On Friday, Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook issued an apology in response to constant complaints on the iOS 6 Maps application. Cook wrote:
At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.
Since the release of the original iPhone, in July 2007, Apple used Google Maps for the Maps application found on iOS (then called iPhone OS). However, during WWDC 2012, Apple announced they would release their own, in-house, Maps application which featured turn-by-turn directions and 3D “flyover.”
According to AllThingsD, Google refused to offer turn-by-turn navigation on iOS without additional concessions from Apple. Google, according to AllThingsD’s source, wanted more prominence on the iOS Maps application rather than simply giving Apple the backend data for the application. Apple, instead of compromising, chose to break their Maps agreement with Google (one year early) and offer their own Maps solution.
Complaints regarding Apple’s in-house Maps application surfaced before iOS 6′s public release. Over the course of the past three months, while iOS 6 had been in beta, developers and tech-enthusiasts alike illustrated the flaws of Apple’s Maps application. Currently, users have cited that they are given wrong directions and address lookups and poor satellite imagery. Furthermore, users also complain that many businesses cannot be found or do not exist in the locations offered in iOS 6 Maps.
Tim Cook went so far as to recommend Microsoft’s Bing Maps application and Mapquest in lieu of Apple’s Maps solution . Cloud based applications like Maps will definitely improve over the course of the next few months because of crowdsourced error reporting and Apple’s dedication to improving their software. Latest reports show that Google will offer Google Maps for iOS by the end of 2012.
Source: Apple
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Erphan's the Manager here at TheAppleFreak.com. Erphan's in charge of just about everything we do and he sure doesn't let us forget it either. For Erphan, it all started with a Compaq PC his sister had had been using that was now his own. After finding his way around the machine, Erphan graduated from computer enthusiast to computer technician, teaching himself to upgrade the parts within his new possession. The "can-do" mentality Erphan has developed is also something he admires in Apple, a company who, he believes, can market anything to be successful. The sleek designs and powerful abilities of Apple's products has made Erphan an enthusiastic follower of their efforts. Erphan pursues his tech-related interests from his home in Los Angeles, California.
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