Apple Reportedly Had Over a Year Left on Maps Contract with Google

[dv8r]

Please explain how releasing a maps application on a platform where the user is 100% free to download another maps application from the app store is considering "shoving it down the users throat." Oh wait, its not. You're just over reacting.

Preventing me from setting a different "default" application is shoving a specific app down my throat - i'm "forced" into this app when using secondary functions and prevented from using the normal personal assistant system for my "other" maps app... like forcing me to use Safari, like forcing me to use Apple Mail... get the picture?

Shoving it down your throat would be eliminating all maps apps on the app store and making Apple maps the only available application. But we both know that is not the case.

No - that would be shoving it down my throat and forcing me to digest it.

I think the average user will update to iOS 6 and not totally know the difference. The average user will open up maps and think "Oh it looks different. And I can do turn-by-turn now!"

You should get out more - meet some "average" users, they have noticed.

The average user doesn't spend hours reading macrumors and tech blogs like people on here do. Thus they will most likely not know what the major differences are. They will see added turn-by-turn and added 3D. Let's face it, the average user is not tech savvy.

The "average" user might just try and use the maps app - in most of the world it would be impossible for them to go somewhere or simply find things. They don't go on MacRumors but they do go on Facebook, Tumblr, you name it... and they do cry out in vain.

So if Apple just made it an opt-in scenario and made Google Maps default and Apple maps an option in settings, then most people wouldn't use Apple maps. And without users, there would be nobody to find bugs and issues. So this optional preview you mentioned would not be nearly as effective.

Not my problem, seriously something Apple should have thought about before they unleashed this turd upon their users. When the Google Maps app land - people will go back to using that, only fanboys like you and Apples Cupertino staff will update Apple Maps with new POI's...

The most expensive and time consumer part of developing is not the initial release, it is keeping the software up to date after initial release. That is the most important part. And with people using the software, the developers know what to fix.

And exactly where Apple really screwed up - not only by having a half baked product but also in having piss-poor interfaces and options for editing vital information - "average users" will never submit anything into that clunky interface, because it's downright bad. There's no OSX version, theres no web interface (bigger screen, mouse and keyboard are so much better when doing overlays or a large amount of POI's) and we don't even know if Apple are doing some sort of quality control on this at all. A company that knows what they are doing would have this under control - Apple doesn't.

No matter what, in an ideal situation developers will fix all problems in a program/app. The more people you have using the program, the sooner you will find all problems that need to be fixed. The less people you have using the program, the longer it will take to fix everything.

We're not talking a bug in an app here - one fix will only apply to a few users. And stock software doesn't come out with 10 million+ missing "features" or "bugs", so it's not comparable.

What is keeping you from providing feedback now? Apple has made it very easy to provide feedback for their maps. Even Google offers easy ways to provide feedback. The reason both offer ways to provide feedback is because it is never going to be perfect. I would love to see you team up with people to make a detailed map of the entire world. Then when you think you are done, release it and see if you are ever actually finished.

The way of providing feedback is in no way effective and is actually keeping me (discouraging me) from providing proper feedback. It's not comparable to the way you submit feedback to Google, because they have this in working condition - try reading up on what those differences are before comparing two widely different approaches.

And why the hell should "he" make his own maps app? Unlike Apple "he" didn't go around telling the would that "he" could make the perfect maps app while on the toilet...

 

[wingsabre]

stop whinning and report any problems and update the info, im 3 or 4 months time you wont even remember maps had problems

It's not my job to update their maps. It is not the consumers job to fix Apple's screw up. It is also ridiculous to assume that consumers will be able to fix the problem, when the true problem is the 15-18 people processing the reported errors.

I didn't pay for my phone to do work for Apple. If they want me to fix their map app, then they should pay me. They are a multi-billion dollar company after all. And truth be told, this is can take up to $14 billion to bring it up to Google Maps standards. It's not a quick fix that can be done within 6 months. This is the modern equivalent of when Coke came out with New Coke.

 

[SoGood]

It's only logical for Apple to get on with their own mapping and crowd sourcing in iOS6. It's all perfectly logical to me.

Fact is, Google crowd sourced their data to build their present data mapping service and Apple will just have to bite the bullet and do the same. As much as it hurts, waiting till 2007 will not help the product that much when there's no crowd sourced input.

This is just plain business and reality.

 

[G51989]

It is simple. People care about problems when they directly effect their lives. They don't care about Scotland unless they live in or travel to Scotland. They assume it will get fixed before they get there, especially now that it is news. Folks in China who finally have better Maps are cheering this because Google sucked there. From what I understand, folks in Japan are upset but folks in Korea, Austria and Germany are happier. It all depends on where you live and also how much you like to blow Apple's issues out of the water. Google is trying to drum up an "Apple Vista", but in reality all this press is just going to mean it gets a whole lot better very quickly.

