Has Apples reputation for finest quality suffered with IOS6?

[brucethemoose]

I frankly think Maps is overblown. Sure, the data isn't as comprehensive as Google Maps as well as lack of street map, but everything else about it is superior to iOS 5 counterpart. And if rumors of Google Maps app are true, you can have best of the both world soon enough.

App Store was never that good. It had numerous stability/connectivity issues since its debut on iOS 2. Not prompting for password on update and not kicking you out of App Store when download is initiated are reasons enough for me.

Frankly, despite Maps, YouTube, and WiFi controversies, I think iOS 6 is the most stable iOS x.0 release overall. If anything, Apple played too safe with fewest tentpole features for a major release.

What?

I update to iOS6, and poof, public transit directions are gone. All my university buildings are messed up (I don't consider UT Austin to be some small, insignificant college either... iPhone chips are fabbed here, for gods sake), and I'm late to class. Searching for restaurants is a pain, and many don't show up any more. Small streets are impossible to see while driving.

This isn't some "sensational topic". MobileMe had controversy, but didn't affect me. There was the GPS tracking scandal, battery issues, antennae issues, all of which were overblown. But this isn't a bug, it's a permanent "feature" that screwed up my whole day.

As far as I know, anything done better by iOS 6 maps is already done, or done better, by 3rd party apps (Namely Google Earth, Tom Tom, and others) that have been around for a long time.

The disadvantages aren't "overblown"... they were essential features. Yes, I think Apple should have time to fix it if they want to their own maps... but offer the ALTERNATIVE for those who rely on old features.

To answer the OP, yes, Apple's starting to lose touch with it's customers IMO. Seriously, despite the new dock connector, I was hell bent on the iPhone 5 when I heard it had a custom A15. But after being late to class... I think I'm gonna wait for an OMAP 5 phone.

 

[Rogifan]

People don't like to hear this, or even think about it... but i'll just say it.

Steve Jobs.

I'm out.

Wow that's so original.

 

[JS82712]

Wow that's so original.

Wow, what a constructive comment! Thanks for your amazing investment in time and effort, all for this beautifully insightful sentence.

 

[tennisproha]

I hope so. Maps has absolutely no excuse. Clearly that department should have been micro-managed. And I've had bad QC issues with my 4S.

Its about time apple got some criticism. Like anyone, they ARE NOT perfect. They need to start focusing on the things that matter again.

 

[lulumink]

We all can accept changes. That's not the problem.
But this time, the change is too big for us to take it all in.
It's going to the wrong direction.
The user interface is way too fancy. Apple is well known for its consistency.
But now every app has its own color bar. It's ugly as *******.
We all want changes, but we don't want trashy changes.

 

[flameproof]

Even if the quality has gone down, it's still better than the other mobile OS's out there.

I had to setup a Nokia Lumia 800 with WP7.5 recently and I tell you iOS is not better then WP7.5 . I expected lots of compromises, but there weren't any. Was amazed how smooth everything worked, even more fluid then my iPhone 4.

That was before iOS6.

 

[cyper2002]

I absolutely can't stand the colored status bar! The stupid thing is beyond hideous! It might not be so bad if it wasn't tinted and changed to solid colors. It kinda strains my eyes to look at the signal and battery indicators! Idk what apple was thinking. I want consistency throughout the UI!

 

[JS82712]

I absolutely can't stand the colored status bar! The stupid thing is beyond hideous! It might not be so bad if it wasn't tinted and changed to solid colors. It kinda strains my eyes to look at the signal and battery indicators! Idk what apple was thinking. I want consistency throughout the UI!

Numerous complaints about this was filed to apple during the beta period.

You know what the problem is at apple? It's that arrogant Scott Forstall who still thinks his cute little iOS is the 'most advanced mobile OS'.

 

[Irock619]

Wow, what a constructive comment! Thanks for your amazing investment in time and effort, all for this beautifully insightful sentence.

It's Steve's fault for not preparing Apple for his demise. It's Steve's fault for not developing leaders that Apple needs to continue building great products. And the current "executives" at Apple could care a less because they are sitting pretty regardless with their bank accounts and stock options.

 

[JS82712]

It's Steve's fault for not preparing Apple for his demise. It's Steve's fault for not developing leaders that Apple needs to continue building great products. And the current "executives" at Apple could care a less because they are sitting pretty regardless with their bank accounts and stock options.

The biggest problem is Scott Forstall; that guy doesn't know what he's doing and still thinks he'll be the next steve jobs.

 

[Surf Monkey]

The level of hysteria going on in this thread is amusing but nothing new. Reports of Apple's demise are greatly exaggerated.

