Apple Replacing Google Maps On iOS With Its Own Solution Later This Year

[KnightWRX]

I thought it was general knowledge.
Here's a recent article about the history of apple v google maps.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email...98502695522974-lMyQjAxMTAyMDAwNDEwNDQyWj.html

"Apple executives also wanted to include Google's turn-by-turn-navigation service in the iPhone—a feature popular with Android users because it lets people treat their phones as in-car GPS devices. Google wouldn't allow it, according to people on both sides. One of these people said Google viewed Apple's terms as unfair."

Seems to me that contrary to what you're saying, it's not that Google was refusing Apple to implement turn by turn, seems to me Apple just wanted to do it in a way that wasn't acceptable to Google.

And your whole article seems like hearsay to me. "People on both sides", "One of these people", who are these people ?

 

[edwurtle]

Seems to me that contrary to what you're saying, it's not that Google was refusing Apple to implement turn by turn, seems to me Apple just wanted to do it in a way that wasn't acceptable to Google.

You might have a point. Either way google has gone to war with Apple and is not allowing them to have it. Here's another article:
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscent...ew_google_nav_service_really_androidonly.html

Sounds as if Apple refused to allow Latitude to be integrated with maps app, so google took TxT away from them in retaliation.

However,
Has google given license to turn-by-turn to any other OS? No.

Has google released or attempted to release "Google Navigator" app in the iOS app store? No. If they wanted iPhones to have it, they could have just release it themselves.

 

[danahn17]

Has google given license to turn-by-turn to any other OS? No.

Has google released or attempted to release "Google Navigator" app in the iOS app store? No. If they wanted iPhones to have it, they could have just release it themselves.

Google is just holding it for android. It's a key selling point. Get android and get a free GPS all together.

While I agree that could be part of the story, I don't think the blame is solely on Google's side. Your article itself said that Google didn't agree to Apple's terms and therefore no deal.

Apple has been leveraging its popularity in negotiations which often leads to unfavorable deals (think Sprint). Plus, we know that Apple has made it difficult for things like Google Voice app to make it to the iPhone.

Again, I'm not saying this is all Apple's fault... but to say it's solely Google's fault is a little shortsighted IMO.

 

[Bensalama21]

Don't see how Apple can think to beat Google who has been doing this very well for years already

They had to do it even if they thought they sucked compared to Google.

It's only a matter of time before google pulls the plug on iDevices and then iPhones wouldn't have a navigation app built in. Then what does apple do? They don't want to rely on their BIGGEST rival.

 

[Compile 'em all]

I agree 100%. It's not acceptable if some of its biggest features are only available in the USA.

A big advantage of Google Maps is the searching, I can find even the most unknown little shops, restaurants or companies in the most unknown places. Any alternative less powerful than that will be a huge disappointment.

You are right, Apple will release a downgrade to their maps app.

 

[ncaissie]

finnaly NO to Google and their data selling system

Fanboys.


You people don't realize that Google Maps has many years of Google and businesses registering their company information in the service as well as some nice photos of locations and Street view on top of that. I use the Map app all the time and this will be a huge letdown. Looks like I will have to use it through the browser instead. The Google street view car passed me twice today. Once in my truck and once when I was on foot.

 

[ncaissie]

About a week ago, I saw am unmarked street view surveying car not far from where I live. Was it Apple's? Who knows.

I seen one twice today and it clearly had Google with all the colours on the side.

 

[vvswarup]

When are Apple going to learn to work with other companies and use them to work with their strengths.

Disappointing that Apple see Google maps as a form of competition.

They will benefit nothing from this.

It's not Google maps that's a competitor. It's Google as a whole. Why should Apple line a competitor's pockets with cash?

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Yup...This is the same Apple from 1987...can't work with other businesses because of Apple's "My way or the highway" mentality.

So Apple is going to a)take away the most popular mapping system on the planet and replace it with some Apple-created one b)Apple really isn't in the mapping business and c)Apple is just digging itself deeper into the "only made by Apple" mentality that killed Apple in the late 80s through the mid 90s.

I still laugh so hard when Apple released the iPod and it was only compatible/available with Macs...you know, those machines owned by 0.1% of the world population back in 2001. Then Apple (Jobs actually, by all reports) finally agreed to port iTunes to Windows so the other 99+% of the world could use it and the rest is history. If Apple keeps believing the consumers are going to mindlessly buy Apple products that are 100% Apple, Apple's in for another crash.

Let's see what Google releases in a few days as part of their new map system...and what iOS users will not be able to enjoy.

Quit making this out to the NIH mentality. It has nothing to do with that. For that matter, Apple sources a lot components from other companies. Apple buys the 3G radio chips from Qualcomm. Apple's mobile processors are fabbed by Samsung.

I see this as Apple refusing to line a competitor's pockets with cash.

