Many criticize Apple’s own Maps app in iOS 6 such as the melted Brooklyn Bridge. Remember that throwing rocks at glass houses is a lot easier than making a Map application. Let’s throw some rocks at those glass houses.
The melted Brooklyn Bridge in Apple Maps. Low quality satellite photo and raw elevation data do not produced a good automatically generated 3D view of the bridge.
There’s a little photo stitching problem, most likely because it is automatically done by software.
Apple is not the only one having problems making 3D maps. Google is having the same issues on different locations.
3D view of Golden Gate Bridge in Apple Maps:
3D View of Golden Gate Bridge in Google Earth:
Apparently there’s a floating road on the water next to the Golden Gate Bridge according to Google.
It is really easy to choose and pick the battle. Over time Apple will improve its Maps application just like what Google has been doing for the last 5 years. Google is not immune to some silly mistakes, that’s because the map is processed and assembled by some algorithms. There’s where human element is needed to make some adjustments and corrections.