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Google Maps Photos Apparently Pulled from New iPad Promotional Content at Last Minute

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With the launch of iPhoto for iOS last Wednesday, it was quickly noted that the app was not using Google Maps for much of its mapping data, and it was soon revealed that Apple was using data from OpenStreetMap and other sources in the application.

Google Maps has had a prominent presence on the iPhone since its initial launch in 2007, but strained relationships between Google and Apple have seen Apple expressing interest in developing its own mapping solutions. Toward that end, Apple has acquired several mapping companies in recent years in order to beef up its expertise in the area.

ipad_retina_side_by_side.jpg

Side-by-side comparisons of iPad displays using iBooks, iPhoto, and Mail​

AppleInsider now points to an interesting omission on Apple's promotional pages for the new iPad, with a set of images comparing the device's Retina display with the display of the iPad 2 having specifically omitted a comparison of Google Maps even though the comparison images are posted on Apple's servers.
Viewing the file names of the "Retina Gallery" images shows that they are identified with numbers. AppleInsider reader Pierre-Arnaud pointed out on Tuesday that the iBooks images are labeled as "1" and screenshots of "Photos" are "2," but the images of the Mail application are saved with the "retina_gallery_4" filename.

That means the JPG files labeled "3" were originally planned as part of the imagery, but were eventually left out of the promotional material on the finalized website.
Click to expand...
Those "3" files are present on Apple's servers and depict a Google Maps route in Paris.

ipad_retina_google_maps.jpg

Google Maps photo present on Apple's servers but not used in side-by-side display comparison​

Google Maps is not featured in any of Apple's promotional materials for the new iPad, suggesting that Apple is indeed trying to play down the role of Google Maps on the device. But whether this is indicative of a transition to Apple's own mapping services in the relatively near future remains unknown.

Update: As noted in the forum thread, the Google Maps comparison is present on Apple's promotional page in Hong Kong.

Article Link: Google Maps Photos Apparently Pulled from New iPad Promotional Content at Last Minute
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/13/google-maps-photos-apparently-pulled-from-new-ipad-promotional-content-at-last-minute/
From what I understand, Google now requires you to watermark their name all over maps that you use for 'commercial reasons'. That could be why Apple didn't post those images
 
basesloaded190 said:
I would love to get a free turn by turn a la Andriod in iOS6, and with Siri, that would be amazing.
Click to expand...

While it would be a cool feature, I'm worried about the loss of Google Maps because of the Google Transit integration. If Apple is somehow able to integrate transit data (or Google releases their own map apps), that would be perfect. I just find Google Transit invaluable anytime I arrive in an unfamiliar city.
 
Apple would not have spent money to buy those mapping companies for no reason. It's pretty obvious that at some point they are going to ditch Google Maps for their own solution.

It makes sense. The Maps app is one of the core apps of the phone (whether you think the app sucks or not) along with Mail, Safari, etc. Apple doesn't want one of the core features of its flagship product to be dependent on a competitor; and what company would?
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B179 Safari/7534.48.3)

Lean on your competitors and you may get pricked
 
charlituna said:
From what I understand, Google now requires you to watermark their name all over maps that you use for 'commercial reasons'. That could be why Apple didn't post those images
Click to expand...

Do you have an iPhone/iPad/iPod?
Please fire up Maps and tell me what you see in the bottom left corner for almost 5 years now.
 
Google Maps was never present in Aperture's "Places" feature as far as I can remember. There is nothing really new here.
 
rorschach said:
Apple would not have spent money to buy those mapping companies for no reason. It's pretty obvious that at some point they are going to ditch Google Maps for their own solution.

It makes sense. The Maps app is one of the core apps of the phone (whether you think the app sucks or not) along with Mail, Safari, etc. Apple doesn't want one of the core features of its flagship product to be dependent on a competitor; and what company would?
Click to expand...

I get the sentiment, but if they are going to move away from Google Maps they need to have something in place that is at least in the ballpark to what Google offers.

So far, based on what we've seen in iPhoto for iOS, they don't.
 
charlituna said:
From what I understand, Google now requires you to watermark their name all over maps that you use for 'commercial reasons'. That could be why Apple didn't post those images
Click to expand...

