Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

For nearly seven years, Google Maps was the de facto mapping service on iOS and macOS devices — until Apple decided to release a competing version of the software in 2012. However, what seemed like a smart move for the tech giant on paper ended up turning into a PR nightmare. Apple Maps received tons of criticism for incorrect directions, a lack of support for public transportation, and various other glitches and bugs that made the service nearly unusable. Further software development and updates addressed most of these problems, but has Apple Maps been able to bounce back from it’s failed start?

Shortly after being removed as a default installation on Apple products, Google Maps became available as a free download in the App Store. For a time, Google Maps was the most popular free app on the platform. While both apps are similar in terms of function and cost, there are a few key differences that might influence which mapping service you use. We’ll lay them out for you here.

Interface

Before you’ve even entered a location or begun navigating, you’ll notice a few differences in the way maps are represented. On Apple Maps, the surfaces are flatter and show more default locations. The user interface is also clean and simple. You can search for a specific location using the search bar at the bottom of the screen and change the map settings (map, satellite, or transit) by tapping the information button in the upper right. Apple also has custom icons for landmarks such as the Empire State Building, and you can see the current weather at whatever location you’re looking at in the lower right.

As for Google Maps, there are fewer icons initially presented on the screen, but more options to change your map: Explore, driving, transit, satellite, terrain, traffic, and biking. Google also has 3D models of most buildings (i.e. The Empire State Building actually looks like the building and not just like a flat rectangle). Apple has these in some locations, but not as often as Google Maps. Both apps have a current location button on the screen — the arrow on Apple Maps and the bull’s-eye on Google Maps. Google also has a Google Assistant button, quick access to input an address, and settings for your Google account and map (Apple has these functions as well, but they are built into your device’s OS).

When it comes to the actual navigation screen, Apple’s is once again very simple (particularly if you choose driving as your mode of transportation). There are not a lot of icons on the screen, which limits distractions if you’re using the app while driving. If you zoom in or choose the walking option, you’ll see more locations. Google has slightly more icons, but most of them are gas stations and parking lots; places you’d likely stop at if you were driving. Similarly, if you choose walking mode, you’ll see more general locations.

Both base their arrival estimations on current traffic conditions. Red sections along your route indicate heavy traffic, yellow is moderate traffic, and blue is no or little traffic. You may also see various alerts, from accidents to road closures. Google is a bit clearer when it comes to how traffic will impact your commute by showing the travel time in red to indicate there is heavy traffic. Other than the differences mentioned above, this section is very similar for both versions. Google has a few more options on the main screen, such as sound, compass, and quick search, making it easier to tweak your settings on the fly. This information is available on Apple Maps as well, but you have to pull up from the bottom portion of the screen and press the corresponding category, which makes it a bit trickier.

Standout features

There are some standout features for Apple Maps, such as is its integration with iOS. Tell Siri where you want to go, and she’ll start the process for you. You can also open maps, cancel an in-progress route, and make other small adjustments using just your voice. Apple Maps also uses vector graphics, which means you’ll end up using slightly less data than if you were using Google Maps. One of the coolest features for Apple Maps, though, is Flyover Mode. This feature enables you to explore densely populated urban centers in 3D landscapes composed of models of buildings and structures. Flyover also has what are known as City Tours, which guide you around various landmarks in a city. There is no real equivalent in Google Maps (although Google Tour Creator comes close).

As for Google, there is a lot that stands out for this service. Where Apple has Flyover mode, Google has Street View, which provides panoramic views of many streets around the world. Google also lets you customize your routes by adding stops and avoiding tolls. But two of the biggest draws for Google Maps are Google’s bicycle maps and offline accessibility. In a bike-friendly city, this is really handy, and Apple Maps simply doesn’t have that functionality. Apple Maps recently added bike-sharing stations to its list of places, but that’s not really the same, is it? Google also has primo offline planning for those with limited access to WiFi or data. While Apple Maps uses slightly less data than Google Maps, Google makes up for that by allowing you to download entire sections of maps for offline use.

Other differences

Another (and obvious) difference between Apple and Google’s mapping services is that one is owned by Google and the other is owned by Apple. This is worth considering when it comes to how your data is stored and when your app will be updated. Google has different policies when it comes to how much of your data is collected and what it can do with it. Google’s app has received criticism over the location history tracking page, and if you’re concerned about privacy, Apple Maps may be a better choice. On the other hand, Apple Maps is only updated when you update iOS, whereas Google rolls updates into Google Maps whenever it feels like it. It’s also worth noting that while both apps are currently available on Apple devices, you won’t be finding Apple Maps on your Android phone or Windows computer anytime soon, which could be problematic for users who don’t exclusively own Apple products.

