Apple Launches New App Store Feature Section for Alternative Maps

MacRumors · Sep 28, 2012, 12:23 PM

Following this morning's release of an open letter from Tim Cook apologizing for issues with the new Apple-driven Maps app in iOS 6 and mentioning some alternative map options available to users, Apple has also added a new featured section to the App Store highlighting some of those map alternatives.

A host of alternative apps ranging from free to Magellan's $49.99 "RoadMate USA" are available from such brands as Waze, Mapquest, Garmin, Bing, and MotionX.

Apple's embrace of alternative map options seems to be a sign that the company is taking criticism of its own offering seriously, although directing users to downloads through the App Store is still of benefit to Apple. Cook's letter did, however, also promote web-based alternatives such as Google's and Nokia's maps.

Article Link: Apple Launches New App Store Feature Section for Alternative Maps

srxtr · 01:01 PM

This is a new low for Apple...

EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I love the new Apple maps, and while I'm sure there are lots of people affected negatively by the bad data their software is perfect and I have yet to come across a problem with it. In fact, I'm going to sell my Garmin GPS Navigation system and use the money to buy myself car accessories for my iPhone 5.

I feel this whole situation is overblown and Apple shouldn't have had to take this unnecessary step. I mean, aside from Google, who has decent map data? Garmin? TomTom? I've had problems with all of them.

Junkyman · Sep 28, 2012, 12:24 PM

Now that's...forthcoming?

jrswizzle · Sep 28, 2012, 12:24 PM

Can we finally just let this go and accept the fact that there are other options and that Apple is working to fix it?

lzyprson · Sep 28, 2012, 12:25 PM

I've seriously had no problems with Maps, and I have used Voice Navigation almost daily since the release... Apology unwarranted!!

azentropy · Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM

Google really dropped the ball by not having a standalone Maps iOS App ready to go. I still find it hard to believe they were truly blindsided by the change with Apple's public record of acquiring mapping assets over the past few years.

BigZ243 · Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM

Pretty sad. All Apple needed to do is call it a beta and keep the existing maps on there until an update when it was ready.

rorschach · Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM

I think this is a bad idea.

It's one thing to acknowledge issues and problems, and to be open about what you're doing to fix them. That's a good thing.

It's a whole other thing to say, "Hey, our competitors have a better product. Go check them out and come back to us later." Even if your competitors do have a better product at the moment, you don't actually SAY that.

BKF · Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM

Extraordinary. You get the sense that they felt the reputation of the device and brand was being threatened. It's as if they decided to chuck Maps overboard to ensure the iPhone stays afloat.

caligomez · Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM

Well this is awkward...

Tiger8 · Sep 28, 2012, 12:27 PM

Ouch!

likemyorbs · Sep 28, 2012, 12:27 PM

I've had no problems with maps, but I'm glad Tim is so willing to admit when something was done wrong. Steve would have never done that.

Cougarcat · Sep 28, 2012, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srxtr

This is a new low for Apple...

Huh? Apple admitting their shortcomings is a good thing. Would you rather them pretend there is no problem?

jdogg836 · Sep 28, 2012, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzyprson

I've seriously had no problems with Maps, and I have used Voice Navigation almost daily since the release... Apology unwarranted!!

I've had almost daily occurrences of the map being useless. I guess it's all in where you live.

tonkaxxtuph · Sep 28, 2012, 12:27 PM

It would be nice if Apple could put Google maps back with an update. This can't be that difficult?

KylePowers · Sep 28, 2012, 12:28 PM

Honestly, I've always used MapQuest. Seriously, give it a try. Turn-by-turn directions, voice guidance, and it's free!

fenlyn · Sep 28, 2012, 12:28 PM

Now might be an excellent time for Google to submit their maps app to the app store... for a price!

junkimchi · Sep 28, 2012, 12:28 PM

Not sure if I approve of this shameless approach from Apple.

adildacoolset · Sep 28, 2012, 12:28 PM

Apple launched it now so at least they have time to perfect it. It's virtually impossible for a small team to scan every street on earth while other OSes have features like turn by turn.
I mean, even google maps has glitches

Douglascraigen · Sep 28, 2012, 12:29 PM

I also have had no problems with iPhone 5 or iOS 6. I love em both. That being said, Im proud to be part of a company that is so good at what they do most of the time and yet admits when they mess up (abet not very often).

