Not really an apologist - I think the new Apple Maps are definitely a step backwards for many - but, I've exclusively used my iPhone for directions in the Bay Area, Vancouver, Chicago, and London - I'm directionally challenged, and don't drive - so I rely on my iPhone to get anywhere - and it wasn't until the new IOS 6 was released with all the furor, that I discovered you could get transit directions through the map app. I've been using iBart, iCaltrain, The Tube App, The El Maps, --- all these third party apps.
In four years of traveling to all these major cities, and using my iPhone to get around nonstop on mass transit - never once occurred to me to use Google Maps to get transit directions.
[EDIT:
I just tried a pretty simple trip that I use iBart and iCaltrain all the time for - My Office in Redwood City to Lake Merrit in Oakland - Consist of a 15 minute Walk to Caltrain, Transfer to Bart, Get off at 17th and Broadway. Should be simple - Train to Bart, Bart to 17th.
The answer in Google Maps: "Directions Not Available. Directions could not be found between these locations.
I guess I haven't been missing much - or maybe Transit Directions aren't fully available for the Bay Area.
Edit 2:
Tried this with the new Map App on IOS6 - It brought up CaltrainMe and "HopStop Transit Directions" - downloaded HopStop (Free) - HopStop provided me with a full Mass Transit route from RWC to Lake Merrit - "Walk to Caltrain, Caltain to Bart, Walk to Lake Merrit"
Actually - looking closer - it gave me Five different Mass Transit routes - Some of them using Bart+Caltrain, Others using Light Rail. This is pretty cool, actually. :-)
So - for my limited example, getting to Lake Merrit in Oakland from My office In Redwood City - Google Maps didn't work, the IOS 6 solution did.]
In NYC, Google Maps is king, at least on Android phones/tablets (I don't have any experience with iOS devices to compare with). It will provide door-to-door directions, including the trip time, and will base its directions on the current time and timetables.
In Tokyo, it will also specify the total cost for the journey, which is very handy when walking for 5 more minutes can save you a few hundred yen.
I can't comment on how good the directions are, but it definitely doesn't say "directions not available". From the map route, I'd say it looks pretty reasonable and is what I would use if I had to travel from Redwood City to Lake Merrit.
Interesting that the maps.google.com web site gives a different answer than the Google Maps application.
I just confirmed that I get the correct answer via the website in mobile safari, but "Directions Not available" through the application.
I guess the good news, is that (at least for people in the bay area trying to use Caltrain/Bart) - the change in the Mapping Application doesn't appear to be a regression - you already have to go to the website.
More informed minds than mine can puzzle out why the website is giving back better transit directions than iOS App.
> More informed minds than mine can puzzle out why the website is giving back better transit directions than iOS App.
Probably because the Maps app on iOS 5 and below was made by Apple, not Google. There are no such issues with the Google Maps app on Android (made by Google) - it gives the same results as the website. In fact, it prominently displays several route options, along with their times and costs, just as in Tokyo. This is a little more obscure on the Google Maps website, although the information is still present.
In four years of traveling to all these major cities, and using my iPhone to get around nonstop on mass transit - never once occurred to me to use Google Maps to get transit directions.
[EDIT: I just tried a pretty simple trip that I use iBart and iCaltrain all the time for - My Office in Redwood City to Lake Merrit in Oakland - Consist of a 15 minute Walk to Caltrain, Transfer to Bart, Get off at 17th and Broadway. Should be simple - Train to Bart, Bart to 17th.
The answer in Google Maps: "Directions Not Available. Directions could not be found between these locations.
I guess I haven't been missing much - or maybe Transit Directions aren't fully available for the Bay Area.
Edit 2: Tried this with the new Map App on IOS6 - It brought up CaltrainMe and "HopStop Transit Directions" - downloaded HopStop (Free) - HopStop provided me with a full Mass Transit route from RWC to Lake Merrit - "Walk to Caltrain, Caltain to Bart, Walk to Lake Merrit"
Actually - looking closer - it gave me Five different Mass Transit routes - Some of them using Bart+Caltrain, Others using Light Rail. This is pretty cool, actually. :-)
So - for my limited example, getting to Lake Merrit in Oakland from My office In Redwood City - Google Maps didn't work, the IOS 6 solution did.]