Folks,
Rich Cermele here, or PKcable as most of you know me. I'm a BlackBerry guy, as I was the Mod Team Leader at CrackBerry.com for several years, plus I volunteer at other Mobile Nations sites. I'm the Q&A guy now (Jedi I suppose
) Anyways I was asked to take a look at and compare Google Maps and Apple Maps. Going in I will admit that I am lazy and I usually just ask Siri to navigate and she picks Apple Maps of course. Also I came in believing Google would win. I use google for everything it's better right? More on that later. I tested both apps for several weeks, taking a look at accuracy, integration with the OS, integration with Apple watch, Bluetooth, issues and bugs, voice controls, and look and feel. I'll look at each app separately, and then summarize my findings and conclusion.
First up was Apple Maps. Apple Maps was very accurate, directions were good AND it got the names of difficult streets correct! Often it gave more choices of route than Google Maps. OS integration was another score for Apple Maps. (or a fail for the iPhone? On Android you can change default programs) Several settings could be changed under the hood to adjust how Apple Maps functions, and retrieves directions. Also when you ask siri for directions it's Apple Maps she uses. Apple Maps and Apple watch was another plus. At turns and other important driving directions your wrist vibrates. Bluetooth was a mixed bag, BUT it worked better with voice control on Apple Maps than Google Maps where it was unusable. And this MAY have been due to my older 3rd party bluetooth car kit. Bugs and issues were minimal with Apple Maps, just the bluetooth issue. Loved the look and feel of Apple Maps, and it worked perfectly. Turns and other driving directions were signaled at JUST the right moment, more on that later.
Ok now Google Maps, which I LOVE and use on my Computers. Not so much on the iPhone. Routes were accurate, BUT less alternate routes were given. There was little to no OS integration, NOTHING could be adjusted within the apps settings under iPhone, although within the app itself there WERE a few adjustments that could be made, but they were not as easy to use as Apple Maps. Also Google mispronounced street names enough times to concern me. No siri use possible, BUT there IS an Apple Watch app. BUT no vibration, just visual directions. Another big flaw of Google Maps (and it may be by design) is that direction signals came TOO soon for my tastes and I almost made wrong turns several times. Look and feel was nice, but I still preferred Apple Maps. I DID like the day in to night transitions of Google Maps.
So bottom line? Apple Maps is a better fit for me. For the watch integration alone, PLUS the better directions and it's better use of signaling turns. YES you need to signal BEFORE the turn or exit, BUT Google was constantly signaling WAY too soon, and there was another turn there, or exit. Also Google got my home street wrong! My HOME STREET! lol
Rich Cermele here, or PKcable as most of you know me. I'm a BlackBerry guy, as I was the Mod Team Leader at CrackBerry.com for several years, plus I volunteer at other Mobile Nations sites. I'm the Q&A guy now (Jedi I suppose
) Anyways I was asked to take a look at and compare Google Maps and Apple Maps. Going in I will admit that I am lazy and I usually just ask Siri to navigate and she picks Apple Maps of course. Also I came in believing Google would win. I use google for everything it's better right? More on that later. I tested both apps for several weeks, taking a look at accuracy, integration with the OS, integration with Apple watch, Bluetooth, issues and bugs, voice controls, and look and feel. I'll look at each app separately, and then summarize my findings and conclusion. First up was Apple Maps. Apple Maps was very accurate, directions were good AND it got the names of difficult streets correct! Often it gave more choices of route than Google Maps. OS integration was another score for Apple Maps. (or a fail for the iPhone? On Android you can change default programs) Several settings could be changed under the hood to adjust how Apple Maps functions, and retrieves directions. Also when you ask siri for directions it's Apple Maps she uses. Apple Maps and Apple watch was another plus. At turns and other important driving directions your wrist vibrates. Bluetooth was a mixed bag, BUT it worked better with voice control on Apple Maps than Google Maps where it was unusable. And this MAY have been due to my older 3rd party bluetooth car kit. Bugs and issues were minimal with Apple Maps, just the bluetooth issue. Loved the look and feel of Apple Maps, and it worked perfectly. Turns and other driving directions were signaled at JUST the right moment, more on that later.
Ok now Google Maps, which I LOVE and use on my Computers. Not so much on the iPhone. Routes were accurate, BUT less alternate routes were given. There was little to no OS integration, NOTHING could be adjusted within the apps settings under iPhone, although within the app itself there WERE a few adjustments that could be made, but they were not as easy to use as Apple Maps. Also Google mispronounced street names enough times to concern me. No siri use possible, BUT there IS an Apple Watch app. BUT no vibration, just visual directions. Another big flaw of Google Maps (and it may be by design) is that direction signals came TOO soon for my tastes and I almost made wrong turns several times. Look and feel was nice, but I still preferred Apple Maps. I DID like the day in to night transitions of Google Maps.
So bottom line? Apple Maps is a better fit for me. For the watch integration alone, PLUS the better directions and it's better use of signaling turns. YES you need to signal BEFORE the turn or exit, BUT Google was constantly signaling WAY too soon, and there was another turn there, or exit. Also Google got my home street wrong! My HOME STREET! lol
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