On the software side of things, Google tends to have better small city mapping data than Apple. This might just be because Google Maps has been around for longer, but for people who don’t live in a big city, or don’t rely on a car for their primary mode of transportation, it can make a big difference. Google also has information regarding opening times of businesses, descriptions, photos, and user-generated star ratings. Apple has this as well, but less often. Apple does also include TripAdvisor, Yelp, and other third-party app ratings.

So while Apple Maps has made a lot of improvements over the last six years, and works well in major cities, Google Maps is still years ahead of the competition and definitely our top pick. Check out our Google Maps tips and tricks to get even more out of it.

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Everything we know about the Nokia 6.1 Plus

On the heels of the Nokia 6.1, one of our favorite budget phones of 2018, it looks like HMD may be preparing for a global release of its Nokia X6, aka the Nokia 6.1 Plus, in the coming months. The XL version offers some of the best features of its pint-sized predecessor with upgraded specs and a larger display.

While we’re already privy to many of the details for the Nokia 6.1 Plus, there are still a few surprises in store. Here is everything we know about the Nokia 6.1 Plus.

Design and display:

Most of the Nokia handsets released this year have a similar design aesthetic, and the Nokia 6.1 Plus will likely be no exception. The 6.1 Plus will feature a glass over aluminum chassis with the fingerprint sensor centered below the camera module on the back of the phone. And while it won’t be as durable as the all aluminum design on the Nokia 6.1, the Gorilla Glass 3 body should provide adequate protection with a case.

If you love the current top-notch trends, the Nokia 6.1 Plus may be right up your alley. On the phone, you will find a 5.8-inch FHD LCD display. Aspect ratio comes in at 19:9, while the screen resolution is 1,080 x 2,280.

Specs and battery:

Key Specs

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 636

Memory: 4GB / 6GB

Storage: 32GB / 64GB

MicroSD Storage:  Yes

Screen Size: 5.8 inches

Resolution: 2, 280 x 1,080

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0

Battery: 3,060mAh

Size: 8.59 mm x 70.98 mm x 147.2 mm

Weight: 5.40 oz

Operating System: Android 8.1 Oreo

For a budget phone, the Nokia 6.1 Plus features some pretty impressive specs. There will reportedly be two versions of the Nokia 6.1 Plus with both featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor. One version will feature 4GB of RAM along with 32GB of storage while the other will have 6GB of RAM with 64GB of storage. You will also find a MicroSD slot for additional external storage.

While the Nokia 6.1 Plus may have a bigger screen than its smaller sibling, the battery capacity comes just ever so slightly larger at 3,060mAh. You will also find an 18W charger that reportedly adds 50 percent capacity in just 30 minutes.

Software and special features: 

We’re not entirely sure if the Nokia 6.1 Plus will ship with Android 8.1 Oreo or Android P. However, no matter what it ships with, you will be sure to get Android P, since its part of the Android One program.

Android One phones run a stock version of Android and feature Google’s artificial intellignece-powered innovations like Google Lens baked in. Additionally, you get monthly security updates as well as a streamlined Android experience.

Camera:

If you’re looking for a dual-camera setup, there is no need to buy a flagship smartphone. The budget-priced Nokia 6.1 Plus will reportedly include a dual- camera module on the rear. The primary lens will come in at 16 megapixels with an f/2.0 aperture, while the secondary lens is 5 megapixels with an f/2.2 aperture. On the front, you will see a 16-megapixel selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture.

In addition to interesting camera hardware, the Nokia 6.1 Plus also has some exciting software features. There’s an A.I. camera app for object detection and improved images as well as facial recognition for dynamic stickers, as well as face unlock.

Release date and price:

Since we’re not entirely sure if the Nokia 6.1 Plus is making its way to the U.S., we don’t have a release date just yet.

Since the phone is only scheduled to be released in China thus far, we don’t have pricing details yet. However, the Nokia X6 site states the phone will start at approximately 1299 Chinese won, which is about $200.

Editors’ Recommendations

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An Apple fan took six months to cross-stitch the original Mac’s Control Panel

Clearly one of Apple’s biggest fans, Glenda Adams recently jumped on Twitter to showcase a hand-stitched version of the original MacOS Control Panel. More specifically, she stitched each pixel as seen on the original screen, taking nearly six months of “on and off” hand stitching. The completed project measures around 14 by 8 inches and uses one black thread in a 22-count Aida cloth.

