It’s there, no wait, it’s not: Spotting India on Apple Maps

Apple’s new in-house Maps application on iOS 6 is getting a lot of negative feedback from users and rightly so, since the app has a lot of gaping holes in its cartography. From places going missing to just plain wrong directions, Maps on iOS 6 is just bare bones and terrible, especially for those using it outside of the US.

For those who are heavy maps users, this app will come as a big disappointment. More so, since Google has not yet announced if or when it will be launching an official Google Maps app for iOS 6. But according to The Guardian, Google is preparing a Google Maps app for iOS6, which will appear in time. No official statement has been made and there will inevitably be questions over whether Apple will approve it in the App Store.

The report is adding to the rumours that the Google Maps might be ready, but is waiting Apple approval which may or may not come.

App data supplier TomTom NV has defended the quality of its mapping systems, stating that “We are more than willing to work with Apple to help fix any problems, as we would with any of our customers.” You can read more on what TomTom NV has to say here.

It’s clear that as far as data is concerned nobody can play catch with Google. And Apple’s problem is not as simple as the maps not being world class.  That would indicate that they are still pretty good, and just not quite up to Google’s high standards.

Instead the maps are of abysmally low quality, simply because they don’t have all the information. For users in India, Nokia’s OVI maps are another good option as they are much more detailed and accurate when it comes to giving directions and finding locations.

Basically Nokia and Google are already giving India’s users everything that a good map app should offer. In terms of maps apps in India, Apple isn’t even a distant second with the new app.

According to ZDNet, even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, feels it’s not a top notch product. The reports quotes Wozniack as saying

“I tried to navigate somewhere, and I couldn’t get to where I wanted to by voice,” he told ZDNet Australia. “So, I was a little disappointed, because I love navigation by voice with my Google [Android] phones, actually, since they always get it and are based on a better database.”

We tried looking for a couple of places in Mumbai and New Delhi in Apple Maps and compared it with Google Maps on an Android smartphone. The result were well…. all we can say is that somewhere in Silicon Valley, Google is laughing its head off.

You can check out some pictures below.

Here’s what Delhi University looked like on Apple Maps (Left) and Google Maps (Right)

Ok maybe this was tough one but according to Apple Maps, Govandi just doesn’t exist. On Google Maps it does.

Nope, no Connaught Place either on Apple Maps. As you can see Google Maps has shows it quite clearly and with details.

Gateway of India on Apple Maps compared to Google Maps on the right. Also notice how the Taj Mahal Hotel is marked far away from Gateway of India in Apple Maps.