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Google Has Not Yet Submitted a Google Maps App to Apple [Update]

KnightWRX said:
Not much of a choice sorry. "Either you upgrade and lose Google Maps, or you don't and lose every other new feature of iOS 6, every future security fixes and every app that uses the new APIs not related to mapping".

If all iOS 6 had been was a Map app, you'd have a point. That's not exactly what it is though.

And then what about the "not so savvy" people ? Those who were fed "It just works!" all their Apple using life ? Was it their choice too ?

You let Apple off the hook like that. Defending the indefensible.
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Not to mention, soon new apps and various updates will require iOS 6 to run... so holding out won't be a viable option for too long.
 
SiPat said:
Too much speculation, not enough facts. Leaving aside Apple-fanboyism and Apple Kool-Aid consumers, has anyone else noticed that most of the negative press is coming from those who have an irrational and rabid dislike (nay, hatred) of all Apple products. Apple has shortcomings, and has produced some right lemons in the past, but if it didn't have the guts to present its vision through its products, where would we be today?

So far, we know that Apple & Google failed to extend their license agreement allowing Apple to use Google Maps, especially for turn-by-turn (Google's hands may be tied on this, or Google prefers to keep turn-by-turn for Android).

My own speculations: Negotiations to extend licensing agreements will have started at least two years ago, and Google could have strategised and presented unacceptable terms, forcing Apple to dump the Maps app so that Google could fill the hole. Apple called Google's bluff and by creating (buying) its own maps solution, the whole thing backfired on Google.

Googorola/Nokia may well make fun of Apple now, but they'll only get away with it because most people are ignorant of the same problems appearing in Google Maps, albeit on a smaller scale. It took Google many years to get where it is today but being ancient myself, I can remember all the crappy satellite images in Google maps.

Apple had no choice but to include the Maps app in iOS6 or risk even bigger backlash. All software developers work with their users to improve their applications, and that is all Apple has done. Even if Apple extended the development timeline by an additional two years, the app would still need further development and refining.

iOS users were chomping at the bit for Apple to introduce turn-by-turn, but there was essentially no way for Apple to do this whilst using Google's maps, so Apple had a number of choices:
- buy out an existing navigation app;
- forgo turn-by-turn; or
- develop its own version of Google Maps.

Apple chose the last option. My own wish was for Apple to tie Nokia into a licensing agreement in perpetuity allowing Apple to use Nokia maps at a low fee -- whether that opportunity arose or discussion took place during the licensing negotiations, we'll never know.

Apple's chosen path means that it will become totally independent as far as mapping is concerned. Apple has a history of taking something and improving upon it, and I'm sure it won't want to screw around with its user-base, nor lose the market share it has.

Those waiting for Google to produce its own Maps app for iOS may wait forever:
- Apple's developer T&Cs don't allow for duplicating built-in apps;
- Apple wants to provide its own app otherwise why spend all that money?
- Apple could have dumped Maps & allowed Google to produce an app as has happened with YouTube. As mentioned above, there is a lot of speculation about Google's turn-by-turn function: Google is not going to want to produce an app that doesn't include turn-by-turn, whether by choice or limitations from licensing agreements it has entered into (contrary to popular belief, Google does not own all the tech that goes into producing mapping solutions) as the lack of turn-by-turn will have a negative impact on Google.

To me, this isn't a "suck it up" gesture from Apple -- I think Apple is trying to develop a solution which benefits both Apple and its users. Two or three years down the road, most people won't even remember all the hot air that's being generated right now.
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So you are saying that because Google had issues from over 10 years ago Apple should be forgiven for having the same problems 10 year later?

Sorry but you compare it to other things at around the same time. At the time Google was only slightly worse than the alternatives but still in the ball park.
Top it off 10 years ago the data sources for said data was not as good so Google would not of even had access to the higher quality images. satellite imaging of the earth was a newer thing.

Apple problem is they are a decade behind in terms of quality. If they were a year or 2 behind it would be one thing but they are a decade behind. They are so far behind they will NEVER catch up.
 
I live in Georgia, US and the maps are great for the Atlanta area also in the Tri-state area, New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania where most of my family live.
 
BvizioN said:
Interesting! I live in Manchester/UK and using the third gen iPad. So far Apple maps is crisp and lot more up to date then google maps on my iPhone!!
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I barely believe you to be honest. "Crewe" is labelled as "Wrexham Crewe"; is this just me or is it the same for everyone? Bizarre mistake if so.
 
yuenadan said:
All I can say is hurry up! I haven't upgraded my iPhone OS yet because I'm waiting for a Google Maps app. I'm a Canadian living in Taipei, and I use transit to get everywhere. Google maps is imperative as it lets me enter street names in Pinyin, and it helps me navigate Taipei's very good but very complex bus system. I'd literally get lost without Google Maps and it was one of the big reasons I bought an iPhone in the first place.

