I've been playing around with the new iOS6 maps this evening on my iPad. It looks absolutely gorgeous. In particular it has accurate US, state, and county shields and the layers (land, parks, water, etc.) look like paper. It doesn't seem as full featured as Google Maps was, but I fully expect that to improve throughout the beta cycle.
I'd post screenshots but I don't want to violate the developer NDA. Go google it though. It looks that good.
Are they putting it on the web for the rest of us?
I hope so. Apple may write the rendering engine but the map data belongs to TomTom so hopefully it isn't a licensing nightmare to have an online mapping service like Google or Bing.
I saw one screenshot where a California Spade shield was used for the State Routes. I wonder if Apple has managed to get every state route shape and use it? This would certainly one-up Google a bit.
Edit: Looking at these screenshots (http://9to5mac.com/2012/06/11/hands-on-with-the-all-new-ios-6-beta-including-apples-new-maps-and-revamped-stores/#), in Kentucky the circle in a black square is used. This website (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/whats-new-in-ios-6-ipad-iphone-ipod-touch-screenshots/) shows the NY shield and the NJ circle.
But there are also green rectangles for 9A and 495.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ilounge.com%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Farticles_ios6b%2F20.jpg&hash=4a9e22c2d6152cc7e375340ce75447e3f2310883)
A few states like IN and IL also use green squares. I assume this is temporary since states like CT uses a white box. All of the other states I saw had accurate shields.
Other countries, including Canada, still use green squares also. I assume this is their placeholder shield as they work on the map renderer.
Quote from: realjd on June 12, 2012, 09:37:17 PM
but the map data belongs to TomTom
From what I've heard, some of the data is from OSM as well.
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on June 13, 2012, 12:35:22 AM
Quote from: realjd on June 12, 2012, 09:37:17 PM
but the map data belongs to TomTom
From what I've heard, some of the data is from OSM as well.
OSM is listed as one of the sources, as are numerous other domestic and foreign entities. Surprisingly, Waze is on the list as well.
The state route shields are great...but the US shield is hideous. How hard is it to just download the real shield off Wikipedia?
Quote from: Scott5114 on June 13, 2012, 08:55:27 AM
The state route shields are great...but the US shield is hideous. How hard is it to just download the real shield off Wikipedia?
comparable in hideousness to '70 spec.
I don't think the US Route shield they're using looks that bad:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg98.imageshack.us%2Fimg98%2F4352%2Fimg0001fp.th.png&hash=1f2a87d56c0456134b8314e43742bc31764c739a) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/98/img0001fp.png/)
But notice that CA-18 becomes "US Route 18" east of I-15...
Similar errors can be seen here:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F2209%2Fimg0002ap.th.png&hash=e0b611df8925daf568fc28a7983348108432bfa4) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/600/img0002ap.png/)
Notice how CA-30 and CA-42 still exist, CA-39 is oddly signed (as the portion of the route north of I-210 isn't there at all) and CA-47 appears to head in two different directions.
You can tell right away the Maps app is just taking one particular shield and either stretching or shrinking it. Look at the Washington route shields, for example:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg594.imageshack.us%2Fimg594%2F715%2Fimg0003r.th.png&hash=45eb90970cfd13e632833f3d6a98df1f8721027d) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/594/img0003r.png/)
I want to figure out how to extract the vector elements they're using from the App. It will probably require jailbreaking and something like iExplorer, though.
Quote from: Quillz on June 13, 2012, 05:22:11 PM
I want to figure out how to extract the vector elements they're using from the App. It will probably require jailbreaking and something like iExplorer, though.
You won't be able to. Like most online maps, it's rendered on the server and downloaded as image tiles.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 13, 2012, 09:52:20 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on June 13, 2012, 08:55:27 AM
The state route shields are great...but the US shield is hideous. How hard is it to just download the real shield off Wikipedia?
comparable in hideousness to '70 spec.
I don't see it. I don't have a good eye for things like that though like you do. I struggle similarly with identifying fonts.
One other thing I noticed is that in the UK, the A roads are white and the Motorways are yellow like on the US maps. They also use the green box shields for all the roads. I assume this is a case of "haven't gotten there yet" and that it will change to the standard green/blue road lines and shields by release date.
Quote from: Quillz on June 13, 2012, 05:22:11 PM
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg98.imageshack.us%2Fimg98%2F4352%2Fimg0001fp.th.png&hash=1f2a87d56c0456134b8314e43742bc31764c739a) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/98/img0001fp.png/)
But notice that CA-18 becomes "US Route 18" east of I-15...
This does not bode well.
Quote from: realjd on June 12, 2012, 08:35:03 PM
I've been playing around with the new iOS6 maps this evening on my iPad.
Where did you get iOS6?
And pardon the slightly off-topic rant, but why does Apple see the need to come out with a new iOS so frequently? What's so wrong with iOS 5? For that matter, what was so wrong with iOS 4?