The Twitter post pays homage to Susan Kare, who was responsible for most of what you see in the now-classic Control Panel. Apple hired Kare in 1982 to design icons and fonts for the user interface and then promoted her to serve as the company’s Creative Director in Apple Creative Services. Typefaces designed by Kane include Chicago, Geneva, and Monaco. She even designed the Command key icon, among others.

To understand the beauty of the original Control Panel’s simplicity, look at the current System Preferences panel. It plays host to around 30 aspects of your Macintosh device spanning your language and region, your displays, the keyboard, mouse and/or touchpad, network connection, internet accounts, Siri control, and loads more. Compared to the original Control Panel, there is nothing simple about this all-in-one hub.

But the original Control Panel was all about simplicity, relying on icons and numbers. In just one panel you could adjust the Mac’s volume level, switch the background pattern, switch on/off mouse tracking, change the double-click speed for the mouse, change the keyboard’s key repeat rate and its delay, change the blinking rate of the insertion point, change the blink rate of menus, and see the current time and date. Simple stuff for simpler times.

Look closely at Adams’ cross-stitched Control Panel and you’ll see the date set at January 24, 1984. That was the day Steve Jobs went on stage to officially launch the very first Macintosh (128K) personal computer. The company originally introduced the Mac 128K in October 1983 followed by Ridley Scott’s famous “1984” teaser trailer during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984 — two days before hitting the market.

The first Macintosh consisted of a nine-inch built-in CRT display powered by a Motorola 68000 processor clocked at 6MHz and 128KB of system memory. It measured 13.6 inches tall, weighed 16.5 pounds, and cost $2,495 at the time. In 2018, that out-of-pocket cost would be $6,041 due to inflation. As a reference, Apple’s latest iMac Pro has a 27-inch screen, weighs 21.5 pounds, and has a starting price of $4,999.

As for the cross-stitched Control Panel, Adams doesn’t say what she has planned for her creation although presumably she will frame it and hang it on a wall. She also doesn’t appear to have any plans to cross-stitch additional Control Panels and sell them through ecommerce.

Still, one fan already requested that she cross-stitch Arthur, the first release of an entirely different operating system called RISC OS from 1987. Perhaps we’ll see more Apple-related cross-stitched artwork in the near future.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Cheap plastic perfection: An ode to the MacBook that started it all
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• Twitter doubles list of original shows with new deals, renewals from MTV to ESPN
• Watch artist rendition of a pixelated, dancing Donald Glover made on a 1987 Mac

Six Reasons Why I Subscribe To Amazon Prime

Wait — aren’t you signed up for Amazon Prime at birth? That’s how it works, right?

I don’t remember when I first signed up for Amazon Prime. Sorry, but that’s just the way it is. It’s kind of like, I dunno. Shaving. It was a thing that you just started doing at some point. (Erm, and that I stopped doing a few years ago.)

Probably it had to do with faster shipping. That’s a pretty unsexy answer, but years ago that was the main perk, right? Free two-day shipping, and inexpensive options for next-day shipping.

The easier question is why I’ve continued re-upping Amazon Prime every year. That’s become an easier decision, and it’s never been one that I had to spend too much time on.

Sign up for a free Amazon Prime Trial

1. Cheaper shipping, usually …

Here’s the thing about shipping and Amazon. It’s one part black magic, another part FOMO. Depending on where you live you might get free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime. Or you might even get free same-day or one-day delivery. Or if you’re really lucky you might even get free two-hour delivery.

And for preorders, you’ll get free release-date delivery.

You’ll have to pay attention to the options when you’re checking out, but this is what got me to be a Prime member in the first place. And if I need something in a hurry, discounted one-day shipping (again, where I live) doesn’t hurt.

2. Other Prime Member discounts

By the way, there are plenty of times when I’ve found that prices have been discounted for Amazon Prime members. Again, there’s a little bit of black magic. Is the price really lower? Or is it just not as high? Am I just fooling myself here?

Doesn’t matter. If I need it and it’s “discounted,” I’ll be buying it, thank you very much.

3. Prime Video content

If you’re a cord-cutter (oh, hey, we’ve got an entire site for that now) and you’re looking to save some more money, there’s a ton of video ready to watch from Amazon Prime Video. As in, free with your subscription. And it’s available on pretty much any device you can think of.

What’s good? How about Amazon Prime Originals like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Bosch. Or Goliath.

Looking for free movies? That’s easy enough, with titles like *The Big Sick and Lady Bird — and that’s hardly scratching the surface.

Plus — and this is one you should really check out — Amazon Prime Video Channels makes subscribing to all sorts of things even easier. Premium movie channels like HBO and Showtime. Niche channels like yoga and British content. There’s a world of video out there, all billed right to your Amazon account.