The thing is, Scottland was just an example, this map app is experience problems all over the world. Where google is not.

Now if thats not awesome, I don't know what could be.

I've been using it on my work phone, and I work in the middle of Chicago, one of the biggest cities in the world, You would think it would be flawless right? It's not, sometimes yes it works just fine. But some locations are blocks away from where they are, the turn by turn seems to be...vauge at best, and some locations that have been there for 50 years are in random spots, can anyone tell me why the Daily bar was in a lake until yesterday?

Its not going to be as good as google maps very quickly, its going to take years to get to googles level.

ASIDE: Be careful following links on your GS3, I saw a report today that the phone can be wiped by tapping a malicious link. Make sure you have a current backup. I'm telling everybody I know who has a TouchWiz phone - it's a pretty nasty exploit and supposedly folks are creating such links in Twitter and on forums now. It triggers the phone to dial a code that is designed to remote wipe it.

I tried that with my GS3 when it was still on touch wiz, I looked at it in the broswer, I texted it to myself, emailed it to myself, even dialed it. Nothing.

Its a very small exploit that was fixed a long time ago via updates. iPhones have had a couple of issues as well, like that russian hacker dude who could steal all the phones contact info via a text messeage.

No Phone is perfect.

That being said, Apple could have done such a better job with this, but they didn't.

 

[Death-T]

I always thought Google Maps was terrible. It was hard to determine where to turn when using it as GPS, and it never recalculates when you miss a turn. You have to go back and start the trip over again with the route information you entered to do that. And I found myself often turning my phone over in my hands while driving since the blue dot representing my car would go either left, right, or down when I needed it to just go forward so it would be easier for me to know which direction to turn when I got there. I dunno, I'm sure Google Maps had its uses but a GPS was not one of them. I can't see how it would be useful otherwise save for those who praised it for its urban transit information and walking directions or whatever.

That said, I haven't really had the opportunity to even try out Apple Maps yet, so I can't say whether it's at all better or not. I do think it looks nicer, but that doesn't really mean anything. I've just been using Waze as a GPS app, it's free and looks works and feels just like a GPS unit you attach to your windshield. I guess Google and Apple Maps aren't meant for that functionality.

BTW, how do you guys get those Google Earth-like 3D images in Apple Maps to appear? I touched the 3D display option and it doesn't show anything like that.

 

[OneTraveler]

Agreed...

Just got back from a business trip. Drove thru South Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee. (Did some flying in there). Turn by turn was flawless. Chattanooga, Starkville and Gaffney sc. So not exactly big cities either.

Used Siri to put in the address info. I'm sold.

Used the Developer preview all summer INCLUDING a 4800mi drive from Anchorage Alaska to Asheville NC. Used Apple Maps and TBT Directions all summer. Honestly can't remember a time it took me to the wrong spot or got me lost. And i was without a doubt passing through some small locations along the way.

I'm not denying there are issues, obviously there are, but i believe its being blown out of proportion (SHOCKING!). And i'm positive the maps can only get better.

M

 

[Dusky600]

It's not my job to update their maps. It is not the consumers job to fix Apple's screw up. It is also ridiculous to assume that consumers will be able to fix the problem, when the true problem is the 15-18 people processing the reported errors.

I didn't pay for my phone to do work for Apple. If they want me to fix their map app, then they should pay me. They are a multi-billion dollar company after all. And truth be told, this is can take up to $14 billion to bring it up to Google Maps standards. It's not a quick fix that can be done within 6 months. This is the modern equivalent of when Coke came out with New Coke.

so what do you want ? a free phone ? a compensation ? your money back ? a google maps app ?

 

[tigress666]

REGARDLESS of which mapping solution is better, it is 100% Apple's fault for not allowing us to choose our mapping solution. It's just a matter of time before they start forcing us to search with Yahoo.

Apple & Google fighting is the worst thing that can happen to the iPhone because both companies have so much to bring to the table. But instead of both offering their strengths we are being forced to pick sides.

Best thing said in the thread so far.

And I actually don't have much issue with Apple Maps (But I wasn't depending on using it for directions anyways, I have Navigon for that) but google maps was good and now Apple cause of this is going to have to start from scratch and managed to put a huge blemish on their star product. And, I agree, I fear the day Apple for their grudge gets rid of the choice to use Google for your search engine. But I disagree they'll force us to use Yahoo, it will be Bing because that one of their main changes a few OS's back (they were all proud that you could use Bing instead of Google.. but note they weren't stupid enough to get rid of Google search. Let's hope they keep that wisdom).

