Apple probably released the Maps App too soon, but they’re working fast and hard to fill in the data gaps and perfect Maps.
Frequent updates are bringing better and better data to cities and countries everywhere. Updates have included improved satellite, graphics improvements and changes, better location information, and data fixes for stores, businesses, movie theaters, restaurant, airports, and transit stops.
Legendary tech journalist John C. Dvorak recently reported about an informal test he ran with three friends testing three different Maps Apps.
Dvorak used Google Maps, podcaster Leo Laporte used the crowd sourced Maps App “Waze,” and marketing guy Glenn Rubenstein used Apple’s Maps App. They each used the different maps apps to navigate to several different locations. Dvorak is a frequent Apple critic, but said Apple’s Maps App was the hands down winner in terms of getting the navigator to the next location fastest.
Despite all the improvements Apple still has a lot of work to do to catch up with rival Google in terms of data. Google has been improving its maps since October 2004 when it acquired Where 2 Technologies.
The Loop got an exclusive list from Apple about some of the recent updates to Maps.
Flyover support added for:
- Baltimore, MD
- Providence, RH
- Portland, ME
- Cleveland, OH
- Green Bay, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Albany, NY
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Cologne, Germany
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Buffalo, NY
- Vancouver, BC
- Tulsa, OK
- Hoover Dam
- Modesto, CA
- Stockton, CA
Flyover imagery expanded for:
- Portland, OR
- Boston, MA
- Houston, TX
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Munich, Germany
- London, England
- Madrid, Spain
- Rome, Italy
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Berlin, Germany
- Lyon, France
- Birmingham, AL
- Toronto, ON
- Barcelona, Spain
3-D graphics added in the following cities:
- Barcelona, Spain
- Berlin, Germany
- Birmingham, England
- Cologne, Germany
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Dublin, Ireland
- London, England
- Lyon, France
- Manchester, England
- Milan, Italy
- Munich, Germany
- Rome, Italy
It’s Apple’s goal to provide users with the best possible Maps experience. If recent updates are any indication, Apple may very well catch up with Google soon.