Anyone here remember Gil Amelio? Scully? That was the era when Apple really was in trouble. When it really did release inferior products. When it really did have an OS that had rested on its laurels for too long and become bloated.

Every time in the last 7 years or so that there's been a major software or hardware release some percentage of people start running around with their heads in a tizzy chattering about how it's all over for Apple. The only twist this time is the Jobs excuse, and it's a pail one at that. If Jobs' departure really does have a transformative effect on Apple we'll ALL know it.

Until then? It's just déjà vue all over again.

 

[faroZ06]

Apple Maps itself is not part of iOS 6. Just the app that connects to it is. As an example to clarify, if Apple made the Maps app use X Maps (X is some company), and X Maps are terrible, that wouldn't be iOS6's fault. This is just a recommendation for you to change the title to "Apple Maps", not "iOS 6".

The rest of the stuff in iOS 6 is great. I was surprised at how well the panorama worked and how much they improved the look and feel. As someone who expects a lot out of Apple, being surprised by an Apple product's good quality is one big complement from me.

But it is obviously Apple's fault that Apple Maps sucks. I haven't experienced the suckage first hand, but I've heard of it. If it's truly as bad as people make it out to be, I will be super-disappointed in Apple. I think Tim Cook is a good CEO, but this mistake could cause huge negative PR for Apple. If it isn't fixed soon, I'm selling my AAPL for the time being.

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Gee, now you guys know what it's like when Apple makes a mistake as bad as the other ones they made. I'm not talking about overblown BS like the antenna thing and such. I'm talking about real terrible products:

- Ping (Oh man, not this! KILL IT WITH FIRE!)
- iMac G5 (lousy lemon POS which I used to have)
- 2006 Intel iMac (faulty product that never was recalled... ripoff)
- new iPod nano (Wannabe iPod touch that only costs $50 less and can't be a watch anymore... You could buy an old iPod touch for that much, and it would be better.)
- MobileMe (disaster in general with a bad name to go with it)
- 1st gen Apple TV (basically a Mac that can only run iTunes, extremely glitchy)

This is the first big problem that is actually publicized because it is related to iOS.

 

[Surf Monkey]

In agree. It's a good update. I like a lot of the new features, several of which I've wanted for a while and that speed up my workflow. The panorama function is impressive. It stitches with fewer visible errors than the 3rd party pano apps I have. I hope they add the ability to go 360 and include a "diorama" type view.

 

[nutmac]

What?

I update to iOS6, and poof, public transit directions are gone. All my university buildings are messed up (I don't consider UT Austin to be some small, insignificant college either... iPhone chips are fabbed here, for gods sake), and I'm late to class. Searching for restaurants is a pain, and many don't show up any more. Small streets are impossible to see while driving.

Well, I did say everything else but data and street view.

 

[chriscrk]

The biggest problem is Scott Forstall; that guy doesn't know what he's doing and still thinks he'll be the next steve jobs.

Do you know him? I don't think any of us are in a position to determine such a thing. If you're saying he believes he's the next Steve Jobs because of his keynote presentations, that's just silly.

We do, however, know that Steve did like him a lot and believed in him, and I think that says something. Same way he believed in Jony, same way he believed in Tim being his fit successor.

People praise Jobs, yet seem to talk **** about the people who worked with him and did/do great part of the job that it takes to develop the products Apple makes.

 

[Surf Monkey]

No kidding. Y'all think Jobs did everything himself? Nope. Virtually the same team in place today was instrumental in everything you love about Apple's products. Let's not put the cart before the horse. Apple is selling iPhone 5s at a record rate, they have the biggest market cap of any company in history, they're dominating several consumer market segments...

We all miss Steve, but trust me: if the company loses its way because of his departure we'll know it. A somewhat half baked Maps release isn't a harbinger of the apocalypse.

 

[faroZ06]

No kidding. Y'all think Jobs did everything himself? Nope. Virtually the same team in place today was instrumental in everything you love about Apple's products. Let's not put the cart before the horse. Apple is selling iPhone 5s at a record rate, they have the biggest market cap of any company in history, they're dominating several consumer market segments...

We all miss Steve, but trust me: if the company loses its way because of his departure we'll know it. A somewhat half baked Maps release isn't a harbinger of the apocalypse.

I agree. Bigger errors have been made during the Jobs era. I listed them above. The 2006 iMacs and the iMac G5s were definitely not fit for duty and were never recalled, and there were a few failed iPod models. The first Apple TV was also terrible.

It seems like, in most cases, Apple is still maintaining their standard of excellent quality. They are making a few mistakes, but they did in the past. I'm looking at the mode. And Steve Jobs resigned from the position of CEO before his death, and it would make sense that he was not doing much even before he resigned.