 

[xero9]

As others have joked, I could see Apple screwing anyone outside of the US on this. While I don't expect a big grey "US Only" curtain over say Canada example, I don't expect them to have as much detail as Google.

Couple of points.. One of the major pluses in my books for Google is the Map Maker ability. I mean how great it is that I can delete say a lake from Google's map, have it approved, and then see that change reflected in the Maps app.

The POI database is also HUGE. There is no way Apple could compete with that.

To the guy who said the app hasn't changed since the iPhone launched in 2007.. Who really cares. At the end of the day 95% of the app is the map data, and that's what counts. Who cares what the rest of the app looks like.

When I think of Apple releasing their own map app, all I can think about is the horrible map experience on my BlackBerry Bold.

 

[scpt]

Voice navigation with traffic update and basic map functionality all rolled into one App. is indeed worth looking forward to.

Right now I use Waze app for voice navigation & traffic updates and occasionally the Google map to get an idea of which direction in general to go.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Don't see how Apple can think to beat Google who has been doing this very well for years already

or make a cell pho--er, wait.

 

[bawbac]

When you use Apple iMap, locations and destinations searched will be recorded and sent to Apple to process your requests. Your device will also send Apple other information, such as your first name and nickname; the names, nicknames, and relationship with you (e.g., “my dad”) of your address book contacts; and (collectively, your “User Data”). All of this data is used to help Apple iMap understand you better and recognize what types of locations and destinations you prefer to visit. It is not linked to other data that Apple may have from your use of other Apple services(iAds, iCloud, etc.). By using Apple iMap, you agree and consent to Apple’s and its subsidiaries’ and agents’ transmission, collection, maintenance, processing, and use of this information, including your User Data, to provide and improve iMap and other Apple products and services.

 

[ncaissie]

No one will hold a gun to your head, forcing you to upgrade...

I hate that typical response from people like you. When you spend almost $1000 on a device you want to get the most out of it. I don’t think Apple or any company would go far with that attitude.

 

[John.B]

Neither Google nor Apple directly sell anyone's data. It's too valuable to them.

If you mean selling targeted ad space in Maps, then it's quite possible that Apple would do the same on their version with their own iAds system.

They could, but I doubt Apple would. At least not the way Google Maps drops "Sponsored Link" ads right on top of the map itself (with no way to be turned off).

This is all about Apple wanting to be the ones to gather information and sell ad space, instead of allowing iOS devices to do that with Google with a small kickback.

We'll have to see how much ad space, if any, Apple deploys with their Maps app before we'll know for sure.

One thing that I think it's been pretty clear is that Google is a lot more promiscuous with the way they share user data with their advertisers than Apple ever has been.

The POI database is also HUGE. There is no way Apple could compete with that.

Maybe Apple could just scrape the Google POI database as a starting point? What's good for the goose...

 

[wrinkster22]

I hate to be a Grammar Nazi but:
"Apple Replacing Google Maps On iOS With Its Own Solution Later This Year"

Those letters should not be complicated, not sure about the others.

 

[Oletros]

I thought it was general knowledge.
Here's a recent article about the history of apple v google maps.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email...98502695522974-lMyQjAxMTAyMDAwNDEwNDQyWj.html

"Apple executives also wanted to include Google's turn-by-turn-navigation service in the iPhone—a feature popular with Android users because it lets people treat their phones as in-car GPS devices. Google wouldn't allow it, according to people on both sides. One of these people said Google viewed Apple's terms as unfair."

And this is not proof of nothing, perhaps of not reaching a deal between Apple and Google

 

[edwurtle]

And this is not proof of nothing, perhaps of not reaching a deal between Apple and Google

wow.. I didn't mean to start some feud.

The main point I was making was that Apple always wanted turn by turn. As for the reason it's not currently apart of the maps app, I don't really care.

Do people actually think Apple made a design decision to purposely exclude turn by turn (just because apple hated turn by turn concept)?

If they roll out there own map service, you can pretty much look forward to turn by turn navigation. If not directly in the maps app, at least a separate navigation app. Turn by turn is not hard to implement.

 

[danahn17]

It's not Google maps that's a competitor. It's Google as a whole. Why should Apple line a competitor's pockets with cash?

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Quit making this out to the NIH mentality. It has nothing to do with that. For that matter, Apple sources a lot components from other companies. Apple buys the 3G radio chips from Qualcomm. Apple's mobile processors are fabbed by Samsung.

I see this as Apple refusing to line a competitor's pockets with cash.

You do know that the mobile processors Apple gets from Samsung is lining the pockets of a competitor...

You can work with a competitor and still derive some mutual benefit (if both sides are willing). It doesn't have to be a my-way-or-the-highway approach. That's why the Google maps app was in iOS to begin with. And why the Youtube (still part of Google) app is still there. Elsewhere, companies like Olympus and Panasonic worked together to bring about a new camera form (micro 4/3).

