Apple CEO Tim Cook formally apologized for the error-prone Apple Maps and recommended that iPhone and iPad owners instead use Bing, Google, or Nokia maps in the meantime. Despite a year left on its licensing deal with Google, Apple booted out the more accurate and reliable Google Maps software and replaced it with Apple's own map service that has numerous issues, including out-of-date business listings, mislabeled locations, and grainy images. Apple though won't be killing its mapping service, with Cook saying, "We are doing everything we can to make Maps better." Mapping services apps Bing, MapQuest and Waze are available for download at the App Store; Nokia Maps and Google Maps can only be used by visiting their websites via a browser.
What Else You Need To Know
- Apple sold 5 million units of the iOS 6-running iPhone 5 in the first three days, and 100 million iPhone, iPads and iPods were updated to iOS 6 in less than a week after the Sept. 19 release of the software. Device-owners who stuck with iOS 5 still have access to Google Maps.
- Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said the search giant hasn't submitted Google Maps for iOS to the App Store. The New York Times says that a Google Maps app for iOS 6 is still months away.
- Apple had previously boasted that its own Maps app would be superior to Google's. Apple Maps promises to offer crowd-sourced traffic, flyover mode, 3D rendering, integrated Yelp, 100 million business listings, Siri integration, and turn-by-turn directions.
Other sources
Apple's move away from Google's maps isn't about screwing users to make a corporate political point; it's about trying to give iOS users a better maps experience in the long run.- Michael Rose, TUAW
We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.- Tim Cook, Apple
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Apple's move away from Google's maps isn't about screwing users to make a corporate political point; it's about trying to give iOS users a better maps experience in the long run.
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