Apple Buys Another Map App, Embark(jessicalessin.com)
jessicalessin.com
Apple Buys Another Map App, Embark
http://jessicalessin.com/2013/08/22/exclusive-apple-buys-another-map-app-embark/
14 comments
Embark and HopStop are both Parse-powered apps, which allows them to focus on providing a great UX and not have to worry about servers.
Disclaimer: I work on the Parse team.
Come to Parse Developer Day: http://www.parsedeveloperday.com/
Disclaimer: I work on the Parse team.
Come to Parse Developer Day: http://www.parsedeveloperday.com/
I'm sure Parse has a great team at it's disposal, but once they were purchased by Facebook I wrote them off completely. Absolute last company I want to trust with the system critical infrastructure for my apps is Facebook.
Facebook infrastructure and systems teams are the best I've ever seen, assembled from some of the other best teams I've ever seen.
Or perhaps you're concerned about Facebook changing the business of Parse or shutting it down? They went out of their way to disclaim that when they did the MA, so I would worry about your own business long before I worried about Parse being the reason you win or fail.
Or perhaps you're concerned about Facebook changing the business of Parse or shutting it down? They went out of their way to disclaim that when they did the MA, so I would worry about your own business long before I worried about Parse being the reason you win or fail.
Who wants to bet that next year they'll shut down Parse?
What are some good alternatives to Parse then?
Check out FatFractal (http://fatfractal.com). Disclaimer: I'm on the FatFractal team.
I've dabbled with Buddy before. http://www.buddy.com/ I'd recommend them.
If you like transit apps and detailed UX take a look at iPhone/android apps of www.citymapper.com
So far they only launched for NYC and London but they are truly amazing.
They are pretty much the only thing that makes London public transit bearable.
Their mission is: "to save Londoners from London!"
Disclaimer: I know the founders from London quite well.
So far they only launched for NYC and London but they are truly amazing.
They are pretty much the only thing that makes London public transit bearable.
Their mission is: "to save Londoners from London!"
Disclaimer: I know the founders from London quite well.
Looks good. The only app I miss from my iPhone, after moving to Android, is the Transit app: http://thetransitapp.com/
I've been using the version for London since not long after its launch and I have to say that it is the best app of its type. The update notes on iOS are works of comedic art too. I've used the android version as well, which is also excellent.
Everyone saying Apple is finally taking Maps seriously: shit does that mean they brought their C game against Google?
Their serious "A" game against Google was what you saw with the first version. And it stunk. Just terrible. It wasn't that they weren't "serious" about Maps. Apple just completely dropped the ball. Terrible data, no bus/transit routes without third party apps (if this wasn't a huge red flag for, "we are not ready to release Maps" I don't know what is), and an icon that subconsciously told their users to drive off a bridge.
They assumed users would give them a pass on their lack of data because they would be too busy being wowed by the Flyover views. Well they were wrong.
Their serious "A" game against Google was what you saw with the first version. And it stunk. Just terrible. It wasn't that they weren't "serious" about Maps. Apple just completely dropped the ball. Terrible data, no bus/transit routes without third party apps (if this wasn't a huge red flag for, "we are not ready to release Maps" I don't know what is), and an icon that subconsciously told their users to drive off a bridge.
They assumed users would give them a pass on their lack of data because they would be too busy being wowed by the Flyover views. Well they were wrong.
Their serious "A" game against Google was what you saw with the first version.
Not sure why you'd say this then list its obvious and avoidable failings. Failings which contributed to an SVP being ousted and a huge amount of investment being made to catch up. Seems more like they came out with their "C" game and are now trying to ramp it up to their "A" game.
Not sure why you'd say this then list its obvious and avoidable failings. Failings which contributed to an SVP being ousted and a huge amount of investment being made to catch up. Seems more like they came out with their "C" game and are now trying to ramp it up to their "A" game.
I use the Android version of Embark. Oh dear. Time to find a new app (that doesn't repeatedly crash, hopefully)
An interesting purchase- Embark doesn't have any valuable data, or user details, etc. I can only assume Apple bought them because they have great UI/design instincts, and might be able to help rescue Apple Maps.
Kudos to them for achieving their goal - giving away an ad-free transit planning app could only have one aim, really.
An interesting purchase- Embark doesn't have any valuable data, or user details, etc. I can only assume Apple bought them because they have great UI/design instincts, and might be able to help rescue Apple Maps.
Kudos to them for achieving their goal - giving away an ad-free transit planning app could only have one aim, really.
