Apple Announces Ads Are Coming to Apple Maps

[sinbad21]

By doing this, Apple will loose its premium status.

 

[steviewondercansee]

Do you really believe Google just straight up invests that every last dollar back

nope. never said every last dollar.

 

[Artemiz]

nope. never said every last dollar.

You said Google makes $50 and Apple doesn’t spend $50 on Maps. It’s implied.

 

[Ct applefan]

Good news. We needed a competitor to Google.

Apple is the new Google. So sad to see

 

[surferfb]

Nope. That's paid for in part by iCloud subscription for storing their user generated content. User sees value in paying for this service.

You don't have to pay for iCloud to have any of that work. So should users who don't pay for iCloud storage get ads in Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, etc.?

Users don't really generate content on Maps so there's nothing to really pay for. Asking the user to pay for the service of providing mapping directions doesn't make sense when Google Maps is, so far, better by miles. It's a live expensive service to run and maintain, it requires tons of $ to improve it.

I disagree it's "better by miles". In fact, I vastly prefer using it over Google because, for example, it doesn't have ads.

So how else do you expect Apple to do better than Google Maps with a smaller budget?

Charge more for the phone. Or eat the cost because it makes your product nicer to use than the competition.

I pick iOS because it is nicer to use. If I wanted an ad-filled mess of an OS, I'd just buy an Android device and save money.

 

[mrsebsin]

Make Apple great again.

 

[Dog Bone Malone]

Introducing Apple Maps Plus, now with AI, Siri can use the power of AI to remove ads. We think you're going to love it.

My exact first thoughts, i.e how long before Apple Maps+ is announced.

 

[Ct applefan]

It's possible they'll use the increased Services revenue to continue to build out a selection of lower-margin hardware, of which the new Neo is an example.

We don't know, but running Maps has got to be expensive and should somewhat pay for itself.

It sounds like the way Ads will be inserted is reasonable and not intrusive, so I'm not against it.

Of course you do

 

[xyz01]

how do you expect Apple to pay for Maps?

With the revenue from the devices. As you can see, that has worked out extremely well for them. Absolutely no need for ads.

If they're going to sell me like Google, I might as well get cheaper devices and better AI by skipping Apple.

 

[Dog Bone Malone]

Disappointing. Just when I've been trying to use Apple maps more and more as my default go-to maps, and now I have it nailed down - I'm going to see ads! Aww man!

 

[steviewondercansee]

You don't have to pay for iCloud to have any of that work.

If you don't pay for iCloud, you get 5GB of storage only. Apple runs that at a loss because they know majority of people will eventually pay for iCloud when they realize they've used up of 5GB data across many apps.

I disagree it's "better by miles". In fact, I vastly prefer using it over Google because, for example, it doesn't have ads.

You're in a minority then. If Google makes $10-$15 off of every Google Maps user, would you pay $10-$15/year for Apple Maps? If yes, then like I said you're in a minority.

I'm here in Japan and Apple Maps is hardly usable.

Charge more for the phone.

Again, you're in the minority that would gladly pay for maps it seems.

Or eat the cost because it makes your product better.

That's only justified by people buying iPhones where Apple Maps is a major reason. Not sure who is buying an iPhone for the primary reason of using Apple Maps. Again, sounds like you're in the minority.

I pick iOS because it is nicer to use. If I wanted an ad-filled mess of an OS, I'd just buy an Android device and save money.

If you bought an iPhone for the sole purpose of using Maps and Apple completely destroying Apple Maps is causing you to jump ship to Android, then, like I said, you're in the extreme minority.

Apple caters to the majority.

 

[GeoStructural]

This is wild. It's officially crossing some sort of line that is very unlike Apple.

EDIT: maybe it will go full circle and it'll be time to get a nice Garmin unit. They still make them and by all accounts they are excellent.

