tendance
Apple Maps on an electric bike
so cycling navigation is a new feature in apple maps
with the most recent ios 14 update up until now google
maps has been my go-to navigation app whether it be
for cycling or driving but since i’m an iphone user i
wanted to give the native experience a shot with this
new feature and see how it does i’ll be comparing
the two apps on three different categories including
user interface device integration and overall route
quality it’s not really fair to judge the two by which
got me to my destination quicker because that can
rely on so many different variables that are out of
the app’s control and just to be clear this comparison
is only really relevant to iphone users since apple
maps isn’t available on android
looking at the two apps side by side there are some
pretty clear differences apple maps is really clean
and minimal whereas google maps is more detailed
and offers more information about locations
around you but in terms of which ui is easier to
use i gotta give it to apple on this one whether
you’re calling up directions to a destination or
adding a stop along your route its simplified
design just makes it easier to read when you’re
standing alongside the road in the sun with
glare on your screen google maps has packed
so much into it as it’s evolved over the years i
feel like i have to scroll past too many tiny icons
to find what i’m looking for the clarity of the maps
on each app are both pretty on par with each
other both apps give you similar views while
you’re riding with the essential information
next turn distance eta etc apple maps does
have tiny icons at intersections to indicate
whether there’s a signal or stop sign which i
really appreciate especially when i’m trying to
find a shortcut of my own one notable feature
that google maps has over apple though is
the ability to share your trip progress with
others apple maps lets you do that while
driving but as of recording this video that
feature is absent from the cycling mode
instead you have to share your location
how apple maps works on an electric bike?
through your contacts which only works
with other ios users and doesn’t give them
your route
this is a huge probably even deciding factor for
me for safety reasons minimizing the amount
of time you actually have to look at the screen
while riding is key i usually turn off voice guidance
because i don’t wear headphones when i ride so i
wouldn’t hear it anyways so the way each app uses
the device for alerts is pretty important to me no
surprise apple maps works much better with apple
devices when you’re approaching a turn the screen
will automatically wake up with the full app interface
that you can interact without having to unlock
the phone it’s really good at getting your attention
without being too distracting you can also access
the app just by tapping on the screen to wake it up
it’s pretty nice considering i can’t unlock my phone
while riding with my face mask on google maps
however appears as a push notification that i have
to unlock my phone to view which is a huge drain
on the battery i also recently got this apple watch
series 6 with lte service and since both apps are
available on the apple watch i feel like i don’t even
need a phone at all when i go for a ride both apple
watch apps give you all the necessary information
the vibrations are subtle yet noticeable and the always
on display is great for being able to look down at
my wrist without having to take my hands off the
handlebars all right so this is where i’m gonna
need a second opinion both apps did an admirable
job of recommending me the most direct routes
that prioritize bike paths and bike lanes
on display is great for being able to look down at
my wrist without having to take my hands off the
handlebars all right so this is where i’m gonna
need a second opinion both apps did an admirable
job of recommending me the most direct routes
that prioritize bike paths and bike lanes
