Michal Marek Some time ago we reported that new maps were introduced at this year's WWDC. Apple implements them in the operating system iOS 6. This time, too, the sharp version of the new iOS will probably be released together with the new iPhone. Many fans of the Cupertino company look forward to this day with anticipation and high hopes.
Apple tries to regularly bring new and revolutionary aspects to improve its product portfolio. One of the main attractions of iOS 6 and the new iPhone is supposed to be the just-mentioned maps from its own stable. A quality map and navigation application that would be an essential part of iOS is something that has been missing from the iPhone for a long time. The competition offered a native navigation application, Apple did not.
Many iOS users were certainly frustrated that the app Maps, which has been present in iOS for so long, is very outdated and lacks any modern features. Maps it mainly suffers from the absence of classic turn-by-turn navigation, the absence of 3D display, but also the absence of any social functions such as sharing your location with others, notifying friends of possible traffic complications, police patrols, and the like. These kinds of features are a big draw these days and cannot be ignored.
Why will the iPhone (and iPad) be able to navigate only now, when it gets rid of Google as a supplier of documents? The problem was the restrictions that Google dictates to companies that want to use its maps. In short, in its terms, Google does not allow applications that use its map data to be able to navigate in the classic way and in real time.
If both companies wanted to reach an agreement, surely one would have already been reached. The conditions that Google imposes may have been adapted. But Apple decided otherwise. In recent years, the Californian firm has been buying up companies dealing with maps and map materials. As in other areas, here too he reports a complete cut off from dependence on Google and its data. The map materials that Google currently has are of very high quality, and it will be very difficult to adequately replace them. This is also shown by the reactions of many developers after testing the beta version of iOS 6. There has been a lot of panic on the Internet in recent weeks, and many people think the new maps are just a bad joke. However, I would not make premature conclusions and think about the meaning of the word BETA version.
The fact that Apple has stood on its own in another industry is great in itself and shows great promise. Now the engineers from Apple will no longer be limited and will be able to show us the revolution through a new and very ambitious project. In addition, Google will also get the opportunity to show off, which already promised to invade the App Store with its own solution. It will certainly take some time for Apple to properly assemble the materials it has available from many sources and in many versions, but I believe that the new Maps have a future. But I would wait until the final version is released with a damning verdict. It is certain that Apple wants to score points in this industry and to new maps, even in connection with another newly introduced function eyes free, will rely heavily on
It's clear. After all, Apple has long declared and has it encoded in its genes that you cannot be the best in an area in which you do not master the key technology. The key technology for maps was held by Google, which won't just let it go to a competitor, and that's why Apple had to find another way - it bought the technology elsewhere and is trying to use and develop it.
However, it is strange that they are releasing a Beta version to the world. I don't think that's the case with Apple. I mean, they would admit it :)
Siri is also only beta
I don't know what you don't like about it... Betas have been running since forever and the final form may be very far away... Moreover, as sspeedy already wrote, even Siri is a beta... The new technologies have to be tested somehow.
Apple doesn't release the Beta version ;) not live, but only for developers, so there's nothing strange about it, it's always been that way.
BTW, the following is written about the maps in the release notes where a normal user cannot get to:
"Map data will continue to evolve—only a limited amount of high resolution satellite imagery is currently available."
which translates to:
Map data will continue to evolve, only a limited amount of high-resolution satellite imagery is currently available.
I explain this by the fact that they are testing the infrastructure of the map application, the data requirements, and are tuning the HW on their side so that it is able to deliver map data quickly enough for X million iOS devices worldwide. So I think that Apple will show really great maps with detailed satellite images in the final release. Another thing that bothers me is the lack of highlighting of houses (parcels) on standard maps, I think that's a shame and it would require a bit of monkeying around with Google Maps. We'll see what Apple comes up with in the end.
And the use of Apple's own maps is revolutionary and liberating in itself, I am quite appalled by them. The maps will be connected to social networks, it will navigate and I don't know what else. What's the point, when the display of the maps itself is completely dilettantish, non-detailed .. Just for children .. Even the blind map in the geography once on the base was very informative.
Btw, it scares me that it's beta. If only alpha... I like my ipad, but now I leave the navigation to my android phone with gmaps...
And another panicker. Googlers hurry
He rushed with an application that will be able to do everything. Suddenly it works. So you can hide your phone in your pocket again. It's a natural move from Apple given their mindset to be in control of their products.
I'm glad that someone also wrote a normal informative article about the new maps and thought a little before starting to shout and judge involuntarily. It does bother me a bit about the release of so-called beta versions, but in the case of maps that have not yet been released, it is normal. It's strange with Siri, apparently they were worried that someone would overtake them.
Just so that the beta version doesn't last as long as in the case of Gmail and other fancy beta products.
I take it as a plus, the Google maps didn't suit me from the start, I especially missed the possibility of offline maps, I know, everything can be purchased. Otherwise, Apple has a stop:
they put on/off bt in the main menu and everyone is happy, and at the same time, everyone would like it in the menu that can be pulled down with a finger on the main screen (I don't know the exact name), but for some mysterious reason, Apple doesn't do it there... iOS7? I just don't understand this logic.. the same goes for music control, why can't Apple directly give you the option to go to the next layer with the + button or at least by shaking the phone, I'll have an orgasm if they made a 3D volume slider :-)
You can shuffle by shaking... I don't see it as ideal to switch to the next one by shaking, and another thing is whether I should use the +/- button to switch to the next one with a double tap or to display the music player controls with the double tap on HB, so I don't see a reason why +/- should be used to switch songs in addition if I have I can switch the iOS friendly headphones to the next song without taking out my phone ;) so I don't think there is much to improve here.
I probably wouldn't have panicked and started running around screaming that the BETA-maps look the way I do. I assume that everything will improve and Gottwaldov will also become Zlin. It's just a question if Apple introduced it "unfinished" just to catch the right time, or if it's due to not showing everything right away in the trailer before the premiere.
And as for the BETA designation at SIRI, I see it here (not in a bad way) as a bit of an alibi. Yes, it is not finished, it will be constantly improved, people will help us with it, it is the right time for SIRI so that they do not overtake us... we will call it BETA