Apple Maps VS Google Maps – The Struggle for Global Relevance and Dominance

mrdigitech

New Member
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There has been a steady rise with regards to the use of digital mapping apps in recent times, due to the global preponderance of smartphones and tablets in the last 5 years. By far, the two most popular digital mapping apps are Apple Maps and Google Maps, with the latter widely renowned as the go-to mapping software. However, the use of Apple Maps has been on the steady rise in recent times, owing to Apple’s Success in Smartphone sales, grabbing the largest chunk of the global mobile technology market.

Having acknowledged its successes, Apple has been growing in confidence in recent times, as a result of the increase in the global usage of its mapping app. It made that fact clear to the world during its developer’s conference, which was held earlier this year – where it posited that the global usage of its mapping app was 3.5 times higher than the next leading mapping app. It didn’t suggest Google Maps as the next leading mapping app, however, you and I know it was referring to its rival mapping app, Google Maps. We shall carefully examine the performances of these renowned mapping apps under following headers:

Route Planning

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Being able to plan your route well in advance gives you the edge when it comes to navigating gridlocks and cutting distances. Unlike Apple Maps, Google Maps provide you navigational information with regards to walking, driving, public transport and cycling. But when using Apple Maps, you can only get information relating to driving and walking routes, but then it refers you to separate apps where you can get information with regards to transit. Live travel information is provided by both Apple Maps and Google Maps in addition to the plethora of traffic routes which are available for users to choose from.

Unlike Apple Maps, Google Maps provide users a list of all possible matches within their area when a location is searched for, and the results are sorted by distance. Users can also get relevant information relating to pictures, description, opening times and star-based rating, all of which combine perfectly to give users a good idea about their destination. On the other hand, Apple Maps provide users navigational information using pin drops around their location on the map instead of a list of all search results as they would have gotten for the same search using Google Maps. This makes navigating routes using Apple Maps a bit more complex than Google Maps, as users would have to open each individual pins to reveal more information especially when traveling to unfamiliar places.

Winner: Google Maps

Turn by Turn navigation

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Previously, turn-by-turn navigation was only made possible using the more expensive satellite navigation service. Currently, turn-by-turn is now a common feature in both Apple Maps and Google maps. Nevertheless, there are subtle differences between both mapping apps that may appeal differently to various users. The 3D maps feature is definitely the best selling point of the Apple Map’s turn-by-turn navigation. However, users must understand that the 3D map feature is yet to fully roll-out across the globe, but then Apple is constantly making sure that the 3D mapping feature is constantly updated to include more countries and regions. Apple’s 3D map feature provides users clear pictures of building located around them, which is instrumental in pinpointing their exact destination.

Google Map’s turn-by-turn isn’t yet as solid as that of Apple Maps, and it’s still very much in its Beta stage. Nevertheless, you can still get clearer traffic routes in different directions using Google Maps, but its navigation UI isn’t as clear as that of Apple Maps. The best selling point of Google Map’s turn-by-turn navigation is the voice command feature. Users can activate the voice command feature and use it to control the turn-by-turn navigation by tapping the microphone at the top-right side of the app. Both mapping app’s turn-by-turn features are great, but then I think Apple’s 3D Map turn-by-turn navigation offers a better deal.

Winner: Apple Maps

Special features

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We acknowledge the fact that there are lots similarities between these digital mapping apps; however, there are special, unique features not common between both of them. Big Ben has been included in Apple Map’s recent update, and it provides current time anywhere on the maps whenever it’s requested by users. Apple Maps also come with some interactive features, one of which is the inclusion the London Eye animation, which rotates just like the real one, but then it’s just only part of Apple’s gimmick to improve the interactivity of its mapping app. There is also the fly over tour for multiple locations around the world, included in Apple Maps, and it provides users a virtual tour of popular cities, even without them traveling there.

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On the other hand, Google Maps comes with its own unique features, one of which is the Google Street view. This amazing service provides user street view imagery of their paths and directions, just as if they are walking on the streets in the maps. Users can also use Google Map’s street view feature to explore different location across the world from the street view perspective. There is also the Public transport filter in the Google Maps, which provides users locations of all tube lines over the map, so tourist can easily access tube stations quickly.

Winner: Google Maps

The battle between the digital mapping giants is increasingly becoming sterner each day, with both actively seeking for ways to outdo each other. Both mapping apps come with amazing features designed to ensure seamless movement of people from one location to another. Google Maps has been in existence for quite some time and it’s the older of the two, but it’s slowly losing ground to Apple Maps, which has witnessed an upsurge in usage and popularity. We can only hope that the ruthless competition between these eternal rivals is sustained, because it will ultimately lead to constant improvement of the services offered to end users.


Photo Credit: macgasm.net, valuewalk.com, goodgadgetsonline.com
 
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