Apple Fixes Australian Map Error That Caused Police Warning, Issue Traced to Official Gazetteer

MacRumors · Dec 10, 2012, 11:33 PM

A day after police in Victoria, Australia issued a warning to motorists advising them not to rely on Apple Maps for directions to the town of Mildura due to a location error that led several drivers to become stranded in*remote Murray-Sunset National Park, The Guardian reports that Apple has fixed the error.

Purple pin represents actual location of Mildura; red pin represents original incorrect location

The error placed the town of Mildura some 45 miles away from its actual location and led to numerous motorists being stranded. The Victoria police responded by describing using the app to navigate as "potentially life-threatening."

While the label on Apple's maps has not yet been updated to show the correct location of Mildura, searches for and directions to the town now show the proper location.

Interestingly, The Register reports that the error was not entirely Apple's fault, as the incorrect location was included in the official Australian Gazetteer.

Quote:

In this case, the Australian Gazetteer - the authoritative list of 300,000-plus placenames, complete with coordinates - includes two Milduras. One is the "real" town, the other is an entry for "Mildura Rural City", coordinates -34.79724 141.76108. It's this second entry that points to the middle of the Murray-Sunset National Park, just near a spot called Rocket Lake.

The report notes that this second point that Apple was mistakenly associating with searches for Mildura is in fact simply the geographic center of the area included within the Mildura Rural City local government area and thus does not correspond to the actual city of Mildura.

In his recent TV interview with Brian Williams, Tim Cook said that Apple "screwed up" with Maps and was now "putting the entire weight of the company behind correcting it." The company does, however, still have a significant amount of work ahead of it as it tries to catch up with Google's years-long head start.

Article Link: Apple Fixes Australian Map Error That Caused Police Warning, Issue Traced to Official Gazetteer

adildacoolset · Dec 10, 2012, 11:34 PM

They'd have been stupid not to.

camnchar · Dec 10, 2012, 11:35 PM

Ouch. Has an app ever been labeled as "life-threatening" before?

gmanist1000 · Dec 10, 2012, 11:37 PM

Well that was fast.

SoGood · Dec 10, 2012, 11:37 PM

Just shows how tedious mapping data is.

shurcooL · Dec 10, 2012, 11:40 PM

Gmail service restored on Monday, Facebook is back online today, and Apple fixes directions in AU.

End of world averted.

annirowe · Dec 10, 2012, 11:41 PM

Don't get too excited.. The rest of Australia is still incorrect.

They are still using the central location of the Council/Shire as the pointer. so whenever a town name is the same as a Shire name, you still get the problem..

I just tested Whittlesea which is the Shire I live in, but also contains the town of Whittlesea, and its completely wrong...

maxwelltech · Dec 10, 2012, 11:42 PM

Just fixing this error is not enough, Apple. You guys need to fix your whole Map database as quickly as possible, and bring Google Maps back as an interim solution while you people figure out the problems. Lots of angry customers are switching to other platforms because of this, but I am still sticking around because I expect you guys to fix it very soon.

justperry · Dec 10, 2012, 11:43 PM

One mistake fixed, millions to go.

coolspot18 · Dec 10, 2012, 11:44 PM

Why in the world did Apple ditch Google Maps? Was it a case of "Not Invented Here Syndrome?"

Seriously strange - I mean does Apple have a YouTube site, a Facebook clone, or what else? It's strange that they decided to ditch Google Maps.

Or why not just purchase a company like Garmin?

Mattie Num Nums · Dec 10, 2012, 11:46 PM

Blame game...

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmanist1000

Well that was fast.

Its been almost 2 months. This was reported in late Sept.

Dragonlance1561 · Dec 10, 2012, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolspot18

Why in the world did Apple ditch Google Maps? Was it a case of "Not Invented Here Syndrome?"

Seriously strange - I mean does Apple have a YouTube site, a Facebook clone, or what else? It's strange that they decided to ditch Google Maps.

Or why not just purchase a company like Garmin?

Garmin isn't just a small start-up, buying them would be a pretty big chunk of change, though with the situation they are in, I would be considering at least completely licensing a more established company's map database. Clearly Apple's deal with TomTom isn't good enough.

shurcooL · Dec 10, 2012, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolspot18

Why in the world did Apple ditch Google Maps? Was it a case of "Not Invented Here Syndrome?"