Ps. I have no problems with Apple Maps and Im happy with Apple getting ride of the crappy google maps that were built into iOS.

PerPlekz · Sep 28, 2012, 12:29 PM

Steve is rolling in his grave

Keebler · Sep 28, 2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rorschach

I think this is a bad idea.

It's one thing to acknowledge issues and problems, and to be open about what you're doing to fix them. That's a good thing.

It's a whole other thing to say, "Hey, our competitors have a better product. Go check them out and come back to us later." Even if your competitors do have a better product at the moment, you don't actually SAY that.

I respectfully disagree. I think it's great they apologized. Most companies get arrogant when they get big and don't admit to any wrongdoing.

I really don't want to spin this into a FCX thread, but you can probably agree they screwed that up and took months to admit and release changes.

At least they manned this one up, admitted it and said they're working on it.

Kudos to that (and of course no kudos for doing it in the 1st place!

lol

As someone else mentioned, I've used it locally for navigation and it's been perfect, but these have been short trips and nothing too in-depth.

gmanist1000 · Sep 28, 2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonkaxxtuph

It would be nice if Apple could put Google maps back with an update. This can't be that difficult?

Because they would never suggest using competitors... oh wait.

kavika411 · Sep 28, 2012, 12:30 PM

I don't think anyone would have cared about a beta version of Apple's new map app with iOS6 if only they'd simply left the old Google-based app on there as well. Apple's drive for clean lines, so to speak, caused them to make a terrible decision to have the new, un-ready app in iOS6 at the expense of the old tried-and-true map app. At least that's my opinion. Perhaps there was a legal issue involved to not keeping the old app. If it was simply about Apple trying to spite Google a little, that turned out to be a cutting off the nose to spite the face scenario.

In the end, I think Apple will develop the new map app in such a way that it will exceed anything out there. Just don't understand why they couldn't see the trainwreck approaching and cut out the old app so soon.

echo2011 · Sep 28, 2012, 12:31 PM

How about enabling the downgrade to iOS 5.1.1 along with this fine solution?

Sep 28, 2012, 12:23 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Apple Launches New App Store Feature Section for Alternative Maps Following this morning's release of an open letter from Tim Cook apologizing for issues with the new Apple-driven Maps app in iOS 6 and mentioning some alternative map options available to users, Apple has also added a new featured section to the App Store highlighting some of those map alternatives. A host of alternative apps ranging from free to Magellan's $49.99 "RoadMate USA" are available from such brands as Waze, Mapquest, Garmin, Bing, and MotionX. Apple's embrace of alternative map options seems to be a sign that the company is taking criticism of its own offering seriously, although directing users to downloads through the App Store is still of benefit to Apple. Cook's letter did, however, also promote web-based alternatives such as Google's and Nokia's maps. Article Link: Apple Launches New App Store Feature Section for Alternative Maps
	3

Sep 28, 2012, 12:24 PM	#2
srxtr macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2010	This is a new low for Apple... EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I love the new Apple maps, and while I'm sure there are lots of people affected negatively by the bad data their software is perfect and I have yet to come across a problem with it. In fact, I'm going to sell my Garmin GPS Navigation system and use the money to buy myself car accessories for my iPhone 5. I feel this whole situation is overblown and Apple shouldn't have had to take this unnecessary step. I mean, aside from Google, who has decent map data? Garmin? TomTom? I've had problems with all of them. Last edited by srxtr; Sep 28, 2012 at 01:01 PM.
	69

Sep 28, 2012, 12:24 PM	#4
jrswizzle macrumors 68020 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: McKinney, TX	Can we finally just let this go and accept the fact that there are other options and that Apple is working to fix it? __________________ iPhone 5 32GB (black/slate) / Nexus 4 16GB / HTC One 32GB (white/silver) 21.5" iMac 2.5GHz i5 / iPad mini AT&T 32GB (black/slate) / Apple TV 2 & 3
	51

Sep 28, 2012, 12:25 PM	#5
lzyprson macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2012	I've seriously had no problems with Maps, and I have used Voice Navigation almost daily since the release... Apology unwarranted!!
	78

Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM	#6
azentropy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Surprise	Google really dropped the ball by not having a standalone Maps iOS App ready to go. I still find it hard to believe they were truly blindsided by the change with Apple's public record of acquiring mapping assets over the past few years.
	16

Sep 28, 2012, 12:24 PM	#3
Junkyman macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2012	Now that's...forthcoming?
	2

Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM	#7
BigZ243 macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2008	Pretty sad. All Apple needed to do is call it a beta and keep the existing maps on there until an update when it was ready.
	41

Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM	#8
rorschach macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2003	I think this is a bad idea. It's one thing to acknowledge issues and problems, and to be open about what you're doing to fix them. That's a good thing. It's a whole other thing to say, "Hey, our competitors have a better product. Go check them out and come back to us later." Even if your competitors do have a better product at the moment, you don't actually SAY that. __________________ MacBook Air 13-inch (Mid 2012), iPhone 5
	14

Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM	#9
BKF macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY	Extraordinary. You get the sense that they felt the reputation of the device and brand was being threatened. It's as if they decided to chuck Maps overboard to ensure the iPhone stays afloat.
	8

Sep 28, 2012, 12:26 PM	#10
caligomez macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Juan, PR	Well this is awkward... __________________ 15" Macbook Pro (2011), Original 3G iPad, iPhone 5
	35

Sep 28, 2012, 12:27 PM	#11
Tiger8 macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2011	Ouch!
	7

Sep 28, 2012, 12:27 PM	#12
likemyorbs macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ	I've had no problems with maps, but I'm glad Tim is so willing to admit when something was done wrong. Steve would have never done that. __________________ "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose." ~Steve Jobs
	16

Sep 28, 2012, 12:27 PM	#15
tonkaxxtuph macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2007	Why not just put Google back with iOS 6 update? It would be nice if Apple could put Google maps back with an update. This can't be that difficult?
	24

Sep 28, 2012, 12:28 PM	#16
KylePowers macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2011	Honestly, I've always used MapQuest. Seriously, give it a try. Turn-by-turn directions, voice guidance, and it's free!
	7

Sep 28, 2012, 12:28 PM	#17
fenlyn macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Atlanta	Now might be an excellent time for Google to submit their maps app to the app store... for a price!
	3

Sep 28, 2012, 12:28 PM	#18
junkimchi macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2011	Not sure if I approve of this shameless approach from Apple.
	1

Sep 28, 2012, 12:28 PM	#19
adildacoolset macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Lusaka, Zambia(If you know where it is)	Apple launched it now so at least they have time to perfect it. It's virtually impossible for a small team to scan every street on earth while other OSes have features like turn by turn. I mean, even google maps has glitches
	3

Sep 28, 2012, 12:29 PM	#20
Douglascraigen macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2011	No problems I also have had no problems with iPhone 5 or iOS 6. I love em both. That being said, Im proud to be part of a company that is so good at what they do most of the time and yet admits when they mess up (abet not very often). Ps. I have no problems with Apple Maps and Im happy with Apple getting ride of the crappy google maps that were built into iOS.
	6

Sep 28, 2012, 12:29 PM	#21
PerPlekz Banned Join Date: Sep 2012	Steve is rolling in his grave
	27

Sep 28, 2012, 12:30 PM	#24
kavika411 Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alabama	I don't think anyone would have cared about a beta version of Apple's new map app with iOS6 if only they'd simply left the old Google-based app on there as well. Apple's drive for clean lines, so to speak, caused them to make a terrible decision to have the new, un-ready app in iOS6 at the expense of the old tried-and-true map app. At least that's my opinion. Perhaps there was a legal issue involved to not keeping the old app. If it was simply about Apple trying to spite Google a little, that turned out to be a cutting off the nose to spite the face scenario. In the end, I think Apple will develop the new map app in such a way that it will exceed anything out there. Just don't understand why they couldn't see the trainwreck approaching and cut out the old app so soon.
	6

Sep 28, 2012, 12:31 PM	#25
echo2011 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2011	How about enabling the downgrade to iOS 5.1.1 along with this fine solution? __________________ 16 GB iPhone 5 \| Lost my Verizon Wireless Unlimited \| Still A Grouchy Fart
	21

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