One of the widely-expected changes with iOS6 came Apple’s new Maps app. As it tries to distance itself more and more from rival Google, the most recent change to the default navigation app has been met with overwhelming disappointment.
One of the major irritations with iPhone navigation opposed to its Android counterparts was the lack of turn-by-turn navigation. Apple tried to respond to this with Siri integration and 3D maps – however many users have noted many accuracy issues and significant loss of details in metropolitan areas. Even worse, Apple has completely eliminated transit directions, forcing users to use other apps if they wish to navigate public transport options.
Time will tell if Apple’s mapping system, which relies heavily on 3rd party information from sources like OpenStreetMaps, can meet expectations that users have come to expect with Google Maps; but for now Apple is playing a desperate kind of catch up.
For now, users can entertain themselves with the 3D option (which is surprisingly good) and access Google Maps through Safari. But it’s not the prettiest of solutions.