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Google's rich, reliable Maps app is back on the iPhone, and that means iPhone users can stop relying on the flawed, fledgling Apple maps app that replaced it as a built-in feature in September。
谷歌(Google)详尽且可靠的地图应用程序回归iPhone，这意味着iPhone用户可以不再依赖于尚不成熟、漏洞百出的苹果(Apple)地图。今年9月，苹果将其自有地图应用作为一项内置功能替换掉了原有的谷歌地图。
Apple's version is still bolted into the phone, and the new, free Google app must be downloaded from Apple's app store. Google says the app was downloaded 10 million times in just its first two days of availability last week。
Google 更多的信息：在谷歌地图上输入一个地名后，再点击屏幕上的信息栏，你就能获取包括营业时间和街景照片在内的各种信息。苹果的地图仍然内置在iPhone 中，而新的免费谷歌地图必须通过苹果的应用程序商店下载。谷歌说，该应用仅仅在其上线的头两天就被下载了1,000万次。
The reappearance of Google Maps on the iPhone closes a big advantage Google's own Android phones had gained when Apple's replacement turned out to lack some key features, such as labeling of buildings and businesses, street-view photos and public-transit routing. It also offered too much inaccurate location data。
谷歌地图回归iPhone使得搭载谷歌安卓(Android)系统的手机失去了其自苹果地图作为替代应用上线以来赢得的一大优势。苹果地图缺少一些关键功能，诸如建筑物和商家的标签，街景照片以及公交线路。它还提供了太多不准确的位置数据。
However, the biggest news here is that the new iPhone version of Google Maps isn't just better than Apple Maps. For now, at least, Google Maps is better in most respects on the iPhone than it is on Android phones. It has been redesigned with a cleaner, simpler user interface that makes it easier to use. Google officials say they took the sudden need to build a new iPhone version as an opportunity to rethink the popular app from the ground up。
然而，最大的新闻是新的iPhone版谷歌地图不仅仅比苹果地图好，至少目前来看，iPhone版谷歌地图在大多方面都要比安卓版谷歌地图强。它在经过重新设计后拥有更清爽、更简洁的用户界面，这使得它更加易用。谷歌高层说，面对突如其来的开发新iPhone版地图的需求，他们借此机会重新调整了这款备受欢迎的应用程序。
I've been testing the new Google Maps on iPhone for a week or so in the San Francisco and Washington metro areas, and I really like it. It isn't perfect, but I prefer it to any other iPhone Maps app I've used, and to Google Maps on Android. The latter will likely also gain the new design in time, but for now, it looks inelegant by comparison。
我在旧金山和华盛顿地铁区域对这款新的iPhone版谷歌地图进行了大约一周的测试，我真的很喜欢它。它并不完美，但与我所用过的所有其他iPhone地图应用以及安卓版谷歌地图相比，我都更喜欢它。安卓版很可能也会及时地拥有这些新功能，但目前来说，iPhone版看起来更为精致。
Why would Google bail out iPhone users and give its rival's phone a better version of its Maps app than its own Android customers enjoy, even temporarily? Because, while Apple makes its money from hardware, Google is a services and advertising company, and wants its products to be heavily used on a popular platform like Apple's。
为什么谷歌要来解救iPhone用户，并且给予其竞争对手的手机一款比其自己的安卓系统用户所能享用到的更好的地图应用，即便只是暂时的？因为，苹果凭借硬件挣钱，而谷歌是一家服务和广告公司，希望其产品能够在像苹果产品这样的受欢迎平台上被广泛使用。
The Android version still has a few features the new iPhone version lacks: maps of the interiors of stores, malls and airports; bicycling directions; the ability to view map segments offline; and special offers that show up for some businesses. Google says it left these out for now because they aren't heavily used and the company wanted a new Apple version pronto. It says these may be added over time。
安卓版本仍然有一些新iPhone版没有的功能：商店、购物中心和机场的内部地图；自行车行驶线路；地图片段的离线查看功能；商家特别优惠信息的显示。谷歌说它目前尚未在iPhone版中加入这些功能是因为它们被用得并不是很多，并且公司希望尽快打造出一款新的苹果版本。谷歌说这些功能可能会在以后被加入。
More important are the Android app's traits Google abandoned in the new iPhone version: too many menus and steps to get things done, confusing icons, and a concept called Layers that was techie talk for things like switching from map view to satellite view。
Google 纪录地名：点击屏幕上的一个按钮，就会打开一个你最近保存和分享过的位置列表。更重要的是谷歌在新的iPhone版本中抛弃了安卓版本的一些特性：繁多的菜单和繁琐的操作步骤、容易混淆的图标以及被称作“层”(Layers)的东西。“层”是在谈到诸如从地图视图转换到卫星视图这样的操作时所涉及的一个技术性很强的概念。