Google, don't hate me because I didn't buy an Android phone! I've been an Apple guy since the days of Lycos search. I don't care if you have to load it with ads or whatever you have to do, just please bring Google Maps to iOS 6 so I can upgrade.
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I know your feeling. I can certainly tell you Apple Maps was one of the main reasons why I upgraded because I live in Texas. Everything works fine so far, just some minor improvements and a few major improvements are needed.

However, if you live in Taipei, where I used to live, they really have a good MRT and bus system, but you will really get lost if you don't have a map, especially for the bus because all the maps, at least in my memory, are in Chinese. MRT map is pretty good imo. Anyway, hopefully there will be a google maps for you or Apple Maps is going to improve... I don't think they will do that in Taipei anytime soon though... All I want is flyover Taipei 101 :p
 
Macist said:
Oh hell. So iOS6 users could be without mapping for months?

What a joke Apple is becoming. Still, I hope this blows up in their face bigtime. They need a 'shock to the system' to get back to basics - like freakin' Macs for example.
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iOS devices are what has made them the most valuable company in the world and are now the loverwhelming majority of their revenue. Macs are now, for better or worse, a side business.
 
Today I had to go to my pc to get a google street view snapshot and email it back to myself to pick it up on iPad for further usage. The day to day usefulness of my ios6 updated iPad has deteriorated dramatically.
 
I wonder about people who say they use google maps for transit in their home city daily...at some point you should remember your route and which bus or train to get on right?
 
Duncan-UK said:
But if you read the biog its clear that in Jobs world everything that he disliked was "insanely wrong" until it wasnt - then he'd champion it as if it was his idea all along.

This would mainly be restricted to internal Apple debates.

Jobs was a deeply dysfunctional person - there were many benefits to this from a business perspective but his childishness, petulance and stubborn nature were not positive attributes from the perspective of being a functional human being. Of course he paid for this in the end re not getting prompt treatment for his cancer, preferring some "hippy ****" alternative therapy. Harsh but true!
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What the hell are you talking about "that in the Jobs world everything that he disliked was insanely wrong until it wasn't" <--- can you clarify? Again an example would be nice.

I don't see what his behavior within the company has to do with anything, you can be a douchebag of a child without contradicting yourself.
 
Why would Google bother releasing their map app for iOS anyway?

Apple screwed them over by removing it from iOS.

If I was Google, I'd make it an Android exclusive and tell Apple to have fun playing catch-up over the next two years while Google Maps gets better and better.

Apple really screwed up on this one. I mean REALLY screwed up.

This is Google's chance to pounce on Apple's eroding reputation.

TONS of people use Google Maps to navigate. To say it's a non-issue is utter stupidity - it will absolutely affect people's purchasing decisions - especially people who's iPhone 4 contracts are expiring right now and next year at this time when their 4S contracts are expiring...

Apple Maps is the laughing stock of the tech world right now.
 
I live in Indianapolis, IN, USA. I've been using iOS6 maps since beta 1 and I've travelled to Chicago and parts of Ohio several times over the last few months. I've used Apple's Maps a ton during this time and I can't seem to find the issues people have been complaining about. There are the occasional 3D rendering issue but who cares? It's still far more beautiful than anything Google has put out. And Nav has worked great. Maybe it's worse in other areas. But I'm sure apple is working on improving it. In the mean time, bookmark the mobile google maps if you don't like it. Or download one of the 100 other nav apps from the Apps store.

All this "I'm not buying/upgrading until maps is fixed" seems pretty lame.

The other funny thing is that non-technical people seem to love the new maps. I can't tell you how many friends/family/co-workers have told me that their favorite new feature after upgrade IS the new maps app. Most normal, non-tech, people were used to the old maps that didn't have 3D, and didn't have fly-behind turn by turn, w/ voice. So they think its awesome.

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Netherscourge said:
Why would Google bother releasing their map app for iOS anyway?

Apple screwed them over by removing it from iOS.

If I was Google, I'd make it an Android exclusive and tell Apple to have fun playing catch-up over the next two years while Google Maps gets better and better.

Apple really screwed up on this one. I mean REALLY screwed up.

