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Exactly how do you pay to run a live, always on, constantly updating mapping service? Boosting revenue doesn't mean Maps is profitable. For all we know, Apple Maps is a money losing business for Apple but was necessary to move away from Google demanding Apple to integrate Google Buzz (remember that?) into the OS.

All you're really rooting for is "let's not have a competitor to Google Maps". Terrible take.

Well usually you leverage something else. Apple use and contribute to data in OSM, which is here, and free https://www.openstreetmap.org/

I'm an OSM contributor as well. There are thousands of us all over the world.
 
Terrible idea.

I'd rather pay for a subscription version than look at this trash when I am trying to get directions or navigation assistance.
 
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Sigh. Apple keeps getting more unApple like.

This will only push me more toward google—they already have ads but their maps are much more robust. I also hate how Apple Maps pushes you to download yelp just to view pictures or reviews for many places.
 
I've said this a hundred times but Apple is a publicly traded company that has to grow at all costs. Even If they make the same obscene profit this year that they made last it will be considered a failure by investors.

If you think Apple won't introduce advertising or use your data to make more money then you're living in fantasy land.

Use verifiable open source apps if you care about privacy. Trusting a for profit trillion dollar company is not a smart move.
 
I don’t use Apple Maps anyway.

So Apple will have to start flashing up full screen adverts on the home screen of iPhones and iPads…. Sigh.
 
Apple Maps must be free!

I don't care if Apple loses money!

They should get rid of the all royalties on Apple Store and all developers should take 100%, make Apple Maps 100% free without ADS, give me 256GB (or whatever iPhone storage I buy) of free iCloud storage per month, make iPhone batteries easily swappable, free AppleCare+ for all without any subscription, 64GB/2TB MINIMUM RAM/storage in Macs without raising the base price, sideload for all countries, remove webkit engine, allow me to install Android OS on MY DEVICE that I PAID FOR because I OWN THE DEVICE, allow PORN APPS on the App Store, fire Tim Cook, get rid of public shareholders and go private because they're LEECHES, and so on and so on

/s
 
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Why free Apple Maps and other services?

There use to be a thing called customer goodwill, a way to build a loyal customer base and attract new customers.

Poor Apple, only $167 billion in the bank, they need that 10 cents per ad.
 
Exactly how do you pay to run a live, always on, constantly updating mapping service? Boosting revenue doesn't mean Maps is profitable. For all we know, Apple Maps is a money losing business for Apple but was necessary to move away from Google demanding Apple to integrate Google Buzz (remember that?) into the OS.

All you're really rooting for is "let's not have a competitor to Google Maps". Terrible take.

Sorry but I am not paying for a somewhat inferior service - and definitely not living with ads in it - just so there was a competitor to Google Maps. I am already paying Apple Premium every time I buy an Apple branded device or accessory, and by all accounts Apple is doing exceptionally well financially selling them. If they decide to eliminate the things that differentiate their brand and make it appealing, there’s little reason to pay extra for their products.
 
Sorry but I am not paying for a somewhat inferior service
That's why there's ads. So you don't have to pay for it while Apple can keep reinvesting into it to make it a valid competitor against Google Maps to ultimately be better than Google Maps.
 
People are paying Apple Tax for premium experience.
And they are getting it.

Take away or cheapen that experience, and Apple Tax will no longer seem justifiable
You already said you're not willing to pay an extra premium for Apple Maps. Google's budget for Google Maps far outweigh Apple's budget for Apple Maps. How do you expect Apple Maps to get better without you paying extra?
 
And they are getting it.


You already said you're not willing to pay an extra premium for Apple Maps. Google's budget for Google Maps far outweigh Apple's budget for Apple Maps. How do you expect Apple Maps to get better without you paying extra?
Where is apple getting money for stock buy backs?
 
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The other fear is that the desire to support advertisers will impact performance. For example, route selection will be driven by routing that drives past advertisers locations instead of shortest or fastest routes.

Not that is happening but that is my fear. But if there was no advertising then this would never be a concern
 
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