Unfortunately, it seems like many here take the "if you're not for us, you're against us" approach. And Apple too has decided to take a more hardline approach with working with others in its field.

 

[aristotle]

That is standard boiler plate privacy policy stuff. How do you expect to get information about where you are without divulging any information?

How do you expect location services on "wifi" to work without some crowd sourcing of data? Wifi only devices have to rely on information in Apple's databases and that has to be collected somehow by Apple from 3G enabled devices with Wifi turned on. Apple uses a combination of data collected about nearby wifi hotspots correlated with GPS co-ordinates from 3G/4G enabled devices to provide approximate location info for wifi only iPads and iPod Touches.

 

[kdarling]

One thing that I think it's been pretty clear is that Google is a lot more promiscuous with the way they share user data with their advertisers than Apple ever has been.

I can't think of any instance that Google shares identifiable user data. Got an example?

As pointed out above, why would they? That info is their bread and butter, same as the personal info and preferences that Apple collects via our iTunes accounts, etc.

Neither Apple nor Google ever want to directly share their info about us. They keep it private and use it to pick the most appropriate ad to serve us out of the list the advertiser gives them. The advertiser is out of the loop as far as our personal info goes for serving ads.

Google also allows people to edit their ad profile, or opt out partially or totally. Use Google Dashboard and Google Ad Preferences or download a Google Ad Opt Out plugin for your browser.

 

[KnightWRX]

It's not Google maps that's a competitor. It's Google as a whole. Why should Apple line a competitor's pockets with cash?

Because petty politics don't belong in good business operations. Competition is friendly. Play to your strengths. Google's is online services, Apple's is systems. It makes sense to combine both. There's going to be overlap for sure at some point, but don't let that get into a game of "us vs them".

Let the people on Internet forums fight the "us vs them" fight.

Many players in other industries compete and yet collaborate. The car industry is rife with collaborations amongst competitors. They exchange parts/designs all the time. The computer industry is the same. HP has their own OS, yet they also offer the competition's OS products for their hardware, and their storage solutions can plug into Dell/Oracle/IBM hardware without any problems.

Competition doesn't have to mean cutting out all collaboration.

----------

Apple's mobile processors are fabbed by Samsung.

I see this as Apple refusing to line a competitor's pockets with cash.

These 2 statements are contradictory.

Let's wait and see what Apple and Google both have to offer, if they even have something to offer, before we judge if this move was made out of spite or out of real technical/design merit.

 

[bawbac]

That is standard boiler plate privacy policy stuff. How do you expect to get information about where you are without divulging any information?

How do you expect location services on "wifi" to work without some crowd sourcing of data? Wifi only devices have to rely on information in Apple's databases and that has to be collected somehow by Apple from 3G enabled devices with Wifi turned on. Apple uses a combination of data collected about nearby wifi hotspots correlated with GPS co-ordinates from 3G/4G enabled devices to provide approximate location info for wifi only iPads and iPod Touches.

Hum... odd that my TomTom doesn't ask me for any personal info for data mining to get me to places.

 

[aristotle]

Hum... odd that my TomTom doesn't ask me for any personal info for data mining to get me to places.

Your TOMTOM relies on a GPS chip which is slower and potentially less accurate in some places whereas Apple's location services relies on a combination of GPS, cellular tower triangulation and wifi hotspots within range if you have a device with a 3G or LTE radio whereas a Wifi device has to rely on wifi hotspot triangulation using location collected by Apple from devices with Wifi turned on and a 3G or LTE radio with a GPS chip.

If you don't want to "share" with other users then you should stick to TOMTOM but then don't expect accurate location data if you cannot get a GPS signal.

 

[Tuckrat]

That's the "old fashioned" theme for iPhoto, the real maps app won't look like that.

I hope you are right. The maps shown with this article and elsewhere are plain fugly!

 

[bawbac]

Your TOMTOM relies on a GPS chip which is slower and potentially less accurate in some places whereas Apple's location services relies on a combination of GPS, cellular tower triangulation and wifi hotspots within range if you have a device with a 3G or LTE radio whereas a Wifi device has to rely on wifi hotspot triangulation using location collected by Apple from devices with Wifi turned on and a 3G or LTE radio with a GPS chip.

If you don't want to "share" with other users then you should stick to TOMTOM but then don't expect accurate location data if you cannot get a GPS signal.

What does my personal contacts have to be used to find locations?
I guess you do as you are told and not question the personal info retrieved that has nothing to do with map locating services.

Apple only needs to know my phones location to assist in finding what I ask, not other personal info. It seems you are blind to allowing apple get whatever they ask of you without justification on the true intent of use of the info retrieved.