Apple Needs to Borrow a Google Maps Feature

Posted on by dudley228

By Jason Harris

I was going to Terrificon a couple of weekends ago. Usually, I would be using Apple Maps. In this case, I needed directions directly to the Winter Garage at Mohegan Sun since Terrificon was taking place near it. Apple Maps would give me directions to the casino, but not directly to the Winter Garage. Google Maps gave me directions instantly to the Winter Garage.

Apple Maps added in a version of iOS 14 the ability to report speed traps. I have been using it since it was added but have never seen any reports show up. I am wondering if the reason I haven’t seen it is that no one is using the feature on Apple Maps because they don’t know about the feature, or Apple is making sure it isn’t abused by waiting for a few reports.

Google Maps has the feature of reporting speed traps too. On my trip to Mohegan Sun, I saw a report of a police trap up ahead. It also mentioned how many people reported it and the last time it was reported. These are the two features Apple should add. I reported a speed trap and it showed up immediately. Apple needs to do this as well.

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Gboard is a Great Keyboard

Posted on by dudley228

I started using Gboard a few weeks ago after hearing about this iOS keyboard on a podcast. I believe it was episode #131 of Connected.

I had heard about Gboard when it was first released back in February of 2016. I didn’t try it then. I didn’t care to. I looked down on it because of one of its features. The feature was glide typing. I thought this way of typing was useless. I was wrong. I absolutely love glide typing. It’s not perfect all the time, but overall it works for me.

Another thing that comes in handy with this keyboard is the ability to conduct searches. Someone mentions a song on Facebook and you can find the YouTube video of that song to share it on the person’s post.

The keyboard also has a dark theme. This is the one I use so I know what keyboard is installed in those incidences where I’m not using Gboard.

I love this keyboard. I would suggest everyone give Gboard a try. Here is a Cult of Mac article stating “10 things you should know about Google’s Gboard keyboard,” you

The keyboard was updated last month. You can read a Mac Stories article about it here.

Switching From Apple to Google

Posted on by dudley228

I have gone back to Google Maps from Apple Maps. The reason for the switch is lately I have been having issues with Apple Maps. I had gone back to Apple Maps when I started using the iOS 10 Beta back in July. Lately when using the maps app, I would be following the directions when the voice dictation would start over again from the beginning of my trip. I would fix it by canceling the trip and just starting over again. It was annoying, but workable. It didn’t take long before it got worse. I switched back to Google Maps when this past Friday Apple Maps wouldn’t even give me directions to the place I needed to go to. I tried three times and gave up. I needed something that worked for my job so the switch happened.

There were a few reasons why I switched back to Apple Maps in July. One of the reasons was because of the upgrade and new look it got with iOS 10. Since I’ve been wearing glasses for over 30 years, I loved the bold, new look, which comes in handy for quick-glance information on the phone screen.

The biggest reason I switched back to Apple and it wasn’t something new with iOS 10. It’s the fact that when using Apple Maps while listening to podcasts it doesn’t talk over the podcast. I would never want to miss hearing any part of the podcasts I listen to.

When I started using Google Maps again I was happy to find out that it doesn’t give directions over podcasts any longer. I’m not sure when that changed, but it’s a welcome change. At the moment, I’m not sure if I will go back to Apple Maps if it gets fixed or even better. Time will tell. -Jason Harris