I own a Garmin Forerunner, it is beyond excellent, it collects all sort of health data and exercise activity, and the battery lasts 15 to 18 days… my partner’s Apple Watch battery lasts about 16 hrs a day regardless of usage.

 

[McWetty]

This makes Apple feel cheap.

They already collab with Kim K… they are used to it.

 

[fgengineer]

There are ads in app store. How is it different than that?

Difference for me is I hardly use the App Store and I usually ignore all the ads. I only go there when I am looking for something and actually a lot of the time the search is disappointing and I hate their sponsored items. I have trained myself to ignore the first couple of items in the search because those are the sponsored items.

I use Apple Maps a lot. I mostly abandoned Google Maps and Apple Maps has been ok for a while. There are still some annoying bugs and I question some of Apple's UX, but it is very usable. I would be willing to pay a subscription to get rid of ads. If that option is not available, then I guess I need to find another maps application.

I have constantly made choices to keep myself from being tied to Apple so if they keep heading this way, I am just going to have minimize my use even more and maybe even part ways. Too bad as Apple makes some awesome hardware.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

'With the privacy that Apple's users deserve, on device AI scans your messages and inserts appropriate ads into your chats without ever giving away your identity.'

There's a very chilling recent Black Mirror episode that uses a similar idea, though the ads go well past text chats and into the user's real life.

 

[Oblivious.Robot]

I just don’t believe that apple hardware is selling off as well as people would have you believe, people are holding off upgrades or even buying older apple devices for better price and then holding long. Hence the micro penny pinching to retain the profits or even improve upon them by unleashing the ADF to justify why apple tax isn’t enough anymore and ads are good, unless it’s google.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Really sad when Google is the less intrusive ad company now. They’ve had ads in Google Maps for years but people rarely complain because it’s become the new phone book. The ads aren’t intrusive and are usually relevant.

Even their promotional design of this looks annoying and intrusive. Just like the ads in the stocks app. Sorry I meant news stories. That’s why you can’t turn them off…

 

[McWetty]

Well, I’m out. No sense in using a lower quality version of Google Maps. I let it slide before because there were no ads. Apple played the wrong hand.

 

[steviewondercansee]

With the revenue from the devices.

"with the revenue"

i mean if they used up all of the revenue from devices, that would be running the business at a loss.

As you can see, that has worked out extremely well for them.

Apple Maps is not on par with Google Maps. Objectively it doesn't even have nearly the same amount of data as Google Maps

Absolutely no need for ads.

If Apple Maps is going to ever be on par with Google Maps, it does.

 

[JTK Awesome]

Ens!!!tification of Apple. Thanks Tim Cook. When did you say you were retiring? Not soon enough, was it?

 

[The_Gream]

You know, I have no major issue with this, as long as it makes sense.

My sister and I like to take single day road trips. I generally use Apple Maps for navigation, if the ads function on a ‘local level’, then when we decide to say hit up different parts of state, I won’t have to dig around looking for food joints etc.

Now, if I am looking for food and I get an ad for underwear, then I will take issue.

 

[hans1972]

This is wild. It's officially crossing some sort of line that is very unlike Apple.

EDIT: maybe it will go full circle and it'll be time to get a nice Garmin unit. They still make them and by all accounts they are excellent.

That line was crossed when ads showed up in search results in the App Store. It's exactly the same thing here it seems.

 

[steviewondercansee]

Difference for me is I hardly use the App Store

then you're in the minority.

 

[The_Gream]

I don't claim to be an expert in business, but I don't think it's entirely Tim Cook; rather it's the shareholders.

Ironically, almost every person with a pension, 401k or some other sort of investment in that ballpark, has Apple stock.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

I just don’t believe that apple hardware is selling off as well as people would have you believe, people are holding off upgrades or even buying older apple devices for better price and then holding long.

They are a publicly traded company. They report sales and revenue regularly. The facts are available.

That is the reality as far as hardware sales is concerned. Better numbers than anecdotal evidence and "I believe."