Every time they come up with a new iOS, I have to wait to upgrade until there's a jailbreak for it. I recently jumped from 3.0.2 to 5.0.3 because they finally came out with an untethered jailbreak.
For that matter, what's the point in coming out with a new model of phone so frequently? The 4S hasn't been out that long.
on a similar note, what's with Firefox jumping a major release on not just every minor upgrade but some seemingly bug-fixy subminors as well. what would've been 3.6.24 to 3.6.25 or the like is now 12 to 13.
Quote from: hbelkins on June 13, 2012, 10:53:50 PM
For that matter, what's the point in coming out with a new model of phone so frequently? The 4S hasn't been out that long.
Good old American capitalism. They know the fanboys will buy anything they put out.
Quote from: hbelkins on June 13, 2012, 10:53:50 PM
And pardon the slightly off-topic rant, but why does Apple see the need to come out with a new iOS so frequently? What's so wrong with iOS 5? For that matter, what was so wrong with iOS 4?
That's not how software development works. Programmers generally tend to program, and once they have some improvements they're pleased with, they release it. Even if the previous version was "good enough". If you don't release for a long period of time your software will no longer reflect the needs of the users, since the things they want to use the software for will evolve too and your software won't.
Apple has been doing yearly update cycles of nearly all their products for as long as I can remember. When Steve Jobs came back in 1998, the iMac was released. The next year saw the first revision. Then in 2000 came the second one. Same is true of their software... Once Mac OS X was released in 2001, almost every year had a major version upgrade.
It's nothing new and Apple isn't the only company to do frequent product/software updates.
And as for getting iOS 6... You can either get it through ADC as I do, or you can find it on the usual torrent/download sites. But unless your UDID is tied to a ADC account, it won't install.
Quote from: hbelkins on June 13, 2012, 10:53:50 PM
Quote from: realjd on June 12, 2012, 08:35:03 PM
I've been playing around with the new iOS6 maps this evening on my iPad.
Where did you get iOS6?
And pardon the slightly off-topic rant, but why does Apple see the need to come out with a new iOS so frequently? What's so wrong with iOS 5? For that matter, what was so wrong with iOS 4?
Every time they come up with a new iOS, I have to wait to upgrade until there's a jailbreak for it. I recently jumped from 3.0.2 to 5.0.3 because they finally came out with an untethered jailbreak.
For that matter, what's the point in coming out with a new model of phone so frequently? The 4S hasn't been out that long.
You seem oddly against improvements...
Quote from: hbelkins on June 13, 2012, 10:53:50 PM
And pardon the slightly off-topic rant, but why does Apple see the need to come out with a new iOS so frequently? What's so wrong with iOS 5? For that matter, what was so wrong with iOS 4?
They built a few million memory-constrained iPad model 1s, and it turns out that software developers really don't like trying to fit things into 256MB of RAM, so they need some (un-)planned obsolesce stat.
Quote from: hbelkins on June 13, 2012, 10:53:50 PM
Quote from: realjd on June 12, 2012, 08:35:03 PM
I've been playing around with the new iOS6 maps this evening on my iPad.
Where did you get iOS6?
And pardon the slightly off-topic rant, but why does Apple see the need to come out with a new iOS so frequently? What's so wrong with iOS 5? For that matter, what was so wrong with iOS 4?
Every time they come up with a new iOS, I have to wait to upgrade until there's a jailbreak for it. I recently jumped from 3.0.2 to 5.0.3 because they finally came out with an untethered jailbreak.
For that matter, what's the point in coming out with a new model of phone so frequently? The 4S hasn't been out that long.
New IOS every year happens because Apple isn't in a bubble. Turn-by-turn directions, for example, have been built into Android for a couple of years now. The old "evolve or die" saying, more or less.
New model every year happens for 2 reasons. 1. They like money, and 2. Most people are on a 2 year per phone cycle. The one phone per year is their compromise between putting out a million phones (Android) or falling behind by releasing less often than once per year. I think you'd find that most people don't buy every phone, but skip one generation between phone purchases.
Quote from: realjd on June 13, 2012, 08:00:58 AM
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on June 13, 2012, 12:35:22 AM
Quote from: realjd on June 12, 2012, 09:37:17 PM
but the map data belongs to TomTom
From what I've heard, some of the data is from OSM as well.
OSM is listed as one of the sources, as are numerous other domestic and foreign entities. Surprisingly, Waze is on the list as well.
Also now using OSM fairly obviously is MapQuests's mobile app. It's also a source on their web version, but doesn't show as much in the U.S., where their own older data seems to be prevailing. Not sure why they show different maps on mobile than on web...
Quote from: hbelkins on June 13, 2012, 10:53:50 PM
Quote from: realjd on June 12, 2012, 08:35:03 PM
I've been playing around with the new iOS6 maps this evening on my iPad.
