Will my beloved Google maps go away on my iPhone tomorrow?
September 18, 2012 11:00 AM Subscribe
I have an iPhone 4S with iOS 5. If I download iOS 6 tomorrow, will Google maps be replaced with Apple maps? Meaning, will the upgrade REMOVE Google maps from my phone? If so, will I be able to download a Google maps app? I already have other 3rd party map apps; I want the one that's actually from Google.
I have searched and all I can find is that Apple is withdrawing their support for Google... it's not clear whether that means that the Google maps app that already exists on my phone will vanish after I update, or if it's just that the new iPhones that won't have it pre-installed.
I have searched and all I can find is that Apple is withdrawing their support for Google... it's not clear whether that means that the Google maps app that already exists on my phone will vanish after I update, or if it's just that the new iPhones that won't have it pre-installed.
Basically, yes. Your Google-based Maps app will be gone and replaced with the Apple Maps app.
There's a general assumption that Google will offer a separate Maps app but I don't think that's been formally announced yet.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:04 AM on September 18, 2012
There's a general assumption that Google will offer a separate Maps app but I don't think that's been formally announced yet.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:04 AM on September 18, 2012
It will be replaced with the Apple version. My guess is that Google will release theirs soon, just as they did with their own YouTube app since Apple pulled it from iOS6.
posted by mikesch at 11:05 AM on September 18, 2012
posted by mikesch at 11:05 AM on September 18, 2012
I've downloaded the iOS 6 Gold Master and I can tell you that, yes, the old Map App that Google did for Apple is replaced by the new Apple map app powered by Tomtom and you have no option to retain it.
As of now, there is no Google map app for iOS independent of the OS, but if Google handles things like their YouTube app, you may see one soon-ish. But there's no promise of one.
I can say, that, despite the lack of built-in public transit info, the Apple maps app is quite good.
posted by inturnaround at 11:07 AM on September 18, 2012
As of now, there is no Google map app for iOS independent of the OS, but if Google handles things like their YouTube app, you may see one soon-ish. But there's no promise of one.
I can say, that, despite the lack of built-in public transit info, the Apple maps app is quite good.
posted by inturnaround at 11:07 AM on September 18, 2012
There isn't currently an app, but bookmarking the Maps webpage on your homescreen (click on the arrow button, choose "Add to Home Screen" after you've visited it in your iPhone's browser creates something close to one. The browser version, which runs "fullscreen" (that is, without an address bar) better than the app was on the iPhone, IMO (for instance, it includes cycling directions; the iOS app doesn't), as it gives you access to your online profile if you have one.
Google also just released a (also much superior) YouTube app.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:10 AM on September 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Google also just released a (also much superior) YouTube app.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:10 AM on September 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
I've downloaded the iOS 6 Gold Master
Note that the Golden Master is released in a different manner than the publicly released updates. You wiped your device and restored the GM onto it, rather than doing an in-place upgrade as will be possible when iOS 6 is actually released to the world. With that, you don't retain *anything* from the previous version, which is different from what regular users will get. (That said, it's still almost surely the case that Google Maps will be replaced even in the course of a normal upgrade.)
posted by primethyme at 11:16 AM on September 18, 2012
Note that the Golden Master is released in a different manner than the publicly released updates. You wiped your device and restored the GM onto it, rather than doing an in-place upgrade as will be possible when iOS 6 is actually released to the world. With that, you don't retain *anything* from the previous version, which is different from what regular users will get. (That said, it's still almost surely the case that Google Maps will be replaced even in the course of a normal upgrade.)
posted by primethyme at 11:16 AM on September 18, 2012
Response by poster: This is why I don't want Apple maps - they have a lot less information.
posted by desjardins at 11:21 AM on September 18, 2012
posted by desjardins at 11:21 AM on September 18, 2012
As a stopgap, you can still use Google Maps via Mobile Safari. Not as elegant, but at least you get access to Google's data.
posted by Nothlit at 11:30 AM on September 18, 2012
posted by Nothlit at 11:30 AM on September 18, 2012
Keep in mind, you don't have to upgrade tomorrow. You can hang onto to iOS 5 until you have more information on whether Google will release a Maps app.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:30 AM on September 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:30 AM on September 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Note that the Golden Master is released in a different manner than the publicly released updates. You wiped your device and restored the GM onto it, rather than doing an in-place upgrade as will be possible when iOS 6 is actually released to the world.
For the record, this is not correct. You don't have to wipe your device before installing developer builds of iOS onto it.
posted by alms at 12:28 PM on September 18, 2012
For the record, this is not correct. You don't have to wipe your device before installing developer builds of iOS onto it.
posted by alms at 12:28 PM on September 18, 2012
bookmarking the Maps webpage on your homescreen
Does this really work? When I tried it, I got some mobile version of Google's "Places" page and any location I enter doesn't allow me to click on "Directions" or the Map interface. I'm using an iPhone 4S with iOS5.
posted by CancerMan at 12:29 PM on September 18, 2012
Does this really work? When I tried it, I got some mobile version of Google's "Places" page and any location I enter doesn't allow me to click on "Directions" or the Map interface. I'm using an iPhone 4S with iOS5.
posted by CancerMan at 12:29 PM on September 18, 2012
I'm on the same setup as you and this is what it looks like for me.
The target icon geolocates me, the arrow does directions, the list icon gives a description of the app and the drop box arrow gives options, including signing in and accessing My Places, which is something you can do on the Google Earth app but not the iOS Gmaps app.
posted by urbanlenny at 1:27 PM on September 18, 2012
The target icon geolocates me, the arrow does directions, the list icon gives a description of the app and the drop box arrow gives options, including signing in and accessing My Places, which is something you can do on the Google Earth app but not the iOS Gmaps app.
posted by urbanlenny at 1:27 PM on September 18, 2012
(sorry, that was to CancerMan)
And something I just noticed is that the browser-based mobile version of Google Maps actually allows you to double click with your finger on locations shown on the map and it will bring up the address and an option to call the company or whatever as well as get directions, which is something that can't be done in the iOS app.
posted by urbanlenny at 1:34 PM on September 18, 2012
And something I just noticed is that the browser-based mobile version of Google Maps actually allows you to double click with your finger on locations shown on the map and it will bring up the address and an option to call the company or whatever as well as get directions, which is something that can't be done in the iOS app.
posted by urbanlenny at 1:34 PM on September 18, 2012
Don't update!
Unless you happen to be a major metro area that Apple likes, the maps are far from complete. I need the maps on a daily basis, and will be holding off on updating until a Google Maps app comes out or Apple updates this dreadful database.
posted by chrisinseoul at 5:21 AM on September 21, 2012
Unless you happen to be a major metro area that Apple likes, the maps are far from complete. I need the maps on a daily basis, and will be holding off on updating until a Google Maps app comes out or Apple updates this dreadful database.
posted by chrisinseoul at 5:21 AM on September 21, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by humboldt32 at 11:04 AM on September 18, 2012