Apple Has Internally Tested Injecting Ads Into Maps App Search Results [Updated]

[alexhardaker]

Really? This sounds awful. I suppose ads in the App Store aren’t that bad, but they’re really bad in the News app. You see completely false adverts that start with “born before 2003?” Then a couple of words with a few British pound notes as a picture. Or something to do with people opting for some sort of new “revolutionary” eye surgery with a picture of a face & the eye highlighted.

The News app pulls stories from awful click-bait sources under the topics you follow as well. I’m already sick of click-bait crap being shared on social media by both media sources and people, I don’t need it on an Apple news app.

I wanted to use it instead of using social media to follow a few sites I like, but I never go back to it every time I try using it.

 

[WWPD]

Do ads actually work? When I see the same annoying ad over and over again, I make it a point to NOT buy what they are advertising. This isn't the 90's anymore, most of the influence I have from buying a product or service is from online reviews.

 

[3530025]

Problem is what would replace it?

If Apple brings in ads and loose privacy, then the difference between the Apple and better Android phone is mainly the price in favor of Android... So, yeah. Android it is. We pay Apple premium mainly because of its privacy and no ads compared to big brother Google, right?

 

[CarpalMac]

Can't think of a time I bought something because of an Ad especially on an app

In all my internet using history - not once have I.

Even these days, they still now just show me stuff I was only just looking at... (those that still somehow manage to sneak by my tracking blockers). If I didn't buy it when I was directly shopping for it, seeing it alongside a Macrumors article 30seconds later isn't going to magically make me change my mind.

Even when I do buy stuff, it is via cashback sites so that *I* get most of the referral money, not some site with an advert.

 

[JMStearnsX2]

I'll go back to real paper maps....

 

[alexandr]

Noice! Before we tell you which way to turn — watch a fifteen second ad that you will find interesting!

 

[EdT]

Do ads actually work? When I see the same annoying ad over and over again, I make it a point to NOT buy what they are advertising. This isn't the 90's anymore, most of the influence I have from buying a product or service is from online reviews.

Long long ago in a very early job I worked for a direct marketing company. You know, junk mail. They would run big ad campaigns for customers and spend a lot of money on full color printing and premium paper stock and inserting the mail and postage, and get a 1-2% reply rate. Not necessarily sales, just a “send me more information” reply.

And this rate of return made both the customer and my employer a lot of money.

 

[DeepIn2U]

First the App Store now Maps...what's next?

Go down this road Apple and my next phone won't be iPhone.

The App Store I kinda expect relevant ads in, for Apps I mean duh it's a store, so not a talking point at all.

But MAPS! I'm looking to find where I'm going, usually time sensitive, I don't EVER want to see a damn ad on - I'm 100% with you on that!

Bring ads to Maps Apple - I will not look back. This Alone can be a HUGE driving, traffic or even walking/rolling safety issue!

 

[alexandr]

Can't think of a time I bought something because of an Ad especially on an app

For me ads work as reminders — I looked at something, forgot, a day later it pops up in an ad. Sometimes I'm thankful for that

 

[SpotOnT]

Can’t wait for part of my limited phone screen space to get consumed by ads. That will make my life so much more productive and better in every possible way!

 

[workerbee]

Ads in Apple maps? Excellent news. I was getting worried a bit about Apple not making enough money.

 

[Playfoot]

I thought the idea of paying a premium was for good service and NOT to be bombarded by ads, ads, and more ads.....

 

[mrochester]

I thought the idea of paying a premium was for good service and NOT to be bombarded by ads, ads, and more ads.....

Not always the case, sadly. Sometimes you pay and still get ads (like Sky TV in the UK).

 

[Will Co]

I can live with adds for apps within the App Store. It's often relevant and sometimes even useful. But most of all, it's because I don't go into the App Store very often.

But I find the random adverts injected into my News feed a HUGE annoyance. I pay for that feed, through my Apple One subscription, and still you want to try to squeeze more money out of my news browsing activity? Just about tolerable. Just. Greedy. But I can just about live with it. Start putting adds into other apps, and it's going to time to review my subscriptions. I ain't paying twice: directly; and via my activities which generate advertising revenue. What is this? Google?

 

[salutcemoi]

Let's not overreact lol

Apple ads are unobtrusive (except on Apple News, but I use Google News which has less obstrusive ads) and can be useful; I had a Xiaomi and ads were a nightmare, even got them on the lockscreen, but it was an older model, maybe they stopped doing that

Are most people really going to move to Android?

Are they really to give up iMessage/Facetime (not an issue outside of North America), the ecosystem, better support, app quality, the ecosystem, etc?

