Apple Turning to Select Retail Store Employees to Help Improve Maps for iOS 6

[iphoneclassic]

You cannot correct one mistake with another mistake. Cook is way over his head. He cannot use his Sales skills for every problem. Similarly Forstall cannot use his O/S design experience to design/develop an end user application. One foot is already in the mouth, no need for second one.

 

[Kukulcan]

Don't know why there's so much hatred. This is a good idea.
Managers will pick staff to do it, so they will pick the best most dependable staff so their suggestions will be helpful and trustworthy. Then apple's maps department can implement these suggestions much quicker than Joe Public's which is less dependable.

Sure and really everybody knows the subway station (or whatever) they use to get to work. Everybody has a hobby (and if it is only collecting shoes) and of course knows the shops to get stuff...etc.

 

[840quadra]

Apple stores have employees of various skill levels (like any company). I am sure there at least 2 technically savvy employees at each store that could acomplish something simple like this, while also greatly improving the accuracy of Apple Maps.

There is also nothing stopping Apple from sending out specially equipped phones to their various store locations, and giving select employees the task of driving around to work on the Apple Map project. The phones could have extra sensitive GPS devices attached, or special software that simply helps input data directly to Apple. Provided the application, and way of sampling data is somewhat intelligently engineered, it could actually improve Apple's map data quite efficiently, and accurately.

TBH, I bet there are a few people in every large metro area that would do such driving around, and answering simple questions (or prompts) in exchange for Apple gift certificates, or iTMS free downloads. .

 

[Zunjine]

Rather than relying on handful of employees, if apple would open maps to general public using some web based method like google maps, it will be far far easier to report errors.
Egoistic company.

Why? Surely the only people who Apple really need reports from are people who are using their maps? Why would someone who doesn't have an iPhone or iPad be interested in reporting errors on a maps app that is only available on those systems?

Openning this up to the web would only increase the chances of bogus reports being sent in by people who don't own an iDevice.

----------

And meanwhile, that staff won't be helping customers coming in to pad Apple's revenues with product purchases. It's already hard enough to get service at a Apple store.

Unless some of you are suggesting that Apple Stores are overstaffed or something ?

Overtime.

 

[Tiger8]

or just accept google maps app once it's submitted

let the customer choose.

 

[Breaking Good]

Based on who I've seen working there, I'm guessing Apple Maps will be the #1 most-accurate source on where to shop for whole foods, second-hand clothing, herbal remedies, iced coffee, and bongs.

All very important items, Xenomorph.

To me, this sounds like it would be an extremely cool job. Driving around the United States (and possibly the world) testing the accuracy of Apple's map program and submitting corrections. You would essentially get paid to sight see.

Probably wouldn't get paid a lot, but you would still be getting paid.

You would probably also be able to finagle most of the top of the line products that Apple produces. Let's see: I'd need a iPhone 5, iPad 3 and an iPad mini when released. I'd also need a MacBook Air 11" when on the road and a MacBook Pro 15" with retina display to work when I finally get to a hotel room (tired eyes). I'd also need an iMac and Time Capsule to work when I eventually get home. Better throw in an Apple TV just to be on the safe side.

Oh yeah, I'll need a iPod Nano to listen to my favorite tunes while I'm driving to wherever I need to check the maps.

 

[crepuscular]

Or you know, they could simply use the following international tool :
http://maps.google.com

An asinine suggestion.

That tool is hardly guaranteed to provide better data.
Old Maps vs. New Maps

Apple iOS 6 vs. Google Android: Smart-phone navigation showdown

 

[AFPoster]

iOS 6 maps is a failure. Steve Jobs would have never allowed such a terrible product to be released.

Steve jobs was behind this before he passed...

 

[liavman]

Answer: Garbage Collection and Waste Management companies

Question: Who should Apple partner with to solve their maps and street view problems?

If there is any one industry that visits every street in America at least once a week, it is the waste management industry. So theoretically, the data can be collected in one week! But given that the mapping equipment needs to be shared, let us give it 4 weeks.

Apple need not get involved in this directly. Just like they invest in plants in China, they can invest in partners to buy the mapping equipment that these partners use for an exclusive use of that data for some years.

Apple, let us put some $50 million or so of that $100 billion to good use.

 

[radiohead14]

It is unknown exactly what procedures will be used to examine the data, whether it simply be side-by-side comparisons with Google Maps data or if more sophisticated efforts such as in-person verification will be used.

or they could just license with google again, since this sounds like they will just be using google maps anyway for this move, which imo, reeks of desperation

 

[KnightWRX]

Granted.

I think, in fact, the lack of mainstream press coverage of this post the initial launch pantomime suggests the maps aren't nearly as bad as people are making out.

