Google vs Apple Maps

I ask myself the question why I bother writing this. There are hundreds of articles on the web comparing these two products but I may offer a unique perspective.

• I used Apple Maps from long before it shipped until today

• I was a Quality Engineer at Apple for 20 years, which gives me a unique perspective

• I use maps 100% of the time when I drive, walk, plan trips, even if I’ve been there hundreds of times

I’ll break this into categories that are in no particular order of importance, except the first. Well, the first one is the most important.

Search

Google was founded on search. They were so much better than anyone else when they burst on the scene. Today, the gap is narrowed but I think most people would admit they are the best, especially if you ignore privacy concerns. Google is so good at search in Maps it’s almost frightening.

Apple profoundly does not understand search and also happens to just be really terrible at it in Maps. Apple Maps does not seem to know where you are and instead of …