Apple CEO Tim Cook recently released an apology for the frustration that their new Maps app has caused users. There were numerous reasons that Apple decided to create its own app rather than continue to use Google Maps, but as we’ve mentioned previously, using it is a mixed bag.
An overwhelming number of people have protested that it’s not quite ready for prime time, but in about a week’s time (three uses, to be exact), I’ve had no issue. Granted, even though I had never been to any of the places I mapped, they were relatively straightforward (i.e. right off the highway/in a location with solid cell coverage, etc.). I did notice, however, that the 3D feature wasn’t populating in most of the areas I was in. (That wasn’t too surprising, given that many areas of Vermont are so to get adequate coverage.) I loved how much I could see from the main overview — ETA, mileage to go, etc.
However, for those of you who have tried it and found that it’s not quite up-to-snuff, Cook specifically mentions MapQuest, Bing, Waze, or even adding a shortcut app icon that directs to Google Maps on the web (great call!).
I’ve tried MapQuest before, and it was probably everyone’s go-to before Google Maps. It’s a good, solid app, and gets positive reviews for its accurate directions and features, such as turn-by-turn navigation and rerouting after a missed turn.
I haven’t tried Bing or Waze, but upon reading reviews, most users find these to be well-organized apps that get the job done. Bing, of course, is Microsoft’s answer to Google, as current TV ads are pitting its search head-to-head with ubiquitous Google in a clever “blind” test reminiscent of the soda wars of the ’80s. While Bing “does it all,” Waze is an app specifically designed for GPS navigation. It also has a social component, with community-provided traffic updates. Pretty cool. I’ll be downloading this over the weekend as I navigate around the Baltimore-Washington beltway!
All are free.
Download MapQuest.
Download Bing.
Download Waze.
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Happy trails!