Also, there are people who shoot a lot videos and iphones are still the best in that department (for photos, any recent flagship does a great job)

Lastly, and I'm assuming they are a minority here but I could be wrong, if you're heavy into social media, iPhones are still better than Android in that regard

What I'm trying to say let's not overreact because of one change that may not be that annoying all things considered
(And I hate ads)

 

[andrewxgx]

basically stating that all other growth options has been exhausted
will be fun to watch tho, MS pushing to show ads in Windows too

 

[videosoul]

The maps app is a TOOL. The worst effing thing Apple did was make it into this “Yelp” and “travel-like” app that has suggestions and “Guides”.

If anyone knows how to turn off this clutter please let me know. I sure as **** don’t go into the Maps app if I ever want to just browse around what’s “cool” in my city or where I’m traveling. I thought that’s what Safari was for 🧐

To be fair, contrary to what I said before, i cannot disagree with this! I also certainly don't want to always be seeing guides for my own city.

I would however like to be able to give better reviews for business I've liked, as I can on Google Maps.

 

[salutcemoi]

Adding to my previous post :

Let's not forget the issues of the Android flagship hones

- standby battery drain
- S22 Ultra still has shutter lag issues, so you are guaranteed to miss that special kodak moment; it also overheats and the battery is trash; I've read all that on Reddit and different forums, so don't shoot the messenger
- I also have a Pixel 6 for work and that thing is buggy and laggy for a stock Android phone that uses Google's own chipset
- I've missed important notifications on Android phones; people can say what they want about iPhone's notifications but they are more reliable

I love Android but let's not forget about those issues

 

[Bogstandard]

I avoid Google maps for this reason.
The Spectre of Apples' greed is starting to show through the "user privacy" facade.
I guess I can go back to using Google maps then, yeah?

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, eh Apple?

 

[pauloregan]

What do you think they spent billions of dollars creating Maps in its current state for?

 

[nosnhojm]

Let's not overreact lol

Apple ads are unobtrusive (except on Apple News, but I use Google News which has less obstrusive ads) and can be useful; I had a Xiaomi and ads were a nightmare, even got them on the lockscreen, but it was an older model, maybe they stopped doing that

Are most people really going to move to Android?

Are they really to give up iMessage/Facetime (not an issue outside of North America), the ecosystem, better support, app quality, the ecosystem, etc?

Also, there are people who shoot a lot videos and iphones are still the best in that department (for photos, any recent flagship does a great job)

Lastly, and I'm assuming they are a minority here but I could be wrong, if you're heavy into social media, iPhones are still better than Android in that regard

What I'm trying to say let's not overreact because of one change that may not be that annoying all things considered
(And I hate ads)

You are arguing that ads are OK because the walled garden is too high to escape, so we shouldn't complain. I do not agree.

 

[EdT]

Let's not overreact lol

Apple ads are unobtrusive (except on Apple News, but I use Google News which has less obstrusive ads) and can be useful; I had a Xiaomi and ads were a nightmare, even got them on the lockscreen, but it was an older model, maybe they stopped doing that

Are most people really going to move to Android?

Are they really to give up iMessage/Facetime (not an issue outside of North America), the ecosystem, better support, app quality, the ecosystem, etc?

Also, there are people who shoot a lot videos and iphones are still the best in that department (for photos, any recent flagship does a great job)

Lastly, and I'm assuming they are a minority here but I could be wrong, if you're heavy into social media, iPhones are still better than Android in that regard

What I'm trying to say let's not overreact because of one change that may not be that annoying all things considered
(And I hate ads)

I disagree. Let’s over-react because otherwise what you get is creeping intrusions into your apps. Even a massive over-reaction will only deter this type of intrusive advertising by only a short time. Apple (actually, every cell phone provider) counts on new intrusions generating outrage for a short time followed by grudging acceptance. When there are no viable options, what are you going to do? Quit using your phone? Go back and buy a dedicated map device/service?

Any retreat by Apple will be temporary. Advertisers will pay a lot of money to put ads in front of iPhone users because of the type of people that buy Apple. So the only thing that Apple will listen to is a significant loss of sales. They have obviously been listening to potential advertisers and are trying to come out with a marketing campaign that will promise “the same high level of privacy while also offering many benefits for people who want them”. You don’t have privacy if a company is making money selling your data and that’s what Apple will be doing.

 

[jazz1]

So am I going to see ads on CarPlay in my car? Why doesn't Apple put a coin slot in my car that I have to feed to use Apple Maps.

This is awful!

 

[johnmarki]

Please stahp with the "Apple does ADs better, so it'll be fine!" rhetoric. Advertisers, governments, corporations, and bad actors (all the same coincidentally) have gone to the extreme at advertising all and any thing to everyone, no matter the content of the ad, or factual relevance. Ads have replaced many, and most of our personal space and mental mindshare even in private settings.

An AD is an AD, EVEN if Apple does it!!! Quit giving Apple a pass, and hold them accountable for being terrible.

 

[blacktape242]

yah forgot that one apple....