[Yokohama3021]

These maps are worse then Apple's in Japan. It is hard to understand why only Google and Japanese GPS's have great detailed maps. It seems even worse as the maps app seems to be being ignored by Apple in Japan. I really wish Apple would give us a button to use their maps or Googles across all apps. Then the competition would be on for the greatest maps!!

[mackerr]

Apple Maps has been working fine for me. I have found a location error, where a major building is 2 block out of place, but for a long time Google Maps had the same mistake, it is due to a custom address that does not follow the pattern of the rest of the city. Here maps have the same error, except the satellite data is so old the 47 story office building at that address hasn't been built yet. I have been working in that building for 2 years, the foundation isn't even dug yet in Here's photo image. Nor is the 100 story building across the street in Here's photo data.

Here may be great for someone, but for me, it doesn't meet the standard set by Apple's Maps. If Google Maps fully worked in iOS it might be the king, but it had been hobbled by Google to not compete with Android or the web version so it too falls short. Without vector graphics and turn by turn directions the old Google Maps for iOS is a non starter against more modern apps. Maybe next time.

[MikeForbus]

I'm an expat living in China. I downloaded Here and it is absolutely horrible, while Apple Maps is brilliant in China. With Here Maps, the GPS locator is several hundred yards off. The streets are listed in Pinyin only, no Chinese characters making it useless to foreigners traveling in China. Live traffic view doesn't work. The majority of side streets are NOT identified. There is virtually NO detail to the maps in naming locations, points of interest, key buildings, etc. Oh, but bus stops are marked, but with no bus info. Bottom line, its an overhyped worthless POS, at least in China.

Meanwhile, Apple maps is absolutely brilliant here and has a significant amount of data built in for POI, key buildings, side streets, restaurants, hotels, etc. It also has all names in Chinese characters and pinyin which is critical for foreigners to be able to get around if you don't speak or read the language, especially when asking for directions or taking taxis.

Great job Apple. Nokia, not at all.

This app is "Here"-by deleted.

[mulgamutt]

I use a map App all the time as a driver (Town Car/Limo in Los Angeles/Orange County). I have yet to have a problem with Apple's Maps. To compare, I've downloaded the free ones (MapQuest, Gokivo, Waze, Google Maps [web] and others) and bought one (GPS Drive) ... I end up back at Apple's Maps. What can I say? It works for me. Most of the time I'm looking for an immediate response without having to fumble through menus, especially if I'm in transit. I have really wondered what all the fuss is about.

In the meantime, I'll download the Nokia app and test it out.

[bananaman]

well, folks, there we have it. As has been the case with so many Apple 'failures', it turns out that their solution works as well as or better than the competition. Who knew? Oh, actually, I did. I have used both hardware and software GPS programs. My alternative to Apple Maps has been CoPilot Live, which is a flawed program (like ALL GPS programs,) that continues to develop and evolve in very nice ways. That being said, I still prefer the new Maps to anything else out there. As other posters have mentioned, it is strong right out of the gate, and updates will obviously improve it.

The main problem here is the expectation that Apple should somehow produce perfection in everything they do. I think they come as close to that ideal as any company in the world, but you can't bat 1,000 every single day. Can't happen. But if you measure them against real-world criteria, like, for instance, the performance of their competition, you discover that at worst they are as good as everybody else on their first try, and they never stop improving their product.

Everyone should proceed with the caveat that mapping the road network of the known world, and then optimizing route instructions, is a non-trivial pursuit. It takes lots of information points and sophisticated crunching. It is remarkable how well these programs work at present, and they will only get better. And when they do, I suspect that Apple Maps will be at the top of the heap.