 

[12dylan34]

At first glance, I thought the headline said something to the effect of "Apple reportedly had over a year of work left on its map application to be ready for market"

That story will run tomorrow.

 

[DeathChill]

I can't imagine that this is strictly done out of spite for Google.

As I understand it, Apple was feeding the information provided from Maps to Google, thereby making Google's product (Maps) better. If Apple had waited a year, that's an extra year that Apple is improving Google's product while not getting the most out of it (vector-based maps, turn-by-turn). I can't imagine Apple has any interest in doing that.

This is no way excuses Apple for all the errors that exist in their maps and I cannot understand in what world they can tout it as amazing.

 

[thasan]

so what do you want ? a free phone ? a compensation ? your money back ? a google maps app ?

But it's true apple made a big mistake. I guess they will lose atleast a couple of millions of sale... Maybe even more

 

[Twenty5]

My take on this whole thing..

I get why Apple released their own maps application. I do. What i don't understand is why didn't they tag it as a Beta? When Siri was first released, Apple knew that its functionality was quite limited and also admitted that the more people use Siri, the better it would become. Therefore, they tagged it as a Beta in order to let people use it and improve it at the same time. It worked. Siri was not a "know-it-all" sort of assistant, it was limited and that is what people were expecting from a Beta. Nothing less, nothing more.

The same principle applies here.

If Apple announced their Maps application and released it as a Beta, they wouldn't have gotten as much criticism as they did. People would be expecting something less polished and not fully "functional".

By not tagging their Maps app as a Beta, Apple basically forced the general public to use something that was not ready for prime time yet. They also decided to bundle it with every copy of iOS 6; a move that I find very odd. It seems that they thought this was the real deal.

I understand Apple's (and Steve's) stance when it comes to companies like Google. But you can't let emotions get on the way when it comes to the launch of a device as popular as the iPhone. As a company as great as Apple they should have focused instead on the end user experience and not the drama/hatred that they have against its competitors.

Apple should have released their Maps app as a beta alongside a refreshed/redesigned Google Maps app built specifically to take advantage of the new iPhone 5 display and hardware. By doing so they could encourage users to try out their own Maps apps (and help improve it) but at the same time let users have a fully functional Google Maps app as a backup.

------------Footnote----------------
-At its current state, I am not sure if this even qualifies as a Beta. Alpha anyone?

 

[dv8r]

so what do you want ? a free phone ? a compensation ? your money back ? a google maps app ?

Scott Forstall committing seppuku at the iPad Air launch - nothing less...

 

[MacinDoc]

So I'm assuming that everyone who is complaining that Apple should have stuck with Google's maps is OK with Apple's mapping getting yet another year behind Google's before launch (the only way to catch up is to have a live app with user feedback), and were fine with Google denying users turn-by-turn navigation...

This is not to say that fixing Maps should be Apple's current top priority, but, like Siri, it really had to go live to get enough feedback to make the necessary improvements. And if Google's maps were still available, the process of fixing Maps would have taken much longer due to greatly reduced user feedback (everyone would have just used Google's maps instead).

 

[wingsabre]

so what do you want ? a free phone ? a compensation ? your money back ? a google maps app ?

One, if I bought an iPhone, I'd like it to have a maps app that works and is accurate. It's not my job to fix it, it should be working well to begin with, not by 2005 standards.

Two, a free phone actually has a better app. The iPhone 4 has a better map application compared to this one.

Three, if Apple wants to be lazy and have crowd sourced data instead of actually messaging their own data that they obtained, they they should compensate individuals who submitted fix for the apps. Free iTunes downloads or redemption points. They're Apple, they can afford it.

Four, I want it fixed. When there was antennagate, Steve Jobs created the free case program that expired after a few months. Apple needs to do something now.

Five, yes, a Google Maps app would be a great idea. Google is working on it, so really, Apple should just make their old map apps available to download for a short period of time. Lets say till the end of 2012. If that date passes, then tough. It'll be like the free case program. People who adopted early and cant go back can get their app, and people who buy the iPhone 5 now knowing about the flaw will have bought it knowing what they got themselves into.

 

[jaysen]

That's good, because you don't have any choice.

It's easy to accept something when you have no other choices... iOS fans will realize what they've been missing once google releases this standalone map - assuming it includes most, if not all, features from Android

 

[etrinh]

It's not my job to update their maps. It is not the consumers job to fix Apple's screw up. It is also ridiculous to assume that consumers will be able to fix the problem, when the true problem is the 15-18 people processing the reported errors.

