Apple didn't get into self-driving cars.
- tjr 14y agoFollowing a late night flight into the Orange County airport a couple of years ago, Google Maps on my iPhone directed me into the ocean. I was lost, it was nearly midnight, and instead of seeing the road continue on like the map showed me, I saw the dark expanse of the sea.
- kyriakos 14y agoThis simply shows how bad apple's decision was to switch to their own solution before it was ready.
- MalphasWats 14y agoAs many commenters have said, it wasn't necessarily Apple's choice to make the change, and they were bound to their own release schedule.
- jasonlotito 14y agoAnd as has been rehashed over and over, it was Apple's choice. They simply prioritized other things over Maps. Do not confuse not having a choice with choosing to wait until you were under constraints to make difficult choices.
- MalphasWats 14y agoit's a fair point, however, the way I see it, they had 2 choices: Release at iOS 6, release at iOS 7. We don't know when they actually started working on the new maps app. Choosing to delay for another whole year would have been a bigger mistake in my opinion. Apple Maps has successfully got me everywhere I've asked it.
- randomdata 14y agoUnless you are involved with Apple, we really don't know what choices they had. By all accounts their contracts with Google were set to expire, and they were in negotiations to renew. If those talks broke down and they did not have legal access to use Google data any longer, their hands were kind of tied.
- jasonlotito 14y agoYou don't need to be involved with Apple to know they had choices. They knowingly relied on Google, and instead of planning earlier, they waited until the last possible moment to start putting resources into their own version. They choose to rely on Google. They choose to enter those agreements. They choose to ignore maps for the first 5 years. They choose not to start planning to move away sooner. You act like they couldn't put any effort replacing Google until the last minute. It wasn't. They screwed up and released a crappy product from choices they made. End of story.
- netcan 14y agoCould there have been a (pro android) business case for not releasing this app? Edit: accidentally wrote 'pr android.'
- buro9 14y agoThere's a PR business case in making money by acting in your customer's interests regardless of whether they choose to use your services exclusively or not. The polarisation that has arisen between supporters of each company isn't something worth feeding.
- speg 14y agoI don't think Google cares what platform you're accessing their services from. As long as they get your data, they're happy.
- ajanuary 14y agoAnd how they push logging in/signing up for an account only increases that.
- netcan 14y agoI'm sure the android part cares about how many people buy android and how cool it is compared to iOS. Apple use their apps as a competitive advantage and Google aren't. Itunes supported Apple podcast & music players would help android. Obviously Google maps helps iOS. I guess what I'm asking is "Is this helping maps at the expense of Android?"
- czr80 14y agoThe answer is clearly yes - this largely removes one reason why someone might prefer Android over iOS. Hard to say how big the effect is, though.
- netcan 14y agoEspecially since Apple are clearly working to improve their own maps. If/when they hit (or near) parity, they'll have the massive advantage of being bundled. At least before, they were maintaining a long term position as the major maps app. If they lose 90% of these users when in a year or two when Apple improve their maps, it would just have been a wasted opportunity to sell androids, especially the high end ones.
- hpagey 14y agoActually I think Apple won here. Google was refusing to release a turn by turn direction update to their apps. By developing an Apple Map App with turn by turn, they kind of forced GooG to provide it on iOS platform. Also, it is very difficult for google to ignore ios users.
- jgw 14y agoI have a really, really hard time seeing Apple's map fiasco as a win for Apple.
- hpagey 14y agoGoogle submitting a turn by turn direction enabled google maps app is some sort of win nonetheless.
- Gigablah 14y agoFor Google, yes.
- quux 14y agoAnd users. I suppose any win for users of iOS is a win of some kind for Apple too.
- css771 14y agoAt that point they're actually Google users too. So in the end, users win. Google along with them. And Apple saves face.
- criley 14y agoHow is going from having your app presinstalled on every device and being maintained, for free, by Apple developers to having to write and maintain your own app and put it in the app store a "win"?? There is no win here for Google! Less users (not everyone is going to install it), less data coming in, more money spent, having to hire more dedicated iOS coders inhouse at Google... People have a weird definition of "win".
- diminish 14y agoOne more strong free app in the leaderboard of appstore means, a lot more newer apps will have a harder time to get traction.
- walru 14y agoApp ranking is also a function of momentum.. while it's great Google Maps has risen so quickly, let's not make this more than what it is.
- jug6ernaut 14y ago"let's not make this more than what it is" Which is? I mean as much as you can discount this you must also for the same reasons promote it. Without knowing the algorithm used and downloads all we really have to go off of is release time and rating count and average rating. Both of which seem pretty good to me.
- mtgx 14y agoWere Bing Maps and Nokia maps #1 soon after they launched in the Apple app store, too? (or ever?)
- kjackson2012 14y agoFrankly, Tim Cook should shut down the entire Apple Maps division. Who in their right mind is going to use Apple Maps at this point? Try searching "Pier 39 San Francisco". The query can't be any more specific, and it's the most iconic location for tourists, and Apple Maps will bring you to a pretty shady area of town, only a mile or two away from Hunter's Point, one of the more violent areas of SF.
- Alaskan005 14y agoNo wonder he is the CEO and you aren't. Think LOOOOONG term, in a few years Apple will catch Google for the most part (hello AAPL bank accounts and increase of usage!) and Apple will not depend on a major competitor for a crucial aspect of the mobile world. Google is the loser, despite Apple having a few growing pains.
- zspade 14y agoThinking long term, it seems to me shutting down the entire maps division may prevent the possible reality you have just presented from ever occurring.
- pdx 14y agoWell, no worries then. A few thousand people who don't get to hospitals or who end up in dangerous situations is not LOOOOOONG term thinking and can safely be ignored.
- criley 14y agoWow, what did people do BEFORE a smartphone! It's a wonder a human being ever found a hospital before Google saved the human race from it's own helplessness!
- ajdecon 14y agoThe problem is that a wrong map is a lot worse than no map. If you don't have a map, you might ask a local for directions or take a cab if you're in a hurry to get somewhere that you don't know the location for. If your map is wrong, you are more likely to actually end up in the wrong place -- and then become that much more confused and make poor decisions while trying to find your way without it.
- so898 14y agoThis is just another proving of products from FAMOUS COMPANY will hit the top of the App store with no reason. Maybe it is the time for iOS Map Developers to quit the business. So, what will be the next?
- bstar77 14y agoEdit: somehow I screwed up my response, should be a response to @kjackson2012. Apple's main issues are with their location information from TomTom. If apple is able to partner with a company with better data, these types of problems should not be nearly as bad. Here's where Apple's maps product is better... The maps are vector based so there is not such a huge dependence on a data connection. I live near the pine barrens in NJ and google maps is mostly worthless when I venture into that abyss. Apple maps has worked flawlessly for me there. Locations where data connections are poor, apple maps will probably be a better solution. Plus, Apple maps look nicer, but that is hardly a critical feature. To say apple should just give up is silly. I've used google navigation since the first day the alpha was leaked. It has only been in the last year that nav has gotten so good (used to have maddening ui problems with the zoom going crazy). Apple's initial maps release is much better and more refined than what google initially release. Fortunately for apple, I think they'll get their data issues mostly fix in 2013 and have a very nice alternative to google maps.
- lawdawg 14y agoGoogle Maps are vector based as well...
- recursive 14y agoNot on my cell phone.
- andybak 14y agoI think you're mistaken. They are on Android so it seems odd they wouldn't be. The ability to zoom to arbitrary levels with no pixellation seems to imply it most definitely is vector.
- coob 14y agoOn iOS it appears they're a mixture of bitmap tiles and vector text. I definitely see pixelation of roads at certain zoom levels.
- topbanana 14y agoThis comes as no surprise, least of all Apple, who have been perfectly forthcoming in their acknowledgement of the flaws in Apple Maps.
- btucker 14y agoI wonder how much impact this will have on Embark.
- benlower 14y agoNokia Maps give one the ability to download maps locally to the phone. Do either Google Maps or iOS Maps have that feature?
