It could be that it was corrected recently. However, I checked up on a bunch of these issues immediately after upgrading my iPad to iOS 6, and found the majority of them to be false. The aesthetic issues, such as bridges that appear to be “melting” are true. The “315 e 15 st ny” ad campaign from Motorola is interesting, because that address does not exist. Apple’s Maps handles it by suspecting this is an error and suggesting an address that exists. Google Maps handles it by assuming a nearby park, with no adress, is the user’s destination. I think they both fail on this test. It should inform the user that the address does not exist and present alternatives. That’s what my car’s navigation system does…

I also find that the 3D views of major cities are stunning, and I prefer them to StreetView. StreetView is amazing, but bird’s eye view from 200 feet above (or so) seems more useful to me. I used StreetView in LA about two years ago, and it was not accurate. It showed a hotel I was staying at (Radisson) as a vacant lot.

I also should mention, I actually went to Apple’s support forums to read up on all these people complaining about Maps. The threads were bare — maybe 50 or so posts. The funny thing is that the majority of people complaining were new accounts on Apple’s support forums. Fishy… Either they are not Apple users, or they own Apple products and Maps is the first problem they have encountered, needing support. But there aren’t specifics. Just lots of non-specific “this is bad” kind of stuff. One user even posted that Apple’s new Maps app ruined his business… A week after it launched?

The more I look, the more I find people are being a bit disingenuous with their criticism of Apple’s Maps. Sure, it is not perfect, but it is not nearly as bad as many claim… Many who haven’t even used it, but are merely acting as fanboys.

The Google map app for iPhone didn’t have all the features you mention. Avoiding tolls? – Not there, Traffic data? – Not there… etc.

I stopped using the Google map app a long time ago because, frankly, it wasn’t much help, and it was completely useless in areas with no (or a weak) cell connection.

When I needed to use it, I would go to the website in safari, because it has more features than the maps app did.

I have not experienced the mapping problems with the Apple maps app. I find flyover mode infinitely more helpful than street view.

I would like to know how the Apple maps app downloads it map data. Every time I used the Google app (and drove through a cell ‘dead zone’), the map data would simply ‘die’. I was left with the GPS updated dot, cruising through a gray graph-paper world. Even driving the same route using the new Mac app, I haven’t had this problem. I really want to test this on my next trip to Montana (a SERIOUS test due to the lack of decent cell-coverage).

I must say I agree with ‘Appledystopia’. I remember when the iPhone4s was released, and the Apple haters were complaining that Siri was just voice recognition software and that was ‘nothing new’. Anyone who uses Siri frequently, understands that it is ever so much more than that.

I’ve also always been irked by Googlemaps’ tendency to make confusing routing decisions. I’ve often found myself directed off a major freeway onto some back road with a 20mph speed limit, only to be re-directed to the original freeway 10 miles later for no reason. It will be fun to explore more and see if the new Apple map app makes the same mistakes or not.

Even if all the bugs aren’t worked out yet (not that I have experienced any), I think it will not take long at all until the new map app is at least as full-featured and complete as old Google app. After all, anyone who has used Googlemaps to try to navigate around New Hampshire can tell you just how much more work Googlemaps needs to do to be accurate there.

In short, all map applications (included dedicated GPS devices) have their problems, and probably always will. We can only hope that all of them improve as time goes on.

If you want a better ‘user experience’, grab some up-to-date road maps and a good passenger-navigator.

I have been using iOS 6 Maps to see how really “bad” it is. In the SF Bay Area, it is actually quite good. Google is probably better overall. But the notion that only Google can do maps and nav is ludicrous. There are many people who get from point A to point B without Google’s help.

I wrote a few articles on what I call “Maps hype” on my site. While there are problems with iOS 6 Maps, there’s a lot of hype and bias. Even Consumer Reports evaluated Apple’s new Maps app as “competent”, along with favorable reviews from NBC News and the San Jose Mercury News… Yes, you can nit-pick Maps and find small problems with the data. The app itself is remarkable. It is surprising how many people denouncing this app have not used it! It needs work, but the blogosphere has taken a dump on Apple, just like with “antennagate”.