Transit and Apple’s iOS 6
Update: Helpful commenter drdaz notes that this video shows transit and walking icons in iOS 6 Maps, at 2 min, 38 sec in. It appears that I may have lamented the lack of transit directions too soon. Questions about how these transit directions are generated remain. After watching the video, I am now much more impressed by the new multi-touch gestures available for map navigation.
Update 2 (12-June-2012): Apparently, the beta version of iOS 6 links users to a 3rd party apps page from the transit directions button (discussion here). Our friends at Walk Score have started a social media campaign to tell Apple that transit and walking matter.
Update 2 (13-June-2012): via Timothy Moore (@timomio), Apple will be “integrating” 3rd party transit apps, a potential boon for 3rd party developers. I’ll post more after I know more and have time to discuss. (See: Twitter / TechCrunch)
Today, Apple gave a peak of iOS 6 at their Worldwide Developers Conference.
One of the big changes will be a new default mapping application in iOS 6. Maps in iOS 6 will have some new features. It also appears that Apple will remove some other features.
The default “Maps” application on devices running iOS 6 will no longer use Google Maps for cartography and Street View. Instead, cartography will be provided by TomTom and other sources, and Apple will add a 3D Flyover view.
Apple’s iOS 6 Maps page shows feature highlights. Notably absent is any mention of directions or maps for any other mode than driving. There is no mention whatsoever of transit, biking, or walking directions or maps.
Edward Jensen (Phoenix, AZ) offers commentary that expresses my initial reaction:
But if the rumors are true, then I’m sure that Apple will call their new mapping application “amazing,” “revolutionary,” “magical,” and other synonyms.
But, will it really be that?
I’m sure that it will be aesthetically pleasing. And that the graphics will be great. But one of the best features of Google Maps — and the big reason why I use it — is that Google Maps offers transit directions. You see, I don’t have a car. The option for me to get reliable directions to get from Point A to Point B via transit, as in the screen capture on the right, is absolutely mission-critical.
The other problem, at least for Phoenix, is that Valley Metro is very protective of their transit schedules. It took several years after Google Transit’s launch before one could plan transit trips here in Phoenix. If there is a transit feature in Apple’s new maps, what data will be there? I highly doubt that Phoenix’s will be there at launch.
Thankfully, we can still access Google Maps via the browser. But a native app was so much better. (iOS 6 and transit maps?)
I hope that Apple adds transit back into the default Maps application. Based on a first glimpse, it looks as if making maps visually-appealing a high priority here, but I hope that is not taking a back seat to providing comprehensive information.
I hope that Apple will jump into the transit directions market. They sell a lot of handsets (only about half the number of Android phones sold, though), and have a significant installed user base. It would be great to see Apple bring their famed emphasis on user experience to bear in public transportation. Dynamic re-routing in the case of missed connections? New real-time features? Integration with Siri (“Siri: remind me 5 minutes before my train leaves.”)? We’ll see.
Google’s already doing an amazing job with transit routing and features. It is my hope that more innovators will join the challenging space.
If Maps in iOS 6 is just pretty pictures with less comprehensive information, I may transition to Android as my personal phone.
At 2:38 in this vid, you see the icons associated with public transport and walking in the current Maps.
http://www.cultofmac.com/172929/in-depth-look-at-apples-incredible-new-maps-app-video/
Good spot! This leads me to wonder if Apple is developing their own trip planner for transit or if they are relying on someone else. Also, I am now much more impressed by the multi-touch gestures available for map navigation.
Little birdie tells me they’re relying on a third party for transit directions, with a strong leaning toward http://hopstop.com. No guarantees of course, but Hopstop does support transit for almost 100 cities, although they’re largely in the US and Canada (This compares to ~ 400 via Google). Outside of North America I’m seeing only London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and Moscow.
Here’s to hoping Apple also adds bike routes…
All possibilities… But there’s no reason why they can’t continue to use Googles data for this part is there?
Like they always say, Apple tends not to change things unless they can improve on them. Integrating Maps with all the worlds public transport organizations is neither a small nor interesting task, and it’s one that Google have already done. So why would they bother? 😀
Because they have to have their little war. Apple and Google are fighting a pointless war resulting in only one thing, fucking over the consumers. Now, Apple costumers are forced away from Google’s good services into apple’s makeshift junk, and Google costumers are now forced to use shitty phones from manufacturers like HTC and Samsung that fuck up using Android.
Not really?
Apple buys displays from Samsung. Why can’t they buy data from Google? Their new Maps app uses tiles from Microsoft:
http://9to5mac.com/2012/06/12/microsoft-providing-mapping-data-for-apples-new-maps-app/
Apple competes with MS in some markets, yet they can deal with each other. This is a business, not a school playground.
Our transit advocacy organization in South Carolina has joined the effort to encourage Apple to maintain transit trip planning as part of the core functionality of their OS. I have a droid phone and Ipad. Currently both can access the transit trip planning system in our area, but the Ipad will lose that functionality with the next upgrade. http://busec.org/rotten-apples-fall-off-the-transit-tree/