Skip to main content

I Love My iPhone But I Love Google Maps Just As Much

Monday Night Football was starting in half an hour. I was tired and wanted to get home to see the game. A steak and the grill waited for me. Problem was, several miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic stood between me and where I wanted to be.

In my pre-iPhone days, I would have yelled at the traffic like a crazy person.
Now I calmly tapped on the Google Maps icon. With the Traffic setting turned on, the miles of cars I was behind was highlighted by a thick red line.

The red lines stretched all around me. I was trapped. And yet, enlarging the map, there were streets that didn't have those scary red lines.

Taking a twisting, turning route, the Google Maps app guided me out of the thicket of red lines so I could get home in time to make dinner and watch the game.

Thank you iPhone. Thank you Google Maps.

This week my iPhone 4S keeps asking me if I want to upgrade to iOS 6. With so many new features, I want to upgrade but one reason that holds me back.

No Google Maps.

As everyone knows, Apple eliminated Google Maps and YouTube from the new iOS. The Apple version of Maps is inferior to Google's, largely because Google has been accumulating data for years and Apple has just started which explains why some directions to a restaurant lead you to the middle of a river.

In time, Apple says their mapping data base will catch up with Google's and everyone will be happy.

Personally, I believe them but while Apple's playing catch up, I don't want to give up Google Maps.

The best of both worlds: Apple's iOS 6 and Google's Maps
If you want to upgrade to iPhone's iOS 6 but you don't want to lose Google Maps, here's a workaround.

On your iPhone, the first step is to go to Settings and turn on Location Services for your browser. Now go to maps.Google.com.
After the page loads, look on the bottom of the screen and click the share icon--the box with the arrow curving to the right--and choose "Add to Home Screen." That will create an icon so you can return to Google Maps just as easily as you could using Apple's pre-installed app.

At the top of the screen you'll see a search window for addresses or location names and four control icons:

A dot inside a circle places your current location onto the map.

A right-hand turn arrow inside a diamond takes you to a "directions" page.

A page with lines leads you to a menu of available commands.

A circle with an arrowhead pointing down leads to the Menu with My Places, Layers, Clear Map, Sign Out and Help.

To see traffic on the map, click Layers, then click Traffic.
The Google Maps app that was installed on all iPhones before iOS 6 has a better look and is easier to use. The version obtainable from maps.Google.com takes more steps to use but the information you need is there.

Since it only benefits Google in its competition with Apple, it is probably safe to assume Google will create an app that you will be able to get from iTunes. In the meantime, use the maps.Google.com workaround.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Trifecta Win at London's Heathrow Aiport

Re cently I had the opportunity to experience the unique partnership between British Airways , Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, and Sofitel's new London-Heathrow Hotel. When I flew to Heathrow from Los Angeles. I booked an overnight flight. British Airways offers its Club World (business class) passengers a reclining seat with a privacy partition. After a full-course meal, I turned the seat into a bed, enjoyed a night-cap, turned off the light, and went to sleep. When we landed at Heathrow, I was refreshed by a good night's sleep and a proper English breakfast of a sausage roll and tea. British Airways is the exclusive tenant of Heathrow's Terminal 5. In designing the te rminal, BA wanted to create a flagship experience that would highlight the English tradition of service and comfort. The opening of the terminal complimented upgrades in the long-haul British Airways fleet. Terminal 5's opening in March, 2008 was marred by numerous, widely publicized problems . Desig

Amsterdam 101 - Tips on Navigating a Great City

 AMSTERDAM, AN EASY GATEWAY TO EUROPE The Netherlands is a good starter-country for Americans who want to visit Europe. With easy access through Schiphol airport, Amsterdam is a compact city, hosting dozens of world class museums, miles of picturesque canals, well-maintained parks, narrow streets with old-world charm, hundreds of outdoor cafes and cozy bars. Most importantly, English is the second language. So don't worry if you need help. You don't have to ask, "Do you speak English?" because everyone does.    The city is a good destination for couples on a romantic get-away, families with children who want a rich cultural experience, and young men and women on holiday in search of entertainment and night life. Amsterdam prides itself on being a dynamic city and the best way to keep up with new developments is to check out the Netherlands Tourism Board 's frequently updated  web site  offering the latest information about accommodations, attractions, and entertai

Ready, Set, Go: Japan is Open Again for Travel

COVID restrictions have ended in Japan, allowing for travelers to once again enjoy the rich culture of Japan.  Japan is wonderful. The people are friendly. The landscape is beautiful. The food fantastic. The history fascinating. The culture captivating. In the past year I have had the good fortune to visit several times. As I traveled in large cities and out in the heartland, I jotted down some tips to help when you travel to Japan. ENGLISH LANGUAGE FRIENDLY As Japan prepares for the  2019 Rugby World Cup  and the  2020 Summer Olympics , English language signs can now be found in the subway and railway systems. In busy transit centers in the cities, uniformed guides are also available to help English speaking travelers. That being said, if you want to explore the heartland outside of the major cities, Japan is not especially easy for English-speaking travelers. If you have the resources, it is best to hire an English speaking guide and, if possible, a driver.  When looking for a guide,