4. Free music

If you’re looking for some music but don’t want to subscribe to yet another music service, Amazon Prime Music gets you more than 2 million songs, free with your Prime subscriptions.

Plus they’re ad-free, and you can play them back through your phone, Fire TV, or through an Amazon Echo.

5. Books, more books, and other things to read

And finally, I’m a huge believer in the importance of reading, both for fun and for information. Amazon’s got a bunch of free reads, including a sort of old-school lending library.

And maybe even more important is that an Amazon Prime subscription gets you a free six-month subscription to The Washington Post. (The newspaper is owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos but is a separate entity from Amazon itself.) And, yeah, I’m now paying for my WaPo sub.

So, yeah. That’s why I’ve still got Amazon Prime. Figure I’m easily getting back the $99 a year I spend to be a “member.” That part’s on me, though. If I wasn’t taking advantage of all that free content and those services, I’d be wasting the money.

For me and my family, though, it’s absolutely been worth it.

6. Amazon Prime Day!

If you thought Amazon was crazy-good 364 days out of the year, just wait until June 16. Amazon Prime Day is the one day (OK, one-and-a-half days this year) where Amazon really rips the lid off and can save you some money.

And the really cool thing is that they’re starting the savings even earlier this year.

Check out every Amazon Prime Day 2018 Deal!

Amazon Prime

• Benefits of Amazon Prime
• Get a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial
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• Top charging cables

Google Duo is starting to work on select Chromebooks

There’s no Pixelbook support quite yet.

Google Duo is one of the best video-chatting apps around, but for all the things it gets right, one of its biggest downsides has been its limitation to your phone number. Google has since resolved this with support for use on multiple phones, and now that’s expanding with support for Chromebooks.

First spotted by the folks at ChromeUnboxed, the latest version of Duo on the Play Store is now compatible with select Chromebooks.

Google’s yet to confirm which models do and don’t work, but at the time of publication, Duo’s been successfully used on the new Samsung Chromebook Plus V2, HP’s detachable Chromebook X2, and the Acer Chromebook Tab 10 tablet.

The Pixelbook is the most notable omission, but there’s no reason to believe support for it and other machines won’t be rolled out soon.

If you’ve got a Chromebook, have you gotten Duo to work on it?

How to choose the right Chromebook

Chromebooks

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• Google Pixelbook review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Anker gear, bookshelf speakers, refurb tablets, and more are all discounted today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on the Klipsch R-15M bookshelf speakers, Jabra Elite wireless earbuds, a refurbished Fire HD 8 tablet, and more! Time’s running out to take advantage of these prices, so hurry!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Type away for days on an unlocked BlackBerry KEYone for just $400

Amazon currently has the unlocked BlackBerry KEYone on sale for just $399.99, which is a $100 discount. It’s also available for the same price at Best Buy. When it was first released, the KEYone sold for $550, and before this discount, it had never dropped below $440.

The KEYone has an intuitive smart keyboard with flick typing, fingerprint sensor, and customizable shortcuts. It’s built with aluminum casing and Corning Gorilla glass for protection. It also has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, a 3505mAh battery, and runs on Android’s Nougat operating system.

CrackBerry has the rundown on everything you need to know to use your new KEYone, including a Beginner’s Guide and a list of helpful how-to articles. The BlackBerry KEY2 is also now available for pre-order, though it is priced at $650.

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Everything that’s new in the OxygenOS Open Beta

Wondering what’s new in the latest Open Beta? You’re in the right place.

There are a lot of reasons to like OnePlus phones, but one aspect that’s remained since the beginning is the excellent software experience they offer. All OnePlus phones now run OxygenOS, and if you want to test out new software features before anyone else, you can sign up for the OxygenOS Open Beta.

OnePlus updates the Open Beta quite frequently, with each new version including bug fixes, security patches, and feature galore.

To make sure you never miss a beat, here’s everything new in the beta right now.

July 9, 2018 — The final Open Beta for the 3/3T adds minor launcher and camera improvements

A new Open Beta for the OnePlus 3 and 3T is rolling out now, specifically Open Beta 39 and 30, respectively.

With this Open Beta, both phones are getting a few upgrades to the OnePlus Launcher. Search tags in the app drawer have been improved, there’s a “New installs” section in the app drawer, and OnePlus says its improved the app list for the hidden space and toolbox.

The camera app has been optimized for switching between the front/rear camera and there’s a new feature that lets you scrub through AAC audio files.

As OnePlus noted in late June, this is the final Open Beta that the 3/3T are getting. Later this month, OnePlus will issue an update to anyone on the Open Beta that reverts them to a stable build of OxygenOS.