Seriously strange - I mean does Apple have a YouTube site, a Facebook clone, or what else? It's strange that they decided to ditch Google Maps.

Or why not just purchase a company like Garmin?

Have you noticed how much better the map interaction inside Find Friends app became? Or how Siri can now give you turn by turn directions.

That was not possible before cuz Apple had their arms tied by the limiting Google maps contract.

Also, Apple Maps basically has Google Earth built-in. Sometimes it's pretty neat to see some place in 3D.

There are problems with the new maps, but there are improvements too. Most people seem not to notice them.

BuckusToothnail · Dec 10, 2012, 11:53 PM

For all of Apple's talk about "innovation" and "invent your own stuff", why is it then that Apple is blatantly RIPPING OFF Google Maps, and quite badly at that?

seydurin · Dec 10, 2012, 11:56 PM

So that's how you get Apple to fix map errors. They need to be featured on world wide media as life threatening.

WestonHarvey1 · Dec 11, 2012, 12:02 AM

Headline isn't fair. "Traced to Official Gazetteer"... if you mean, traced to Apple's misinterpretation of the Gazetteer's totally accurate data, then OK.

jashic · Dec 11, 2012, 12:03 AM

This is not a small problem for apple. Friends who are not savvy are moving away from iPhones and into Samsung devices saying they use maps every day. When you're in the city, you ask where you're gonna meet up for drinks or for dinner. Poof, open google maps...errrr...apple maps. It's really an every day app. But Apple simply broke it. It really renders the iPhone an inferior product. It doesn't matter the millions of apps on the phone...the one we use the 3rd most...(outside of SMS and the phone itself)..doesn't work.

WestonHarvey1 · Dec 11, 2012, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckusToothnail

For all of Apple's talk about "innovation" and "invent your own stuff", why is it then that Apple is blatantly RIPPING OFF Google Maps, and quite badly at that?

Ripping off Google Maps, or just maps? Google did not invent maps. They didn't even invent digital maps, or digital maps on the internet.

Nermal · Dec 11, 2012, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annirowe

Don't get too excited.. The rest of Australia is still incorrect.

Not just Australia. Dunedin, NZ (east coast) was correct. Dunedin Airport, on the other hand, was way out on the west coast (and partially in the sea). Reported to Apple, so Apple moved it.

It's now somehow jammed into the city centre

Michael CM1 · Dec 11, 2012, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestonHarvey1

Ripping off Google Maps, or just maps? Google did not invent maps. They didn't even invent digital maps, or digital maps on the internet.

For reals. I think MapQuest was around first. Google Maps is successful because it piggybacked onto Google search, which is why pretty much everything Google puts out has some level of success. If you visit Google to search for something, which most people do, you're exposed to a Google product if it relates to what you're looking for.

If Coke was only sold at McDonald's and Pepsi was only sold at some small hot dog stand chain, who do you think would sell more no matter how good either product was?

bungiefan89 · Dec 11, 2012, 12:08 AM

I think it's safe to say Apple Maps will go down as one of the biggest blunders in the company's history.

Sure, the 20th Anniversary Mac was a pricy piece of equipment that underperformed, but this is just something else entirely.

Bill Killer · Dec 11, 2012, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shurcooL

Have you noticed how much better the map interaction inside Find Friends app became? Or how Siri can now give you turn by turn directions.

No. Because nobody I know actually uses the Find Your Friends app.

gmanist1000 · Dec 11, 2012, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolspot18

Why in the world did Apple ditch Google Maps? Was it a case of "Not Invented Here Syndrome?"

Seriously strange - I mean does Apple have a YouTube site, a Facebook clone, or what else? It's strange that they decided to ditch Google Maps.

Or why not just purchase a company like Garmin?

Have you not followed Apple's relationship with Google over the past couple years?

BuckusToothnail · Dec 11, 2012, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestonHarvey1

Ripping off Google Maps, or just maps? Google did not invent maps. They didn't even invent digital maps, or digital maps on the internet.

EXACTLY what I wrote. Ripping off Google Maps, the PLATFORM, the features, the functions, the look-and-feel, basically EVERYTHING.

Unlike Apple however, Google isn't suing them, just making a FAR SUPERIOR product and letting the consumer decide.

lilo777 · Dec 11, 2012, 12:11 AM

... responding to one official police warning at a time. This may take a while.