- nicholassmith 14y agoDue to iOS Maps using vector tiles once it's been loaded you can switch it into offline mode and the tiles will persist.
- aioprisan 14y agoso that would be a no then. you still need internet connection to download the initial data. nokia's app is fully offline
- jondcampbell 14y agonokias app has the whole world mapped for you without any internet access needed?
- Gigablah 14y agoFully offline? You can't "download maps locally to the phone" without an internet connection, you know. And yes, I have a Nokia, the maps don't come pre-loaded.
- eco 14y agoGoogle Maps on Android has great offline support. Offline support isn't in this first Google Maps release for iOS but they seem to be indicating it's coming.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- twakefield 14y agoStill no bike directions. Why is that?
- ihuman 14y agoCouldn't you just use car/walking directions?
- senthilnayagam 14y agoApple did not put beta on its app, and it eventually apologised and also fired a VP who was not willing to sign the apology . google launches a map with beta warning and everybody going gaga on it, yeah their data set is better. "Google Maps Navigation is in beta. Use caution. Please keep your eyes on the road and obey applicable laws. Do not manipulate this application while in motion. Directions may be inaccurate, incomplete, dangerous, or prohibited. Traffic data is not real-time, and location accuracy cannot be guaranteed" I would love Apple to build self driving cars and display projecting to retina and bring it to market, instead of just announcing them like what google does
- panacea 14y agoApple had a disclaimer the first time you launched Apple Maps.
- tharris0101 14y agoSort of off-topic and I've harped on this before, but when I search "google maps" in the app store, it's the fifth search result! As a developer in the App Store, I really hope they do something to fix the abysmal searches in it.
- hiddenstage 14y agoMaybe Google will come to the rescue.
- darrenkopp 14y agoTheir search on the Google Play store isn't that great, though they now have a feature where what they auto-suggest when typing your query is usually what you want (for larger apps like netflix, ebay, etc)
- megablast 14y agoThe search of Google Play store is atrocious, much worse than this.
- rieter 14y agoI never had any serious issues with it.
- jlgreco 14y agoThe only problem I have is when I search for something that isn't there. Happens sometimes that what I want simply doesn't exist in their store (like, for example, VLC), and when that happens all of the near-hits come up. If I am thinking about it, that is the correct behavior, but it still strikes me as strange every time it happens. I think the reason for this is that I have become spoiled by usually only searching on the web, and when I search on the web it is very rare that I don't get any desirable results at all. Google's web search has spoiled me.
- 14y ago
- mrilhan 14y agoOnly if there was a way to set Google Maps as the default map/address-finding app. Anyone know how to accomplish this? Right now, touching any addresses you have saved under a contact will open up Apple's Maps app.
- w1ntermute 14y agoApple doesn't like users changing default applications, it's part of their world-renowned and expert UX. Didn't you know? The solution is simple and explained here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4914316 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4914316 - switch to Android.
- vinayan3 14y agoI wonder how much data the iOS app uses for it's vector based tiles compared with the Google maps one? Google Maps does seem a lot quicker than before.
- takeda64 14y agoHow come Apple allowed this app? Isn't it duplicate functionality of the iPhone? I guess everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others...
- ubercow13 14y agoThey don't apply that rule any more to app approvals.
- amy_seqmedia 14y agoTwo words: transit overlays.
- cbs 14y agoI've heard they've axed that rule, but generically speaking in business nothing is set in stone. Most app developers just aren't in a position to negotiate.
- IgorPartola 14y agoHow many startups just said "ah fuck it!" now that Google Maps is back on iOS? Back when Apple removed Google maps I thought there would be four stages to this fiasco: 1. Apple Maps are introduced and nobody likes them. Google Maps are nixed and some bullshit reason is given for not letting them back into the ecosystem for a while. 2. A bunch of people see an opportunity to create something that Apple will buy. They drop everything and get busy. 3. 3-6 months later Google Maps are allowed back into the ecosystem. 99% of the newly minted startups go bust. 4. A year later Apple actually makes Apple Maps usable in iOS 7. The rest of the startups go bust.