July 3, 2018 — Project Treble and a new UI come to the OnePlus 5 and 5T!

Open Beta 13 and 11 for the OnePlus 5 and 5T is rolling out to users now, and it certainly sounds like one of the most exciting upgrades we’ve seen in a while.

Right off the bat, this Open Beta brings Project Treble support to both phones. This is the new update system from Google that allows for much faster turnaound times with new software, so it’s great to see that it’s making an appearance with the 5 series.

OnePlus highlights a “brand new user interface” that changes the appearance of the Phone app, settings, power menu, and more. The UI is still recognizable as OxygenOS, but the subtle visual improvements are a welcome touch. Even more exciting, there are now considerably more pre-made accent colors to choose from and you can finally customize your own colors to your exact liking.

Here are some of the other goodies you’ll find:

• Improved search tags in the app drawer.
• A “New installs” category tag in the app drawer.
• Improved app list for hidden space and toolbox.
• Optimized log for the contacts page (Phone app).
• Brand new design + improved user experience for the Weather app and all forecasts are now integrated under a single interface leading to a fully immersive experience.

As always, Open Beta 13 and 11 are rolling out to users incrementally right now and will expand to everyone enrolled in the beta over the next few days.

How do you install the Open Beta?

If you’ve got a OnePlus phone, enrolling in the Open Beta is fairly simple.

You’ll need to manually download the latest available version for your device from OnePlus’s website and sideload it, but once you do this, any future versions will be sent to you as over-the-air updates.

Harish wrote up a step-by-step guide walking you through the whole process, and I highly recommend checking it out to ensure nothing goes haywire.

How to install the OxygenOS Open Beta on your OnePlus phone

What phones are supported?

Right now, the list of phones supported by the OxygenOS Open Beta include:

• OnePlus 3
• OnePlus 3T
• OnePlus 5
• OnePlus 5T

The Open Beta isn’t available for the OnePlus 6 quite yet, but that should be changing in the very near future.

OnePlus 5T and OnePlus 5

• OnePlus 5T review: Come for the value, not the excitement
• OnePlus 5T specs
• Should you upgrade from the OnePlus 3T?
• OnePlus 5T vs. Galaxy S8: Beast mode
• All of the latest OnePlus 5T news
• Join the discussion in the forums

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Amazon

Mod In A Box: MrMobile Tries (To Love) The Moto Z3 Play

Any phone that takes you from sunrise to sunset without dying is a pretty solid phone in my book. So when I came home from a day of Google Maps navigation, hotel hunting and shooting endless photos (while Instagramming my every meal, natch) I expected my Moto Z3 Play to be mere moments from auto-shutdown. But while its Moto Mod was indeed just ticking over to zero as I walked in the door, the Z3 Play’s onboard battery was still sitting happily at 80%. I was minutes from bed, but I could have gone another whole twelve hours if I’d wanted to.

That’s the magic of the Moto Z3 Play: with Motorola’s new (and IMO, overdue) strategy of sticking a battery mod right in the box, it’s the new phone to beat for endurance. And it packs almost all of the features that have for years made Motorola my go-to example for “how to do Android the right way.” So why aren’t I more enthused about the Z3 Play? Well, as usual with Motorola Z-series phones, the answer comes down to: a little bit of overpricing; a little bit of underperforming (specifically in the camera); and a little company called OnePlus.

Check out MrMobile’s Moto Z3 Play Review in the video above, and be sure you’re subscribed to the YouTube channel; I’ll be coming to you straight from Motorola’s headquarters in Chicago with whatever the company’s announcing August 2! I don’t yet know what it is — but I’ve got a feeling you won’t want to miss it.

Stay social, my friends

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The Echo Dot has dropped to $35 just in time for Prime Day

Lowest price since last year.

Right now at Amazon, you can save $15 off the normal price of an Echo Dot. This second-generation gadget normally goes for $50, but right now it is discounted to $34.99. You can pick between white or black at this price. You’d have to go all the way back to last year’s shopping season to find a better price than this. They’re usually just discounted to $40, so if you’ve been looking for something slightly better, this is it.

This hands-free, voice-controlled device uses Alexa to do all sorts of stuff. Play music, control smart home devices, make phone calls, read the news, check the weather, hear audiobooks, set timers and alarms, and oh yeah….shop on Amazon. These things are seriously handy. I find myself asking for weather updates when deciding what to wear, and playing music through my Echo Dot to keep my phone battery full. You’ll surely find tons of uses for yours, too. Another great feature is that these are updated through the cloud, so everything happens in the background.

Just in time for Prime Day, you’ll be able to use this Alexa device to order online and track your orders.

See on Amazon