I didn't pay for my phone to do work for Apple. If they want me to fix their map app, then they should pay me. They are a multi-billion dollar company after all. And truth be told, this is can take up to $14 billion to bring it up to Google Maps standards. It's not a quick fix that can be done within 6 months. This is the modern equivalent of when Coke came out with New Coke.

I agree this is why choice is tantamount. Apples iPhone isn't the only smart phone out there. Since google's android has the superior maps with more accurate data, that platform would be the best option for maps users who rely on it to make using ios6 a deal breaker

 

[wingsabre]

I can't imagine that this is strictly done out of spite for Google.

As I understand it, Apple was feeding the information provided from Maps to Google, thereby making Google's product (Maps) better. If Apple had waited a year, that's an extra year that Apple is improving Google's product while not getting the most out of it (vector-based maps, turn-by-turn). I can't imagine Apple has any interest in doing that.

This is no way excuses Apple for all the errors that exist in their maps and I cannot understand in what world they can tout it as amazing.

Just because they're feeding Google data, doesn't mean they themselves don't know the data. It's an Apple application at the end of the day. They could easily have kept the data, and give Google a copy. It's not a mutually exclusive option that Apple had, they could have done both.

 

[mabaker]

The backlash Apple is getting for unable people that can't get over themselves and use perfectly usable maps.google.com is unheard of.

 

[dv8r]

So I'm assuming that everyone who is complaining that Apple should have stuck with Google's maps is OK with Apple's mapping getting yet another year behind Google's before launch (the only way to catch up is to have a live app with user feedback), and were fine with Google denying users turn-by-turn navigation...

It will never catch up - it's not like Google will suspend working on their mapping service while Apple get their **** together. And it's not like 80 million people, not on an iPhone, will stop submitting their data to Google Maps...

 

[etrinh]

Why can't apple just put the old Google Maps on the app store, exactly how it was for a few months? Work out some deal with google maybe? :/

Does apple even allow user submissions to it's maps?

We're talking about a platform specific app in comparison that's available in multiple ways on Macs, PCs, many varieties of smartphones and tablets - I just can't find a way that it will get better soon.

I believe you would have to ask the iOS engineers. It's a core service that is built into the OS. Not sure if they can even separate it and offer it as a download. Anyone at Apple care to chime in?

 

[Neebee]

They hate Google. Is it hard to understand?

But their personal hatred, if that IS the case should be left in the courts, not at the public's expense.

Apple expects the consumers to build their maps up? I wont be part of it. Look how long it took Google to get where they are with their maps and with feedback from their users (I am one of them).

I just hope Apple get's their head out of their arse and thinks reasonably or their days will be numbered with the iPhone. There are way too many issues right now that most of the public will say, this is Strike 1. Some may argue the crashing of apps with iOS or the tiny screen is Strike 2.

 

[etrinh]

You had other options. [/.quote]

you mean, not preordering and finding out after what has happened ot the app?



None of the services are "required to be given to us"

We have the choice to purchase hte phone, which sucks when you find out after the preorder what the garbage actually is...

They reduced the quality of the service provided as a built in app, they get as much slack as WP7 gets.

I feel entitled to expect the sales pitch of Apple to match with what I get? Are you kidding? Maps is not a gift from the gods. its key sales pitch used for the iphone5

I agree. That is why returns policies are mandated by most countries as consumer protections for new purchases.

----------

REGARDLESS of which mapping solution is better, it is 100% Apple's fault for not allowing us to choose our mapping solution. It's just a matter of time before they start forcing us to search with Yahoo.

Apple & Google fighting is the worst thing that can happen to the iPhone because both companies have so much to bring to the table. But instead of both offering their strengths we are being forced to pick sides.

Unfortunately private enterprises who are competing will do the best they can to make money and have a competitive edge. As long as its within the confines of the legal system than there isn't much you can do as a customer but vote with your pocketbook

 

[Madonepro]

Okay, Gonna state the bleeding obvious here...

There is a Google Maps app, Apple are using it! I'm sure they have had to pay Google for breaching the contract, so why don't they just hand over the app. Or simply put it on the App Store for download?

 

[Neebee]

But it's true apple made a big mistake. I guess they will lose atleast a couple of millions of sale... Maybe even more

Come Black Friday or Xmas time, stupid people like me who just bought the iPhone 5 will be in awe when they see how many carriers will be offering the iPhone 5 for cheap, say $99 like it was last year. And then in the new year, people will be hitting themselves for not holding out and getting an Android phone that will be undeniably better in every way than the iPhone 5.