I use both the LIRR and NYC Subway versions all the time. I hope they aren't shut down.
NJ Transit too. Likewise, really hope they don't shut down until Apple integrates their functionality.
I mean, they don't need constant connections to servers or anything, but they do need to update their schedules every so often. I don't know if they download from Embark servers, or if it's directly from transportation sites, but I would suspect the former.
I mean, they don't need constant connections to servers or anything, but they do need to update their schedules every so often. I don't know if they download from Embark servers, or if it's directly from transportation sites, but I would suspect the former.
Sounds like they're getting serious about transit, between Embark today, HopStop on 20 July[0], and Locationary on 19 July[1]. All too soon for iOS 7. Hopefully soon we won't have to hop back and forth between apple maps and random mediocre third party transit solutions --or just use google maps, which most probably do now.
[0]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-19/apple-said-to-buy-h...
[1]http://allthingsd.com/20130719/apple-acquires-local-data-out...
[0]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-19/apple-said-to-buy-h...
[1]http://allthingsd.com/20130719/apple-acquires-local-data-out...
Luckily, they can update Maps app without waiting for an OS release. Sure, it'd make a great preso, but I'd prefer they take their time and get it right.
Google maps also has better UX than Apple Maps unless you use Siri. I hope Apple tackles UX as well - perhaps converting Apple Maps to the new flat look and adding more swipe support.
Google maps also has better UX than Apple Maps unless you use Siri. I hope Apple tackles UX as well - perhaps converting Apple Maps to the new flat look and adding more swipe support.
>Luckily, they can update Maps app without waiting for an OS release.
Can they? It's not actually a separate app from the app store like Find My Phone or iBooks. So it would require at least an OS point release, and Apple doesn't seem too keen on doing those for features.
Can they? It's not actually a separate app from the app store like Find My Phone or iBooks. So it would require at least an OS point release, and Apple doesn't seem too keen on doing those for features.
Well, at this point parts of iOS7 are still an unknown. Maybe they could add that possibility.
Is this why Embark SF shutdown about a week ago?
I love Embark. Even though they've stopped supporting it in London - and it comes up with that blasted "we've stopped supporting it" message every time - it's still one of the best travel apps around. Well done guys.
I for one am really happy to see Apple getting really serious about all this mapping and transit data. Competing with Google on this front is going to be a win for the consumer, I believe.
Article says Embark is a YC company. Congrats on the exit!
Tell me when they get even close to Nokia Here on WP...
Shortcut to a huge buyout: develop a map app that generates local, personalized content for users, then start a bidding war between Apple and Yahoo.
They have been working (very hard) on this for 4 years. If that's a shortcut, what is a long cut?
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I would pay a non-trivial amount of money for an app that, amongst other things, told me which coffeeshops in my area has the least traffic.
Just look for Yelp 1-star reviews on coffeeshops. I reckon that should work. I know this sounds like a facetious answer, but any app that does what you asked for would probably return results that correlate with the quality of the coffee.
David Hodge and co are legends. Congrats.
'Grats guys. I absolutely love my Embark Metra app. The absolute least friction to getting what I want to know-- thanks to a lot of insight into, thought about, and work on how I'd use it no doubt.
I use iBart and Caltrain app every single day!
The apps are fantastic!
The only complaint I have about them is that iBart makes train connections too short for some stations. To transfer at 12th street you have to change levels, and iBart gives you one minute to make the connection, but I've only made that connection once. All other times I missed it.
The apps are fantastic!
The only complaint I have about them is that iBart makes train connections too short for some stations. To transfer at 12th street you have to change levels, and iBart gives you one minute to make the connection, but I've only made that connection once. All other times I missed it.
Perhaps I'm missing something, but I am interested in what behavior you expect from the app vs the behavior you are observing.
(I've used iBart a few times, but not in a few months and not to route trips in Oakland.)
Are you saying that your train arrives at 12th Street at noon and iBart tells you to board a train leaving 12th Street at 12:01? Would you prefer iBart tell you to board the next train? (Not sure about schedules, is that about 15 minutes later?)
(I've used iBart a few times, but not in a few months and not to route trips in Oakland.)
Are you saying that your train arrives at 12th Street at noon and iBart tells you to board a train leaving 12th Street at 12:01? Would you prefer iBart tell you to board the next train? (Not sure about schedules, is that about 15 minutes later?)
