The native iOS 6 Maps are just short of wretched. No transit directions, unhelpful default views, a dramatically weaker points of interest database, weaker scrolling performance, and a busier UI that doesn't add anything of great use.
It's a rather big turd in an otherwise delicious punchbowl, and it is going to become a real-world talking point about iPhones starting today.
Apple needs to take their massive $$$ warchest and spend an inordinate amount of money on getting maps back up in shape. Each of those $'s is worth it. It's an absolutely crucial feature and it needs to be not just good enough, it needs to be really good and better than most.
My fear is now Apple is becoming more bean counter and less passion, strong-opinion driven. To let Maps out in this shape is a troubling misstep.
Eh, I tried the new Maps and it seems usable. What's really wretched in this release is what they've done to the App Store. It's now HTML5-based, like the old (and despised) facebook app. It crawls compared to the old one.
I agree in general, but it isn’t all bad. (Recounting my experience on the Retina iPad:) At least on that device, performance now appears to be on par with the old app, much improved from earlier betas (but the new iPad is a pretty beefy device, other devices may struggle more). On bad connections, maps seem to load much better (because they are now vector based) and I do like their style – if it weren’t for the atrocious map data, I think the default view would be on par with the old app (I also have seen the styling of the maps and the placement algorithms for labels improve by leaps and bounds during beta testing). Turn-by-turn is really great and works very well. I have no complaints about the UI on the iPad, it’s more or less the same (though the changes they made might not works so well on smaller screens).
(I’m in Germany, living in a small city with 50,000 inhabitants:) However, map data is atrocious and riddled with embarrassing mistakes (when zooming in, the label of my city is not visible for the longest time – while much smaller villages around my city appear much earlier – and when it finally becomes visible it’s about three kilometers east of my city, in some forest). Satellite images are embarrassingly bad. POIs are practically non-existent and useless in Germany. If they exist at all they are out of date (when I search for italian restaurants, it shows me a pizzeria that closed half a decade ago, not a single italian restaurant that is open now). Google’s POIs are current and (more or less) comprehensive, Apple’s are anything but. Plus: No one uses Yelp in Germany, Qype is pretty popular around here, though – consequently there is just no useful data on Yelp about German restaurants.
I really hope that Google will soon come out with their maps app for iOS. And I hope that Apple will improve. I believe they can (hey, it took Google some time, too), and I don’t object to the existence of a second good maps service.
I was actually thrilled that for transit directions in NYC, Maps just gave me a button to the Embark app, which won the MTA App Quest for best subway navigation in the city. It has a better interface than Google Maps for transit, anyway. It's obviously an extra step to go to another app, but if the experience is better in the long run, I'm willing to go with it.
Google Maps has been annoying on iOS for a while -- ever since they updated their Android app to use vectors, while ignoring the iOS version, it's felt much slower and I figured it was just a matter of time before they abandoned iOS completely.
I shared many of those concerns from the previews given by Apple. That is until I actually tried using it, at which point I have deemed it much better than the Google-backed version. With that said, I think your location matters: Transit directions are not something I can use anyway, for instance.
Honestly, I think this just showcases how difficult maps really are. No matter how bad people in the US are finding it, I guarantee that users outside the US are going to hate this change even more than you do.
It's a great example of something that doesn't scale easily.
I suspect Google will release an IOS app putting back their functionality soon enough. I hope so because while the apple maps looks pretty, the utility comes from the search by point of interest, and that's considerably weakened by this release.
There are a few improvements though, I like the new app store better because I don't need my password to update apps, or buy free ones, and the icon has a little 'new' badge to remind me to try the app.
I haven't had time to explore it very much yet, but I was a bit disappointed when I first launched it and found that the only overhead imagery available for my area is in black and white. It's hardly a remote location.
I suppose they will be making a lot of map-related deals over the coming months, but Google may have arranged exclusive contracts with some companies.
I saw someone tweet (and someone I follow retweet) this: "Nine years ago Safari was released: a fringe browser that didn't run sites for IE well. Today, its engine powers everything. Now think maps."
I laughed and then felt really, really bad for them.
It's unbelievable the way people react to criticism. (in any cases, not just Apple/iPhone)
Google, if you're reading this: _Please_ release your maps app for iOS. I can't upgrade to iOS 6 until you do, and switching to Android isn't an option!
