The Google Maps on iPhone 10 years ago. And at the time, for most users, there were more than one source of memes than one resource to browse a little known city. But now Apple Maps not only works, it also offers several interesting features (although not all in Italy) and has an approach designed for privacy. The evolution of the Cupertino Maps in this decade is evident: but it is enough to convince iPhone users to leave Google Maps and Waze?
Apple Maps turns 10 and works well (almost) when Google does
Google Maps hit the market in 2005 and within seven years they managed to win over a billion users. A huge market of people who were looking for their destination through the browser on the PC first and who were navigated by their smartphone then. Not only on Android ones, on the contrary.
Today it seems difficult to imagine it, but when Steve Jobs showed up the first iPhone, YouTube and Google Maps were among the very few pre-installed apps in every Apple smartphone. But with Android competition on the rise, the two companies began to distance themselves from each other. At first Google seemed slow down the output of some functions on the iOS version of Maps. And Apple decided to react.
After an announcement earlier this month, the September 19, 2012 Apple Maps replaced the version of Google in all iPhones. But the results were far from happy.
Initial bankruptcy …
One of the first satellite images on Apple Maps
The debut was not happy, especially in satellite vision (in which Google was already far ahead). The Statue of Liberty was just a shadow, some airport names were wrong, roads collapsed or ended in the sea. While it was one of the most important features of iOS 6 (along with Siri), it wasn’t ready.
So much so that even Tim Cook publicly apologized in an open letter: “At Apple, we strive to create world-class products and give our users the best possible experience. With the launch of our Maps last week, we fell short of that commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and are doing everything we can to improve Apple Maps ”. And the following month, executives who didn’t sign that letter were fired.
… And (slow) redemption
After such a debut, competing with the billion-user Google Maps experience seemed impossible. So much so that, although it was no longer pre-installed on iPhones, in less than three years, Google Maps returned to exceed one billion users.
But Apple engineers started the run-up. First by fixing the errors: when an app doesn’t work you have to go back to the basics and in many ways Apple Maps didn’t work. Then they straightened bridges and changed names. But there were still several functionality.
To do this, she started buying companies that could help her. From startups for better GPS to those that tracked the movements of public transport. That arrived in 2015 with iOS 9. While in 2016 a much better step-by-step navigation arrived and the following year indoor navigation.
The difference, however, is the data: Google had to collect its own, while Apple relied on those of others. At least until 2018 with iOS 12, after sending their vans to collect images, mapping the areas with LiDAR technology and enabling cameras all over the world. Apple even paid users to walk around with backpacks full of sensors to track areas.
Apple Maps now works, but not everywhere in the same way
After a rash launch, the Apple tried to take things calmly. The first new mapping only covered the Bay area in California: it was useful for developers going to Apple Park but not for most users in the world. The types of differentiated roads, green and wooded areas, more precise labels.
At the beginning of 2020 it covers the whole of the United States and with iOS 13 it has a street view like Google Street View. It also introduces the possibility of manage departures with friends to arrive at the same time. With iOS 14 the routes for cyclists arrive, with iOS 15 the maps in 3D. And with the upcoming iOS 16 comes the multi-stage journeys and many other news.
But sadly, they don’t all come at the same time for everyone. In Italy many of the most advanced features are not there yet, so much so that the Apple Maps experience works radically differently between the US and Europe.
Even Google enables some functions more calmly in some regions of the world: usually the US arrives first and Europe then. But Google Maps doesn’t have to catch up and it already has several advanced features that are missing on Apple Maps.
The belief of a great many iPhone users is that Apple Maps works quite well to use it without problems in most cases. But they prefer however, focus on the proven solidity of Google Maps or on the personalization of Waze. What do you think of it instead? After ten years have Apple Maps conquered you or not? Let us know in the comments.