Instead, the new iPhone version of Google Maps emphasizes two things: uncluttering the map itself, and swiping vertically and horizontally to move quickly among places, map views and information. In my tests, I found this design refreshingly easy to use. It even enhances the voice-prompted, automatic turn-by-turn navigation whose absence on the original iPhone version of Google Maps was the key thing that prompted Apple to get into the maps business。
新的iPhone版谷歌地图加强了两个功能：自动调整地图视图，以及可通过横向和纵向滑动操作来迅速地在地点、地图视图和信息页面之间跳转。在测试中，我发现这项设计用起来格外地简便。它甚至强化了带语音提示的自动逐项导航功能。而原先的iPhone版谷歌地图不支持语音导航功能是促使苹果自己开发地图业务的关键原因。
When you first open the new Google Maps, all you see is a map with a search bar across the top and two small icons at the bottom. In the lower left is a button that brings up your current location, and in the lower right is a tiny icon that lets you switch to satellite view, to see public transit and traffic information, or to launch the separate Google Earth app. You can also get to these latter choices by swiping left with two fingers。
当你首次打开新谷歌地图时，你所能看到的全部内容就是一张地图和横跨顶部的一个搜索栏以及底部的两个小图标。左下角的是显示你目前位置的按钮，右下角那个极小的图标点开后，你可以切换到卫星视图，查看公交线路以及路况信息，或者启动独立的谷歌地球(Google Earth)应用程序。你还可以通过用两个手指在屏幕上向左滑动来查看上述选项。
The top search bar includes two buttons on the right -- one to start a navigation, and one to bring up a list of places you've recently saved and shared. These are automatically synced with places you've saved and shared via Google Maps on other devices, such as PCs and Macs, or Android phones。
顶部的搜索栏包括位于其右部的两个按钮──一个用以开始导航，另一个会打开一个你最近保存和分享过的位置的列表。你在PC电脑、苹果电脑和安卓手机等设备上使用谷歌地图时保存或分享过的位置记录将与此处的信息自动同步。
In addition to this clear, clean, main view, Google Maps for iPhone simplifies other functions. If you enter the name or address of a place, a small bar appears at the bottom of the map with summary information, like the estimated travel time or, with restaurants, a summary of reviews。
除了这个明了、清爽的主视图外，iPhone版谷歌地图简化了其他一些功能。如果你输入一个地点的名称或者地址，地图底部会出现一个小的摘要信息栏，显示例如预计行程时间等信息，或者，如果是餐馆，会显示简短的评价。
If you tap on this bar, you get an 'info sheet' with a wealth of information and functions, including the photographic street view of the location, interior photos, reviews, hours, menus, and the ability to phone the place or share its location. If your search is for a category, like 'cigars,' swiping horizontally will bring up alternate info sheets for other locations。
Google 导航帮助：当你开始朝目的地行进的时候，地图顶部会出现一个大大的绿色导航条，显示导航步骤中下一步的行驶方向。如果你点击该信息栏，你将会看到一个“信息页面”，包含了丰富的信息和功能，包括该地点的街景照片、内部照片、评价、营业时间、菜单以及可拨打其电话和分享该位置的功能。如果你搜索的是一类位置，比如“雪茄店”，在屏幕上横向滑动会跳转至显示另一位置信息的备选页面。
You can start the navigation process by tapping on a colored icon showing travel time, either in the initial small bar at the bottom of the map, or on the info sheet。
无论是在最初的地图底部信息栏还是在信息页上，你都可以通过点击一个彩色的显示预计行程时间的图标来开始导航步骤。
Once you choose to get directions, a list of routes pops up, with estimated time and traffic. You can switch routes by simply swiping on the bar。
一旦你选择获取路线，一个线路列表就会弹出来，并注明了预计耗时以及路况。你只要在信息栏上水平滑动就可以切换线路。
Once a navigation is under way, the map is topped by a large green bar showing the current step in the directions. You can peek ahead by just swiping this bar to the left. You also can quickly call up a text list of the route。
一旦导航开始，地图顶部会出现一个大大的绿色导航条，显示导航步骤中目前的行驶方向。你可以往左滑动这个导航条来查看下一步路线。你还可以快速调出该线路的文本列表。
In my tests, location and navigation were generally accurate. A couple of flubs: A location pin was a few hundred yards off, and Google put me on a freeway when local streets would have been faster. But overall it worked well. It guided me on two routes between Silicon Valley and a bowling alley in San Francisco's Presidio area, where I had once been lost. It provided accurate directions for Washington's subway。
在我的测试中，位置和导航信息总的来说很准确。也有一两个错误：一个位置标记被打在了几百码外；谷歌地图指引我上高速路，而那时走地面街道应该更快。但总的来说它表现得很好。它给我指了从硅谷到旧金山Presidio地区一个保龄球馆的两条线路，我以前去那里曾经走丢过。它还准确地给出了华盛顿地铁的路线信息。
Apple is already improving its competing app, but for now, iPhone users, my recommendation is to go with Google Maps。
苹果正在改进它的地图应用，但就目前来看，我还是推荐iPhone用户使用谷歌地图。