For those wondering, this update seems to run just fine on 3GS. The new maps app works smoothly, and Safari loads pages either the same or else just slightly faster than before.
I updated my 3GS to use iOS5 when it came out, and my phone has been horrendously slow. Even just scrolling from the home screen to the search bar(all the way to the left) would result in a 10-second delay, and sometimes the whole phone seems to stall when I click a text field to bring up the keyboard.
Did anyone else have a similar experience? Is it better on iOS6?
Updating to 10.8.2 has broken virtualbox for me. The error I'm getting is: "VT-x is being used by another hypervisor". I'd be careful updating if you use virtualbox for development.
I tried reinstalling/updating to the latest version of VirtualBox, but it did not help.
Update: I managed to disable VT-x by following the procedure described at http://tech.techteam.gr/virtualbox-vt-x-problem-cannot-disab... and starting the virutal machine with VBoxHeadless. However, this immediately made my host machine completely lock up, so I cannot recommend it :)
Still no update for wi-fi on macbooks and crazy fans on Airs :/ OK the fans are a little bit more sane now since the last update, but still no in the tolerable range. And the wi-fi seems, at least to me, to have gotten worse with the last update. I'll update and see if it is fixed and they just didn't bother to mention it in the announcement.
I am not an iPhone user. Can someone explain "Do Not Disturb"? I think I am missing something, I thought that was what the switch was on the side of the old iphones?
The DND feature silently declines alerts and calls when enabled. I haven't used it yet, but I am assuming the alerts and calls that have been declined due to DND mode will be available whenever you turn it off/check the notification center.
You can also schedule DND mode to go on and turn off at certain times.
You can whitelist contacts, too. There is also an option to allow calls through that happen in rapid succession (something like >1 of the same call in >=3m).
The switch on the side of the phone was just a "silencer," without any fine-grained control. "Do Not Disturb" is a more intelligent kind of silencer -- it silences emails, texts, and any sort of app notifications, but you can let it selectively allow phone calls through (either "Everybody," "All my contacts," or just your "Favorites"), and it has a feature to allow repeated calls through (if someone calls you, then calls back a couple minutes later).
My iPhone is my only phone, so I want it to ring whenever somebody calls me, but I don't want my phone beeping with emails and texts all night. Previously, the only way to accomplish this would have been either to set all sounds except the ringtone to "Silent" (manually changing every sound) or to leave all sounds happening, but plug in a pair of headphones at night (which makes all notification sounds except the ringtone go through the headphones). I've been doing this for months, but it's obviously a pain.
"Do Not Disturb" is the solution I've been looking for.
The slide switch is for muting audio. The do not disturb mode allows you to automatically silence notifications (both audibly and visually) during the night, though you can also whitelist your favourite phone numbers if you wish.
I don't think the betas let you do OTA upgrades. You have to jump into Xcode or iTunes to get the released iOS 6. Of course the GM really is what was release today so no need to update if you're running that.
The GM SDK and accompanying XCode came out the same day as they announced the new device but it was only available through the developer program afaik (i.e. not through App Store).
[+] [-] jpxxx|13 years ago|reply
It's a rather big turd in an otherwise delicious punchbowl, and it is going to become a real-world talking point about iPhones starting today.
[+] [-] astral303|13 years ago|reply
My fear is now Apple is becoming more bean counter and less passion, strong-opinion driven. To let Maps out in this shape is a troubling misstep.
[+] [-] mullingitover|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] arrrg|13 years ago|reply
(I’m in Germany, living in a small city with 50,000 inhabitants:) However, map data is atrocious and riddled with embarrassing mistakes (when zooming in, the label of my city is not visible for the longest time – while much smaller villages around my city appear much earlier – and when it finally becomes visible it’s about three kilometers east of my city, in some forest). Satellite images are embarrassingly bad. POIs are practically non-existent and useless in Germany. If they exist at all they are out of date (when I search for italian restaurants, it shows me a pizzeria that closed half a decade ago, not a single italian restaurant that is open now). Google’s POIs are current and (more or less) comprehensive, Apple’s are anything but. Plus: No one uses Yelp in Germany, Qype is pretty popular around here, though – consequently there is just no useful data on Yelp about German restaurants.
I really hope that Google will soon come out with their maps app for iOS. And I hope that Apple will improve. I believe they can (hey, it took Google some time, too), and I don’t object to the existence of a second good maps service.