However, this is the first big mistake Apple has made that is related to iOS, so it might get a lot of attention if the media jumps on it (or if it's so bad that the consumers just all notice and get upset). I'm ready to sell my AAPL shares if I need to.

 

[davelanger]

I've always considered Apple products to be of the highest standard. The Rolls Royce of computing and gadgets. Mind you that doesn’t mean the fastest, or most feature packed products - but simply something that feels Quality, smooth, refined - a pleasure to use and look at.
Have owned all 3 gens of iPads, 2 gens of iPhones, have Apple tv – my eco system is intact.

But now I'm looking at IOS6 with the App store connection problems, lack of Youtube App - a big part of my use, Maps that are not even in the same stratosphere of what was there before. Blurry imagery, areas obscured by clouds, missing businesses, a search that is next to useless. In total a complete mess that cannot be trusted.

Sure - time can fix things, but I’m not optimistic something like maps can be fixed in days, weeks, months or even single digit years considering the scope of the globe. Is this release acceptable? –No.

At the risk of being accused of playing the world’s smallest violin, this is simply my view out the window – the Apple shine all of a sudden is obscured by a layer of muck. Something doesn’t feel quite right.

Suffice it to say, it’s not as if a new feature has been brought out lacking quality, it is existing features that have been removed or taken a monumental step back that make it all the more of a kicker. This is not consumer friendly, and certainly almost hostile to those that enjoy the finest products – which I assume is a great part of the Apple user base.

What are your thoughts?

IMO steve jobs never would have release maps the state its in. He would be pushed it off until it was near perfect. I think yes, the quality is dropping with out him. He would a stickler for that kind of stuff and it showed in apples products.

Hell just look how apple almost went under when he left back in the day before they begged for him to come back

The best thing about Jobs was, when he released something and it turned out to be crap, he had no problem scrapping it and starting over.

Lets hope with maps, Apple says our bad, call it a beta and give us google maps back

 

[Surf Monkey]

What gives you that impression? Remember the first iOS release? It didn't even have copy and paste. Guess what? Jobs authorized its release. Apple does this all the time.

 

[Kurwenal]

IMO steve jobs never would have release maps the state its in. He would be pushed it off until it was near perfect.

Maybe so. Meanwhile, I'm going to go see if I can use Ping on my AntennaGate iPhone and think about the good old days with Mobile Me.

 

[Stella]

iOS6 is overall a boring update - 5.5 would be a better fit. Apple Maps, a big feature is very broken. Overall there aren't many new things.

There are nice features - for example Facebook integration, do not disturb, full screen browsing, and Siri improvements.

The UI is boring and getting old. Still long winded to turn off / on wifi and blue tooth.

It seems apple are getting complacent.

 

[cyks]

Apple Maps itself is not part of iOS 6. Just the app that connects to it is. As an example to clarify, if Apple made the Maps app use X Maps (X is some company), and X Maps are terrible, that wouldn't be iOS6's fault. This is just a recommendation for you to change the title to "Apple Maps", not "iOS 6".

Except there are a bunch of apps that use Apple's Maps... which are now all as useless as Maps itself. Since the change was forced upon us and we can't do anything to change it, yes, it counts as a part of iOS 6.


...but, if you need more reasons that the thread title should remain, just take a look at the new App Store or Passbook. Every one of the major changes and 'features' of iOS6 were a disaster.

 

[davelanger]

What gives you that impression? Remember the first iOS release? It didn't even have copy and paste. Guess what? Jobs authorized its release. Apple does this all the time.

They did not release it, just like they did not release multitasking until they were happy how it performed on the phone. They did not half ass it and release it just to say they have it like they did with maps

 

[Surf Monkey]

Yeah. You don't like it so Apple is complacent. Please. Ever considered the possibility that they're being overly cautious as they step forward into a post Steve Jobs era? That's just as if not more plausible than your conjecture.

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They did not release it, just like they did not release multitasking until they were happy how it performed on the phone. They did not half ass it and release it just to say they have it like they did with maps

Seriously? I suspect you never used the first iOS release? Copy/paste was only one of a hefty list of bugs and omissions.

 

[davelanger]

Yeah. You don't like it so Apple is complacent. Please. Ever considered the possibility that they're being overly cautious as they step forward into a post Steve Jobs era? That's just as if not more plausible than your conjecture.

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Seriously? I suspect you never used the first iOS release? Copy/paste was only one of a hefty list of bugs and omissions.

I started with the 3G and how can copy and paste be an omission and a bug?