Yeah, pretty much. The problem with all transit apps (including Google) is that they only consider x/y distances for estimating walking time. Getting yourself out of a 5-story hole in the ground to catch a surface bus, for example, may appear as a nearly-zero walk to the transit planner.
I don't know about SF and BART, but in NYC it's not just a matter of telling you to board the next train. Since there are multiple possible routes from A to B it may well be that needing to take the next train moves one route from optimal to suboptimal.
So yes, ideally the app would know that you can't walk a city block and two flights of steps in one minute and nix that as a transfer option. Bonus points if it told you which part of the train to get on to minimize the transfer time.
So yes, ideally the app would know that you can't walk a city block and two flights of steps in one minute and nix that as a transfer option. Bonus points if it told you which part of the train to get on to minimize the transfer time.
In Switzerland, train connections are optimised for minimising time and allow for distance between the platforms in question. It's stunningly efficient.
I'm curious - what are examples you've seen that differ from what exists in less efficient platform layouts?
(Hope I'm understanding your question correctly. I'm not from Switzerland, but used their train system for a week a month ago.)
They have an excellent web site and app, first up. It allows you to set departure and destination, earliest departure time (if you don't want to leave before 10am, say) or latest arrival time (i.e., so you can make a flight), tweak routing and see every detail to the minute. You can get print-outs (if required) telling you what to do and when. The platforms for arrivals and departures are set rather than vague as in many other countries so you know exactly what's happening in advance.
I'm confident that they've worked nation-wide to coordinate arrivals and departures to ease passage for the absolute majority of people. Each train change is aware of the distance between platforms so that it might allow two minutes to cross platform to another train, or seven minutes if you need to move a bit further. You don't get stuck waiting for 30 minutes or have two minutes to cross six platforms. (We were travelling with an infant and a lot of luggage that meant changing trains was traumatic - in Switzerland, it was a dream.)
In one very handy sequence, we caught a series of two gondolas down a mountain, switched to a bus, then a train, then another train. Waiting time was barely there - it was brilliant. Trains seemed to leave shortly after you got to them, like the world was designed around you. People were joining or leaving on other routes too and seemed to have a similar experience.
I got the impression that popular routes were optimised to minimise walking distance between platforms, but could've been imagining that.
Another handy thing was that every platform access had stairs in one direction and a ramp in the other. The underground systems in London, Paris, etc were no where near as handy for people with luggage or prams, often not even having lifts for disabled access.
They have an excellent web site and app, first up. It allows you to set departure and destination, earliest departure time (if you don't want to leave before 10am, say) or latest arrival time (i.e., so you can make a flight), tweak routing and see every detail to the minute. You can get print-outs (if required) telling you what to do and when. The platforms for arrivals and departures are set rather than vague as in many other countries so you know exactly what's happening in advance.
I'm confident that they've worked nation-wide to coordinate arrivals and departures to ease passage for the absolute majority of people. Each train change is aware of the distance between platforms so that it might allow two minutes to cross platform to another train, or seven minutes if you need to move a bit further. You don't get stuck waiting for 30 minutes or have two minutes to cross six platforms. (We were travelling with an infant and a lot of luggage that meant changing trains was traumatic - in Switzerland, it was a dream.)
In one very handy sequence, we caught a series of two gondolas down a mountain, switched to a bus, then a train, then another train. Waiting time was barely there - it was brilliant. Trains seemed to leave shortly after you got to them, like the world was designed around you. People were joining or leaving on other routes too and seemed to have a similar experience.
I got the impression that popular routes were optimised to minimise walking distance between platforms, but could've been imagining that.
Another handy thing was that every platform access had stairs in one direction and a ramp in the other. The underground systems in London, Paris, etc were no where near as handy for people with luggage or prams, often not even having lifts for disabled access.
From what I've heard of Switzerland, the real key is the trains being exactly on time. Once you can guarantee that, it's easy to set a connection at exactly 4 minutes or something. OTOH, if your train arrival time is +/- 3 minutes, your connections are going to be too tight or excessive most of the time.
Yes, they are hilariously on time. It really is a model for others to follow.
Precisely.
It just needs an update that a realistic transfer at some stations require N amount of time minimum between trains to account for walking between platforms. Although the only issue I have had this far is specifically at 12th
It just needs an update that a realistic transfer at some stations require N amount of time minimum between trains to account for walking between platforms. Although the only issue I have had this far is specifically at 12th
Congratulations to David Hodge and team!
([1] Disclaimer: David is a friend, but I am pretty sure his non-friend users will tell you the same :))