[+] [-] high5ths|13 years ago|reply
Google Maps has been annoying on iOS for a while -- ever since they updated their Android app to use vectors, while ignoring the iOS version, it's felt much slower and I figured it was just a matter of time before they abandoned iOS completely.
[+] [-] randomdata|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] untog|13 years ago|reply
It's a great example of something that doesn't scale easily.
[+] [-] hnriot|13 years ago|reply
There are a few improvements though, I like the new app store better because I don't need my password to update apps, or buy free ones, and the icon has a little 'new' badge to remind me to try the app.
[+] [-] Zirro|13 years ago|reply
I suppose they will be making a lot of map-related deals over the coming months, but Google may have arranged exclusive contracts with some companies.
[+] [-] purephase|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] drivebyacct2|13 years ago|reply
I laughed and then felt really, really bad for them.
It's unbelievable the way people react to criticism. (in any cases, not just Apple/iPhone)
[+] [-] ck2|13 years ago|reply
About darn time - took how many years?
[+] [-] masklinn|13 years ago|reply
About 5?
[+] [-] TazeTSchnitzel|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wonster|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sirn|13 years ago|reply
Glad to see Apple finally address this issue!
Previous discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4339609
Edit: the problem with color profile on SSD drive with FileVault enabled[1] seems fixed also.
[1]: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1401741
[+] [-] nachteilig|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mrknmc|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] philwelch|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] maggit|13 years ago|reply
Is there another, better, link available?
[+] [-] yottabyte47|13 years ago|reply
On iOS you can update by going to Settings > General > Software Update
OS X users can go to App Store > Updates
[+] [-] pragone|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Alex3917|13 years ago|reply
(Similar results not guaranteed.)
[+] [-] artmageddon|13 years ago|reply
Did anyone else have a similar experience? Is it better on iOS6?
[+] [-] stuross|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] maggit|13 years ago|reply
I tried reinstalling/updating to the latest version of VirtualBox, but it did not help.
Update: I managed to disable VT-x by following the procedure described at http://tech.techteam.gr/virtualbox-vt-x-problem-cannot-disab... and starting the virutal machine with VBoxHeadless. However, this immediately made my host machine completely lock up, so I cannot recommend it :)
[+] [-] specialist|13 years ago|reply
Both Windows 7 guest (blech) and Linux 2.6.18 (aka Oracle Developer Days) guest just launched on OSX 10.8.2, VirtualBox 4.1.20r80170, no problems.
Oracle just release VirtualBox 4.2. Release notes mention Mountain Lion support.
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/1842885
Happy Hunting!
[+] [-] slith|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dmix|13 years ago|reply
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5460
Looks like iMessages finally supports messages sent to iPhone.
[+] [-] CWIZO|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lectrick|13 years ago|reply
2) Hit Yes when it wants to know your location
3) Hit Yes when it pesters you to add it as an icon (for once, it's not bothering me). The icon is snazzy.
4) Enjoy your almost-as-good-as-the-app-was mobile Google Maps experience. Complete with transit directions.
[+] [-] mgkimsal|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cstuder|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] JohnBooty|13 years ago|reply
http://www.macrumors.com/2012/09/10/os-x-10-8-2-restores-not...
In the future, if we're not around to look things up for you - give it a try sometime. http://google.com
[+] [-] dfc|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jh3|13 years ago|reply
You can also schedule DND mode to go on and turn off at certain times.
You can whitelist contacts, too. There is also an option to allow calls through that happen in rapid succession (something like >1 of the same call in >=3m).
[+] [-] high5ths|13 years ago|reply
My iPhone is my only phone, so I want it to ring whenever somebody calls me, but I don't want my phone beeping with emails and texts all night. Previously, the only way to accomplish this would have been either to set all sounds except the ringtone to "Silent" (manually changing every sound) or to leave all sounds happening, but plug in a pair of headphones at night (which makes all notification sounds except the ringtone go through the headphones). I've been doing this for months, but it's obviously a pain.
"Do Not Disturb" is the solution I've been looking for.
[+] [-] dan1234|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] X-Istence|13 years ago|reply
Well, that solves one problem that everyone here on HN was complaining about.
[+] [-] endlessvoid94|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jevinskie|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mishmax|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jfernandez|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mukaiji|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] quux|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rimantas|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] interg12|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pkulak|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|13 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] circa|13 years ago|reply