[NewsPoster]

On the same day it became public that Apple had purchased business-listing and information service Locationary, it has been confirmed that the iPhone maker has also acquired public transit navigation service HopStop. The most likely plan for the service is to fold it into Maps, Apple's own in-house GPS and mapping program. Apple's decision to forego transit directions when it launched its own Maps app was a major point of criticism from early users, and a selling point that kept many using Google's Maps application once it returned to iOS.

Though Apple's Maps has improved dramatically since its error-prone debut, and is now acknowledged to be as good as -- or in some cases better -- than Google's Maps in some areas, it is still seen as lacking in others. Public transit information was one such area, but users also missed features found on Google Maps such as Street View.

The Apple Maps app offers Flyover, but it hasn't come to most cities yet despite steady expansion of the feature. The program is also very North America-centric compared to Google's Maps, though again it is steadily gaining ground.

HopStop offers directions for bus, train, ferry and subway options, as well as bicycle, car and walking routes for over 300 major cities. With news of the acquisition, Android users can expect an announcement soon on the fate of the Android app, which is currently still available.

Alongside the acquisition of Locationary -- which uses crowd-sourced data about businesses beyond those tracked by companies like Yelp, Apple's current source for retail data -- Apple is clearly still working to fulfill CEO Tim Cook's vow to bring the application up to Apple's usual standards of excellence. There have been routine reports over the last six months of management and team building, along with other acquisitions to expand and improve the program.

[davoud]

Why bother, when Apple's maps are still broken and a newcomer has a good chance of getting off at the wrong stop? In my area I have sent seven corrections over the past year telling Apple that the area they have labeled as a medical center is, in fact, a shopping center. Meanwhile, a new medical center has been built across the street, but Apple's map knows nothing of it. Google maps has the shopping center, the new medical center, and has even added our tiny community tennis courts. Apple needs to get out of the map business; they're hopelessly incompetent at it.

[Charles Martin]

Yes, because one error in one town means that Apple can't do anything right.

I have used Apple Maps *extensively* throughout Canada and US, no problems whatsoever. Better than Google Maps, IME. I acknowledge there may still be some issues in some places, but the improvement rate on this since its debut has been incredible and it looks like there's a lot more to come. Keep reporting the issue, they will fix it eventually.

(also I note that you say "the wrong stop," which means you're using Apple's non-existent transit directions; I'm kind of not surprised you're having issues with this thus-far-imaginary function. Maybe download Google maps until this HopStop thing gets integrated -- or better yet, just use HopStop!)

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by davoud 

Why bother, when Apple's maps are still broken and a newcomer has a good chance of getting off at the wrong stop? In my area I have sent seven corrections over the past year telling Apple that the area they have labeled as a medical center is, in fact, a shopping center. Meanwhile, a new medical center has been built across the street, but Apple's map knows nothing of it. Google maps has the shopping center, the new medical center, and has even added our tiny community tennis courts. Apple needs to get out of the map business; they're hopelessly incompetent at it.

You describe that dire situation, and start off your post asking "Why bother"?

It is OBVIOUSLY in their — and your — interest to improve their location database. That is exactly what they are doing.

I swear, some people are so intent on pissing on Apple that they don't even read their own posts.

Except that your mention of getting off at the wrong stop indicates that you've not even used Apple's Maps, because that's something they simply don't do.

[DarkStarRed]

Great finally this only improves Maps & will obviously add more elements within
navigation globally.

Oh & google maps still have roads in the Himalayas wrong running alongside the actual roads?
That being 10 or more miles out of place! Other things restaurants in France which have closed or wrongly placed in cities like Chateauroux, Paris... there's more but let's just say all of these
Companies have problems.

[pairof9s]

Even if you still prefer Google Maps, understand those features it promotes for iOS would not exist today if Apple had not created and continued to improve its own Maps app. Google stays aggressive because it will not and cannot concede this important category to the vast owners of iOS devices.

[Le Flaneur]

Too bad that they purchased HopStop - City Maps is much better for transportation.