No, thats incorrect. Just like with the OpenMaps Project, Google require their copyright in the bottom corner.

IMO this is not a good move. Google Maps are highly reliable, and the licensing fee is negligible. OSM on the other hand are usually inaccurate unless someone who lives in the area has manually gone into their system and fixed it.

A stupid move all over a stupid feud between the two companies.

Everyone has said that all the lawsuits and stuff haven't affected customers. They will soon if Apple moves to OSM.
 
Ironically, if you visit the comparison page *on* an actual iPad, you don't get the different comparisons side by side but you do get just one comparison. That comparison? The Google Maps one.

I think it's pretty clear they didn't pull it -- they just chose it for a different version of the site.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B176 Safari/7534.48.3)

Aaaaw, wut? Too bad apple had to do this, would have been a great marketing point.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B179 Safari/7534.48.3)

Having it on the app is a vast difference than being forced to give free advertising all over your website. Especially when you didn't have to before and when it isn't simply in a corner where few would be paying attention
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B179 Safari/7534.48.3)

ugahairydawgs said:
rorschach said:
Apple would not have spent money to buy those mapping companies for no reason. It's pretty obvious that at some point they are going to ditch Google Maps for their own solution.

It makes sense. The Maps app is one of the core apps of the phone (whether you think the app sucks or not) along with Mail, Safari, etc. Apple doesn't want one of the core features of its flagship product to be dependent on a competitor; and what company would?
Click to expand...

I get the sentiment, but if they are going to move away from Google Maps they need to have something in place that is at least in the ballpark to what Google offers.

So far, based on what we've seen in iPhoto for iOS, they don't.
Click to expand...

iPhoto isn't meant for navigation do it detailed acuracy really that important.

To most folks, no.
 
rmwebs said:
IMO this is not a good move. Google Maps are highly reliable, and the licensing fee is negligible. OSM on the other hand are usually inaccurate unless someone who lives in the area has manually gone into their system and fixed it.

A stupid move all over a stupid feud between the two companies.
Click to expand...
Not the first time that Apple has cut its nose of to spite its face (or those of its customers), and I doubt that it will be the last. :(
 
rmwebs said:
IMO this is not a good move. Google Maps are highly reliable, and the licensing fee is negligible. OSM on the other hand are usually inaccurate unless someone who lives in the area has manually gone into their system and fixed it.

A stupid move all over a stupid feud between the two companies.

Everyone has said that all the lawsuits and stuff haven't affected customers. They will soon if Apple moves to OSM.
Click to expand...

Truffy said:
Not the first time that Apple has cut its nose of to spite its face (or those of its customers), and I doubt that it will be the last. :(
Click to expand...

Apple's bought a number of mapping companies. Their product isn't ready yet. iPhoto, meanwhile, needed some maps, and since Apple's presumably transitioning away from Google Maps anyway, they used OSM rather than signing another contract. Because who cares? It's rough vacation positioning, which I'm sure is correct. You don't use it for directions.

It's not stupid, nor is it cutting off any noses. Have you even made an iPhoto collage recently?
 
swarmster said:
Apple's bought a number of mapping companies. Their product isn't ready yet. iPhoto, meanwhile, needed some maps, and since Apple's presumably transitioning away from Google Maps anyway, they used OSM rather than signing another contract. Because who cares? It's rough vacation positioning, which I'm sure is correct. You don't use it for directions.

It's not stupid, nor is it cutting off any noses. Have you even made an iPhoto collage recently?
Click to expand...

Obviously we'll have to wait and see what actual maps app comes out. It seems rather odd that despite Apple buying out mapping companies that they went with OSM. Either the companies they bought out were not bought for maps, or they arent ready for use. Why else would they intentionally use maps from 2010.

If however OSM is used in the maps replacement (assuming it even happens), that WILL be a problem for consumers.
 
Stop teasing me already, Apple!

Ditch Google and be done with it - it's easy. If you're not going to create your own service, at least use the (far superior) Bing Maps.
 
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