Dec 10, 2012, 11:34 PM	#2
adildacoolset macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Lusaka, Zambia(If you know where it is)	They'd have been stupid not to. __________________ Last edited by adildacoolset; Tomorrow at 09:42 AM. Reason: grammar error
	9

Dec 10, 2012, 11:35 PM	#3
camnchar macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SLC, Utah	Ouch. Has an app ever been labeled as "life-threatening" before? __________________ Apple //c, 1 MHz, 128k RAM, 5.25" floppy drive, 1-button mouse
	33

Dec 10, 2012, 11:37 PM	#4
gmanist1000 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2009	Well that was fast. __________________ Tech Reviews on YouTube http://goo.gl/3zjZP Latest Video: Bose AE2w Bluetooth Headphones Review
	5

Dec 10, 2012, 11:41 PM	#7
annirowe macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia	Don't get too excited.. The rest of Australia is still incorrect. They are still using the central location of the Council/Shire as the pointer. so whenever a town name is the same as a Shire name, you still get the problem.. I just tested Whittlesea which is the Shire I live in, but also contains the town of Whittlesea, and its completely wrong...
	13

Dec 10, 2012, 11:42 PM	#8
maxwelltech macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: California	Just fixing this error is not enough, Apple. You guys need to fix your whole Map database as quickly as possible, and bring Google Maps back as an interim solution while you people figure out the problems. Lots of angry customers are switching to other platforms because of this, but I am still sticking around because I expect you guys to fix it very soon. __________________ MacBook Pro 13 i7 (Mid 2012) w/ 128GB SSD; ThinkPad X301; iPad 4 WiFi 32GB, HTC One 32GB AT&T
	6

Dec 10, 2012, 11:37 PM	#5
SoGood macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2003	Just shows how tedious mapping data is.
	14

Dec 10, 2012, 11:40 PM	#6
shurcooL macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2011	Gmail service restored on Monday, Facebook is back online today, and Apple fixes directions in AU. End of world averted.
	9

Dec 10, 2012, 11:43 PM	#9
justperry macrumors 603 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 7 Km South of an active upside down volcano.	One mistake fixed, millions to go.
	47

Dec 10, 2012, 11:44 PM	#10
coolspot18 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2010	Why in the world did Apple ditch Google Maps? Was it a case of "Not Invented Here Syndrome?" Seriously strange - I mean does Apple have a YouTube site, a Facebook clone, or what else? It's strange that they decided to ditch Google Maps. Or why not just purchase a company like Garmin?
	4

Dec 10, 2012, 11:53 PM	#14
BuckusToothnail Banned Join Date: Nov 2012	For all of Apple's talk about "innovation" and "invent your own stuff", why is it then that Apple is blatantly RIPPING OFF Google Maps, and quite badly at that?
	18

Dec 10, 2012, 11:56 PM	#15
seydurin macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2010	So that's how you get Apple to fix map errors. They need to be featured on world wide media as life threatening.
	21

Dec 11, 2012, 12:02 AM	#16
WestonHarvey1 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2007	Headline isn't fair. "Traced to Official Gazetteer"... if you mean, traced to Apple's misinterpretation of the Gazetteer's totally accurate data, then OK.
	15

Dec 11, 2012, 12:03 AM	#17
jashic macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2006	This is not a small problem for apple. Friends who are not savvy are moving away from iPhones and into Samsung devices saying they use maps every day. When you're in the city, you ask where you're gonna meet up for drinks or for dinner. Poof, open google maps...errrr...apple maps. It's really an every day app. But Apple simply broke it. It really renders the iPhone an inferior product. It doesn't matter the millions of apps on the phone...the one we use the 3rd most...(outside of SMS and the phone itself)..doesn't work.
	6

Dec 11, 2012, 12:08 AM	#21
bungiefan89 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2011	I think it's safe to say Apple Maps will go down as one of the biggest blunders in the company's history. Sure, the 20th Anniversary Mac was a pricy piece of equipment that underperformed, but this is just something else entirely. __________________ 27" 2011 iMac, 3.4 GHz, 12GB RAM, 2GB VRAM - Late 2009 Macbook, 2.26 GHz, 4GB RAM - iPod touch 32GB 4g
	3

Dec 11, 2012, 12:11 AM	#25
lilo777 macrumors 601 Join Date: Nov 2009	Apple fixing Maps app ... responding to one official police warning at a time. This may take a while.
	11

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode