Tonight Google released (or unleashed if you prefer) its highly anticipated iOS app. All those who predicted that Apple would block it were obviously deeply, profoundly wrong.
The new iOS Google Maps app is very solid and many will eagerly embrace it. I’ve become used to the Apple Maps UI, however, and now prefer that. But Google’s data are still better. I will probably use one app as a way to check and verify the other.
Here are the two UIs; Google is obviously the one on the left and Apple the screen on the right:
You can read my slightly more complete preliminary evaluation over at Search Engine Land. But tell me, will you immediately download and return to using Google Maps or will you stick with Apple’s maps? (Android users stay out of this.)
There’s already tons of coverage and analysis, with most writers highly praising the new app.
December 14th, 2012 at 10:54 am
I downloaded Google Maps as soon as I heard it was out. I’ll be using as my primary map app (I live in the Netherlands) for a couple of main reasons: i) just plain familiarity with the interface and what it can do for me; ii) it seems much less “strict” on search results – the Apple app doesn’t seem to be able to work out what I mean when I type in some search terms; iii) public transport integration (although it’s not ideal in Google either, especially when you compare it with the amazing door-to-door public transport routing we have in the Netherlands through the 9292 app) ; iv) integration with my Google Apps account so I can see previous searches/destinations etc on all devices.