- coob 14y ago…you think Apple are going to stop wanting to improve their maps?
- mistermann 14y agoPodcast displays have been broken in a variety of ways since day one and that's a lot simpler to fix than the problems they have in maps.
- IheartApplesDix 14y agoDoesn't sound like anyone inside Apple actually uses that junk.
- LukeW 14y agomaps might be a higher priority.
- coob 14y agoThere haven't been any very public apologies over Podcasts though have there?
- jmspring 14y agoA quality maps app seems like one of those audacious undertakings given how much there are to them. Sure, sources like OSM help quite a bit, but the amount of data needed (be it through one's own data acquisition, partnering, licensing, etc) is pretty massive. This is one of the main reasons the iOS maps had problems. There are already niche apps for things like public transport, though you may need an app per city/region. Even those niche apps aren't always accurate -- the NYC transit apps (2 or 3 different once) I tried while there earlier this year didn't pick up on station closures due to maintenance. Maps/transit routing/etc is an interesting problem, just one that seems difficult to do right as a startup (on the scale of ios or google maps).
- bmmayer1 14y agoMaybe Google should pivot and try this whole maps thing out.
- trendnet 14y agoNow Apple has major map services from all mobile platforms with a full-featured Google solution. Plus they have an in-house solution that will become better over time. Removing an image-based Google Maps app developed by Apple from iOS was a great decision.
- egypturnash 14y agoOh hell yeah, I just ditched my old Android for an iPhone and the lack of bus routes on its maps app was one of the major things I was missing. I was sort of getting along with HopStop but it was an awkward multi-step kind of thing. DOWNLOADING NOW.
- WayneDB 14y agoI hope Google waits a few months and then rolls out a premium-purchase maps feature. Then, when Apple demands their 30% and Google refuses, Apple has to pull the app again and frustrate all their users again. Not saying that's what will happen, but I can dream.
- drivebyacct2 14y agoI guess I'm still stuck in the same mentality that I'm surprised at but I'm always surprised to see what gets iOS users excited these days or what problems it has: fundamental search issues the AppStore, the amazement of Google Maps being "fluid" (ironic given the tech powering it [based on koush's speculation]), lusting for the simplicity of the Google theme versus the plasticy-clear-bubbled iOS. Then again I'm also blown away by the people here who want to: 1. Say that Apple had time left on their contract with Google. And simultaneously say that the solution for Apple Maps is soon and is easily solved with more data partnerships. 2. That Apple "won" here. I'm still at a lost as to how that is. Especially given the lack of an Intent system in iOS, Apple Maps is about to be relegated to a really poor position for Apple, especially given that users = more data = better maps. These are the things that Android 2.x was criticized for. I put up with such incompleteness because I was getting something open source, powerful and customizable. It was a compromise. I don't think Android users are compromising anymore, despite the constant implication from users here that only poor people buy Android, or that Android is "full of ads", or that Google is losing interest in Android or just the constant implications that Android is still sub-par to iOS. I just don't get it when I read these threads.
- flxmglrb 14y agoI think there is some "vocal minority" stuff going on here, particularly with regard to the look and feel of Google's app. For starters, far from being "fluid", Google's app consistently has a much lower framerate when scrolling or adjusting zoom level than Apple's maps app. It never even approaches 60fps even when running on the latest hardware, whereas Apple's old (and new) map application has always been really good about this, even on old & low-end hardware. So I'm really confused as to what people are talking about when they say it's "fluid". Compared to what? As for the UI, the way Google's search input bar is positioned actually results in more of the screen being wasted than Apple's standard search bar UI. Those little slivers of the map which stick out above and on the sides are too small to be useful, so what's the point? Just pin it to the top of the screen and make it standard height like all the other apps do, thus giving the maximum amount of contiguous real estate to the actual map itself. There is a reason why Apple does it the way they do, and it's not just for looks. I have mixed feelings about the detail view being at the bottom. I understand the idea of one-handed operation and I appreciate what they're trying to do here -- optimize for the case of browsing search results with your thumb via a combination of horizontal and vertical swipes, however I'm dubious of the value of it since you still sometimes have to reach awkwardly across the screen for certain things. Not to mention the detail view takes up more real estate than necessary, much like the search bar. It also feels somewhat disconnected from the currently selected pin due to being at the bottom, which is a problem Apple doesn't have since they put the details directly on the annotation. Oh and of course you cannot blink without this app bugging you to log in.