This is Google's chance to pounce on Apple's eroding reputation.
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Reminder: Google is an advertising company. Why do you think they give away their OS for free? Their top priority is to data mine as many people as humanly possible.
 
blizaine said:
The other funny thing is that non-technical people seem to love the new maps. I can't tell you how many friends/family/co-workers have told me that their favorite new feature after upgrade IS the new maps app. Most normal, non-tech, people were used to the old maps that didn't have 3D, and didn't have fly-behind turn by turn, w/ voice. So they think its awesome.
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Probably also the same people who asks the technical folks for directions when they really need to find a place.
 
blizaine said:
I live in Indianapolis, IN, USA. I've been using iOS6 maps since beta 1 and I've travelled to Chicago and parts of Ohio several times over the last few months. I've used Apple's Maps a ton during this time and I can't seem to find the issues people have been complaining about. There are the occasional 3D rendering issue but who cares? It's still far more beautiful than anything Google has put out. And Nav has worked great. Maybe it's worse in other areas. But I'm sure apple is working on improving it. In the mean time, bookmark the mobile google maps if you don't like it. Or download one of the 100 other nav apps from the Apps store.

All this "I'm not buying/upgrading until maps is fixed" seems pretty lame.

The other funny thing is that non-technical people seem to love the new maps. I can't tell you how many friends/family/co-workers have told me that their favorite new feature after upgrade IS the new maps app. Most normal, non-tech, people were used to the old maps that didn't have 3D, and didn't have fly-behind turn by turn, w/ voice. So they think its awesome.
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You are in the minority.

It is a HUGE issue when a home-grown, built-in Maps app for a mobile device fails to do what the previous built-in map app did MUCH BETTER.

AND which is now only available as a Safari Bookmark and no longer lets you do the "system-selling" stuff like Ask Siri to tell you how to get to _____ place without sending you off a freaking cliff.

And the Flyover feature is completely useless. Most people are driving around at street-level, not hovering in a helicopter. There is no street-level accuracy or options available with this cruddy Apple Maps.

Apple screwed the pooch on this one.
 
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blizaine said:
I live in Indianapolis, IN, USA. I've been using iOS6 maps since beta 1 and I've travelled to Chicago and parts of Ohio several times over the last few months. I've used Apple's Maps a ton during this time and I can't seem to find the issues people have been complaining about.
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Now imagine doing it with the mapping data all screwed up.

That's the experience for a lot of us in other parts of the world. Do you think we are all making it up?
 
blizaine said:
I live in Indianapolis, IN, USA. I've been using iOS6 maps since beta 1 and I've travelled to Chicago and parts of Ohio several times over the last few months. I've used Apple's Maps a ton during this time and I can't seem to find the issues people have been complaining about. There are the occasional 3D rendering issue but who cares? It's still far more beautiful than anything Google has put out. And Nav has worked great. Maybe it's worse in other areas. But I'm sure apple is working on improving it. In the mean time, bookmark the mobile google maps if you don't like it. Or download one of the 100 other nav apps from the Apps store.

All this "I'm not buying/upgrading until maps is fixed" seems pretty lame.

The other funny thing is that non-technical people seem to love the new maps. I can't tell you how many friends/family/co-workers have told me that their favorite new feature after upgrade IS the new maps app. Most normal, non-tech, people were used to the old maps that didn't have 3D, and didn't have fly-behind turn by turn, w/ voice. So they think its awesome.

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Reminder: Google is an advertising company. Why do you think they give away their OS for free? Their top priority is to data mine as many people as humanly possible.
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Wouldn't it be easier to "Data-mine" people via the Safari Browser version than the app version?

Apple probably wouldn't approve the App version if it included the Google analytics stuff in it anyway.

Google may be better off just letting Apple fanboys cry to Apple while they watch sales of the SIII and newer Android phones take off.

Besides, Apple fanboys are still using Google Maps via Safari and the Google Search Engine on their iOS devices anyway.

And now, they can even use the Chrome App and the Youtube App as standalone on iOS, while still providing mure fluent and faster versions of those services on Android devices.
 
I personally don't have any issues with Apples Map app. However, all you really need to do if you want to use Googles maps is open Safari and go to Google maps. Then bookmark it to your home screen. Just as good as an app.
 
Serelus said:
What the hell are you talking about "that in the Jobs world everything that he disliked was insanely wrong until it wasn't" <--- can you clarify? Again an example would be nice.

I don't see what his behavior within the company has to do with anything, you can be a douchebag of a child without contradicting yourself.
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Well didnt he initially deny that Lisa was his daughter?
 
If I were google I wouldn't do an app. let the fanboys decide between a phone that is of value to customers vs. one that's just "cool".
 
tibi08 said:
I'm surprised Google haven't moved quicker on this, if they wait too long then they will lose momentum from the iOS 6 launch. People might actually.... and I have some difficulty saying this.... get used to Apple Maps!
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Google wants to wait until apple gets enough bad press. Can you not hear them laughing t apple?

But we all know that apple will be the last standing laughing out loud when their map app outranks the rest of them. Google knows this as well, so they are in no hurry.
 
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