Where did you get iOS6?
And pardon the slightly off-topic rant, but why does Apple see the need to come out with a new iOS so frequently? What's so wrong with iOS 5? For that matter, what was so wrong with iOS 4?
Every time they come up with a new iOS, I have to wait to upgrade until there's a jailbreak for it. I recently jumped from 3.0.2 to 5.0.3 because they finally came out with an untethered jailbreak.
For that matter, what's the point in coming out with a new model of phone so frequently? The 4S hasn't been out that long.
I got iOS6 beta 1 through my Apple Developer Program membership. They give developers to prerelease beta version for two purposes - first, it gives developers a chance to update their apps to work with it (if needed), and secondly, it lets us find and report bugs for Apple to fix before it's released to the public.
They release a new phone yearly to stay competitive with other phone manufacturers. As technology progresses, they can implement more features for the size/weight/cost. There's nothing wrong per se with any of the older iPhones, they just don't have the hardware to support some of the newer features. I work with a guy still using the original iPhone and he's perfectly happy with it. It just doesn't support 3G, GPS, compass, etc.
The new operating system comes out to implement the new features available to the new phone. If a feature isn't hardware dependent on the newer phone hardware, it's usually available to older phones as well.
Quote from: blawp on June 14, 2012, 01:27:09 AM
You seem oddly against improvements...
Define "improvements."
We don't see a new version of Windows or Microsoft software every year. Apple doesn't even release a new version of its desktop OS every year.
The latest Office release came out in 2010. In the last 17 years, there have only been six versions of Windows (95/NT, 98, Me, XP, Vista and 7).
It seems to me that Apple does a bunch of incremental stuff that would be, IMNSHO, better done in fewer but bigger upgrades.
One of the reasons why those release slower is because you have to pay to upgrade them and the features are used as selling points. Upgrading iOS costs nothing; all you have to do is click a button in iTunes to download the update and you're done. The features don't need to be used as leverage to get you to take out your wallet, so the releases become less major.
At least it's not the overkill six month releases that linux distros often use, or the two month releases used by Firefox and Chrome for what should be nothing more than a patch to the existing release.
I have become accustomed to the six month release cycle that Linux distros use, and I find that I prefer it over the Windows release cycle, since because the releases are more incremental, less stuff tends to break in between them. OS upgrades are no longer really a big deal to me, certainly not anything like the memories I had of clearing my schedule for a weekend to upgrade from 98SE to XP. (More frequent bug fixes and security updates are another benefit of a faster release cycle; this is why Firefox and Chrome update so frequently–they want the users to get security fixes as quickly as possible.)
True, though the fast pace can lead to bugs in and of itself. I think a yearly cycle would work well there. As for bugs and security fixes, that's theoretically what patches are for, though they seem to be a dying thing in the browser world.
In the case of Firefox, it leads to more frequent add-on breakage because now the developers don't care one bit about add-on comparability when changing code. I don't think Firefox has released a single patch in over a year now; they just roll bug/security fixes into the next release, because quite frankly, there isn't much else for them to put in a release.
I also like rolling releases like Gentoo uses. We might want to move to that model - since version number increments no longer denote major releases, why not just get rid of them?
It's been said that the new maps incorporate some OpenStreetMap data (unless it's some other OSM). Doesn't OSM's license require the combined data set to then be also offered with a similar license, or does ODbL not have a Share-Alike requirement?
Quote from: Scott5114 on June 13, 2012, 08:55:27 AM
The state route shields are great...but the US shield is hideous. How hard is it to just download the real shield off Wikipedia?
The real shield could serve as a starting point, but I've found actual shield designs don't always shrink well to map sizes...different applications require differences in design, etc.
I agree that the one they've chosen is ugly, though.
Quote from: vtk on June 21, 2012, 08:55:24 PM
It's been said that the new maps incorporate some OpenStreetMap data (unless it's some other OSM). Doesn't OSM's license require the combined data set to then be also offered with a similar license, or does ODbL not have a Share-Alike requirement?
OSM isn't ODbL yet, and it will not be till they run the redaction bot.
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on June 22, 2012, 12:00:52 AM
Quote from: vtk on June 21, 2012, 08:55:24 PM
It's been said that the new maps incorporate some OpenStreetMap data (unless it's some other OSM). Doesn't OSM's license require the combined data set to then be also offered with a similar license, or does ODbL not have a Share-Alike requirement?
OSM isn't ODbL yet, and it will not be till they run the redaction bot.
Okay, I was mistaken on that point. After doing a bit of reading, it sounds like ODbL will have a similar share-alike requirement as the current Creative Commons license. Either way, a dataset that incorporates data from OSM must also be shared, and I don't think Apple/TomTom is meeting that requirement.