- vtbose 14y agoThis probably removes the last barrier to IOS 6 adoption, for many.
- wahsd 14y agoI'll admit it, I am one of the 4-star raters. I took it down a notch for not at least including a "zoom out" button. I can double-tap to zoom, but I sure as hell can't pinch to zoom out. I think that UI flaw is one of the most ignored in all that exist in iOS.
- jgon 14y agoBetween this and the gmail release recently I think that some interesting times are ahead for apple. After I told my wife that Google Maps was available in the app store she sent me a text with a screenshot of her phone and the message "I'm pretty much using an Android phone!" Her mail client is Gmail, she uses Google maps, and she browses with Chrome. If google went all out with a Google Calendar app I bet she'd use their client too. What does it say for Apple when an iphone user has apps for all of their big use cases provided by a direct competitor?
- eddieroger 14y agoI think it's more interesting in what it means for Google. I very deeply live in a Google ecosystem - GMail for personal and work, GCal, etc, but I have an iPhone. The new GMail app isn't magical or anything, but it is good enough for my usecases, now killing any incentive I had to go back to Android. I'm glad they're not using their power for evil, but they seemingly aren't doing anything to make Android even just a little more attractive.
- dannyr 14y agoSeems like you haven't tried Google Now.
- eddieroger 14y agoI have, on my Nexus 7 and deactivated (but still functional) Nexus S 4G. It's not that compelling for me - which may be that they're both used mostly on wifi or offline, but not enough to make me miss the platform.
- galadriel 14y agoAndroid is quite more attractive now than iOS, if you are willing to forgive consistency and quality of third party application. Most of Google's own app are absolutely fantastic in quality, and often are better or equal to iOS offering. Where Android actually shines is in how things get integrated to each other. There is no concept of preferred apps as such, and you can make any app default for any function. Share functionality is also awesome, and leads to interesting applications (Like sharing from a Reddit app to Read-it-later app, etc). I would say if you are not too locked into iOS (having bought tons of iOS apps or something), you should try Android on a Nexus for sometime. Your only downside would be finding good, niche apps. In iOS store, even the smallest developers pay attention to be consistent with Apple's guideline and look good. It also helps that iOS design language has remained mostly the same throughout 5 years. Android finally got a design language last year, but not all developers have been keen to adopt it.
- grantph 14y agoGoogle releases maps and their evil behavior is quietly swept under the rug... brilliant timing! http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4915206 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4915206
- BornInTheUSSR 14y agoApple Maps: Better Product Design Google Maps: Better Data I'm especially missing dropping pins to share location and search bar tucked up at the top in Google Maps, but Apple's lack of integrated transit directions and putting me in random locations is a no go for city life. Sigh...
- eavc 14y agoCan you not share location? Or do you just miss the graphical touch of dropping pins?
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- BornInTheUSSR 14y agoFound it, just tap and hold a spot on the map to get sharing options and streetview
- gk1 14y agoJust realized: The letter "g" and the placemarker form the word "go."
- crudolph 14y agoHN == Apple Bitch Fest; 98% pure negativity; Sigh.
- seanp2k2 14y agoAnyone else notice how Apple copied the look of Google's OG Maps app, and so now Google uses a much different icon to avoid confusion?
- shanev 14y agoI'm surprised this is iPhone only and not a universal app with iPad support. I frequently bring my iPad with me when I drive to act as a turn by turn navigation device. Anyone know why? Hope it's coming.
- nmridul 14y agoWondering if Google could have waited till the start of next year before providing the maps ? Lots of last minute shoppers would have bought an android phone considering Iphones lacked a good map...