There's a ton of great stuff in iOS 6 that I want, but the removal of a useful map app is a huge concern... Public transit directions make up 95% of what I use the map app for, and it's one of the most important things I use my iPhone for. Removing support for this enormously reduces the usefulness of the iPhone, so I'm really torn...
Apple proposed a kind of half-assed solution, where third party apps can register a set of co-ordinates for which they support transit directions, but it's not really a viable replacement. Instead of just being able to get transit directions in any city you happen to be in, including multi-city routes that involve a transfer between transit companies, you're forced to download individual apps of differing quality, and potentially even doing the handoff manually in your head (trying to remember the different transit times). This, and having to dig through the app store and then getting dumped into a third party app to get transit directions in a new city instead of just saying "how do I get from here to there" is really a terrible solution.
If public transit directions are your thing, Nokia demoed their Nokia Maps application on the Lumia 920 and it looked like it did pretty well with public transit.
The map app has only worked for public transit in the USA anyway. Just use a standalone app for your local public transit company or their mobile webpage. Has served me fine here in Germany in the cities of Berlin, Leipzig, Bremen, Hamburg, Stuttgart, ....
Public transit works in many countries, not just the USA. I've used it in Canada (where I live) and Japan. The reason it doesn't work in Germany is because Google couldn't get access to transit data there.
Hopefully you'll be able to dig up some older devices to see how smoothly they run iOS 6 vs iOS 5. The 256MB devices, namely the iPhone 3GS and 4h gen iPod Touch are of particular concern. iPhone 3G speed issues with iOS 4 are of course well known, while your iOS 5 review showed 3rd gen devices survived the iOS 4>iOS 5 transition well so hopefully that remains the case to iOS 6. I'd expect new drivers in iOS 6 will boost performance for SGX543MP devices, but it'd also be interesting to see whether the SGX535 has any room left for improvement.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
10 Comments
Back to Article
Guspaz - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link
There's a ton of great stuff in iOS 6 that I want, but the removal of a useful map app is a huge concern... Public transit directions make up 95% of what I use the map app for, and it's one of the most important things I use my iPhone for. Removing support for this enormously reduces the usefulness of the iPhone, so I'm really torn...Apple proposed a kind of half-assed solution, where third party apps can register a set of co-ordinates for which they support transit directions, but it's not really a viable replacement. Instead of just being able to get transit directions in any city you happen to be in, including multi-city routes that involve a transfer between transit companies, you're forced to download individual apps of differing quality, and potentially even doing the handoff manually in your head (trying to remember the different transit times). This, and having to dig through the app store and then getting dumped into a third party app to get transit directions in a new city instead of just saying "how do I get from here to there" is really a terrible solution.
inplainview - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link
Then don't buy it.... Problem solved...Guspaz - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link
Don't buy what? iOS isn't for sale, it's a free OTA update.Souka - Thursday, September 13, 2012 - link
But I beleive you can't turn off the update notification right?If so you'll keep getting pestered to update....
TheSlamma - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link
Might as well hold off anyway, apple has a way of their iOS upgrades making last gen phones run horrid forcing you into the new hardware.Jeff7181 - Thursday, September 13, 2012 - link
If public transit directions are your thing, Nokia demoed their Nokia Maps application on the Lumia 920 and it looked like it did pretty well with public transit.Galatian - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link
The map app has only worked for public transit in the USA anyway. Just use a standalone app for your local public transit company or their mobile webpage. Has served me fine here in Germany in the cities of Berlin, Leipzig, Bremen, Hamburg, Stuttgart, ....Guspaz - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link
Public transit works in many countries, not just the USA. I've used it in Canada (where I live) and Japan. The reason it doesn't work in Germany is because Google couldn't get access to transit data there.FozzyofAus - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link
The Public Transport instructions in Google Maps work in Australia too.ltcommanderdata - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link
Hopefully you'll be able to dig up some older devices to see how smoothly they run iOS 6 vs iOS 5. The 256MB devices, namely the iPhone 3GS and 4h gen iPod Touch are of particular concern. iPhone 3G speed issues with iOS 4 are of course well known, while your iOS 5 review showed 3rd gen devices survived the iOS 4>iOS 5 transition well so hopefully that remains the case to iOS 6. I'd expect new drivers in iOS 6 will boost performance for SGX543MP devices, but it'd also be interesting to see whether the SGX535 has any room left for improvement.