Lack of mainstream press coverage ? Of the Maps problem ?

It's been on my morning radio show, a show about local politics, entertainment and general news...

 

[mattwolfmatt]

Seems like a good way to improve things around big cities. But many many parts of the country have no apple store within hundreds of miles.

 

[scottwaugh]

It's a good idea, but why do this when MILLIONS of people are already doing it on their own iOS 6 device?

This may be due to the fact that Apple has been overwhelmed with update / fix requests and Apple is leveraging its large number of store employees (and their locations) to help verify / clarify / approve these fix requests.

Just a thought....cause at this point they shouldn't need additional internal employees giving them additional change / update requests, but they probably don't have enough man power to process the amount of requests they are already getting. Smart move if that's what they are doing.

 

[cvaldes]

Why? Surely the only people who Apple really need reports from are people who are using their maps? Why would someone who doesn't have an iPhone or iPad be interested in reporting errors on a maps app that is only available on those systems?

There are people who use computers, like Macs and PCs. If you click on an address in an Address Book entry on a Mac, it points to Google Maps.

Also, at some point, if a person logs into iCloud on a Windows or Linux PC and clicks on an address in the Address Book section, it should again open a browser page for Apple Maps, not Google Maps.

Moreover, business owners might want a web interface to correct/update imagery, business information (hours of operation, telephone, URL, etc.).

A printable map might come in handy from time to time.

Lots of reasons why a web interface for Apple Maps would be useful if you can see the forest for the trees.

Apparently, you cannot.

 

[NAG]

I look forward to the coming MacRumors story confirming Apple hiring many new software engineers for maps with the forum thread complaining about Apple not having any distributed people to help out with the POI information.

 

[jmcrutch]

There are people who use computers, like Macs and PCs. If you click on an address in an Address Book entry on a Mac, it points to Google Maps.

Also, at some point, if a person logs into iCloud on a Windows or Linux PC and clicks on an address in the Address Book section, it should again open a browser page for Apple Maps, not Google Maps.

Moreover, business owners might want a web interface to correct/update imagery, business information (hours of operation, telephone, URL, etc.).

A printable map might come in handy from time to time.

Lots of reasons why a web interface for Apple Maps would be useful if you can see the forest for the trees.

Apparently, you cannot.

^ This!

 

[AppleInLVX]

I'm wondering how Google got its information so complete. Couldn't Apple "stand on their shoulders" as they have done with other features and hardware made by others in the past? Success leaves clues... why not do whatever has been proven to work rather than gerbil-wheeling around trying to desperately find a quick fix?

 

[EvilEvil]

I hope they phase out Maps like they did with Ping.

 

[entatlrg]

Don't know why there's so much hatred. This is a good idea.
Managers will pick staff to do it, so they will pick the best most dependable staff so their suggestions will be helpful and trustworthy. Then apple's maps department can implement these suggestions much quicker than Joe Public's which is less dependable.

Nah, Apple Store managers need to pick the 'Indiana Jones' types ... and set them out on a quest to locate missing towns and cities. That'll be a start.

Or maybe the delivery trucks bringing stock to Apple stores are using apple maps and store staff is being deployed to flag down the trucks that cant locate the stores.

(You're from Ontario and you don't know why the hatred? Do you use maps often? Apple maps is a joke for this province, I use maps daily and apple maps is literally unusable)

 

[samcraig]

In the US at least - the postal service. After all - since they have huge budget issues - Apple could pay the US Postal Service (at least in the states) to do their dirty work

Answer: Garbage Collection and Waste Management companies

Question: Who should Apple partner with to solve their maps and street view problems?

I

 

[greytmom]

This is just one thing they are doing out of many to improve Maps. I think it's a good idea.

 

[Apple Corps]

What a half ass approach - I am shaking my head in disbelief if this is going on.

Maps is a necessary offering, Apple needed to not be reliant on Google.

Poor QC or launch decision.

Hiring more map engineers - duh, a bit late ya think

Roughly $100,000,000,000 cash on hand

Relying on 40 hours per week of store staff to sort this mess

Forstall needs to go and Tim Cook, well, looking more and more like he is in over his head.

 

[engg2000]

Can someone post an actual Map screw up somewhere in North America? I just want to see one for myself. I haven't come across one yet.
Thanks,
I'm in Edmonton, AB, Canada

 

[tigres]

Why don't they just license Nokia maps- or just buy Nokia.
I hear that the headquarters in up for sale @ a paltry 250mil.

That would give them an ample head start, no?

 

[KnightWRX]

An asinine suggestion.

That tool is hardly guaranteed to provide better data.
Old Maps vs. New Maps

That article has been debunked so many times it's not even funny, not to mention it does say Google maps is superior and more accurate.