Everyone knows that Apple’s maps suck, right? After all, they were pretty poor at launch, and anything to do with Apple never changes: Apple gear is overpriced ($330 for an iPad!), Apple should license its OS (Android is open! And winning!). Etc.
Except that maps have gotten a lot better in the intervening months. The app mightn’t have gotten an update, but arguably its the same old app that used to use Google maps anyway. But the software and map tiles behind the scenes? Oh boy.
The Loop’s Jim Dalrymple has posted lists of the improvements. Flyover support has been added for around 16 cities, and augmented for many others (including my home town of Barcelona, which now has full coverage even in the outlying ‘burbs – likely something to do with Apple polishing things before the Mobile World Congress earlier this month).
3-D buildings have also been added and updated in 12 cities, and maps in China have gotten a huge overhaul.
Read Jim’s post for the full lists. I’m still using Google Maps as it finds everything I type into it right away. But for route-planning and checking out an area, Apple Maps is already my go-to.