I like the new Maps app. I know it's objectively horrible and am not disputing any of the ironclad cases everyone else has made against it. All I'm saying is this: I punched in directions to Lao Sze Chuan in Chinatown last night, driving from Oak Park. I threw my phone on the passenger seat and drove. The sensible route it plotted for me was unworkable due to traffic, so I detoured through UIC campus. The moment I diverged from its route, without me doing anything, it replotted a new route, and then a series of new routes as I ignored those directions, until I got to Roosevelt and followed its directions the rest of the way there --- which were much better than the route I would have taken.
Obviously, I fall into a specific class of Maps user:
* Using directions primarily when I'm driving
* In a major city
But that's a big class of users and, so far, Maps is better for that use case. The Maps app from 10.5 was unusable for driving.
But that's a big class of users and, so far, Maps is better for that use case. The Maps app from 10.5 was unusable for driving.
Thank you, you've written a more useful summary review of the new maps app than anything else I've read lately.
I've tried driving with the previous Maps app - with a borrowed iPhone, I don't yet own one - and was really surprised at how unusable it was. I was left thinking that not a single person on that project could have attempted to drive on their own with it, otherwise how else could it be so bad?
I also gave the driving directions a shot, the voice cues are great, the visuals look fantastic and really awesome. Also when you deviate it doesnt give you some "ROBOT RECALCULATING" voice, instead she smoothly cuts over to the next set of directions.
The new 3d looks good, the map tiles need work but they just look DIFFERENT and not necessarily "worse" to me. This is in SOMA San Francisco.
>The moment I diverged from its route, without me doing anything, it replotted a new route, and then a series of new routes as I ignored those directions, until I got to Roosevelt and followed its directions the rest of the way there --- which were much better than the route I would have taken.
That's how every directions' app is working. You are seriously impressed about that?
Obviously, I fall into a specific class of Maps user:
* Using directions primarily when I'm driving
* In a major city
But that's a big class of users and, so far, Maps is better for that use case. The Maps app from 10.5 was unusable for driving.