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Insiders Detail Steve Jobs' Role in Apple's Mapping Effort, Desire to Replace Google as iOS Search Engine

nagromme said:
Nobody has yet explained to me why Apple should have (or even could have) made a different choice among these three:

http://daringfireball.net/2012/09/get_the_fainting_chair

Nor has anyone explained why we tolerated map errors from Google for years, and only suddenly do such errors matter SO MUCH MORE, even if they’re not truly more common than before.
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Apple replaced an app that has the most accurate data available, with an app that isn't even close to being as accurate and full featured. Apple had the option of negotiating with Google for Turn by Turn and other feature but they thought the price was too high.

We tolerated inaccuracies from Google YEARS ago because it was STILL the MOST COMPLETE mapping solution available and it happened to be on the most popular mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Touch)
 
It's also easy to make Steve the fall guy AND the guy for praise for the next few years by saying he was involved in the decision. It makes stockholders happy to know that there was, indeed, a plan vs the "new" Apple being without direction.
 
William Gates said:
So non-vector maps and no turn by turn is superior?
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Exactly, yeah Apple Maps lacks in some areas, but the Vector Maps is awesome.

Everyone complaining about Apple Maps, look up the area you are in or going to and then disable data/wifi on your phone. Now zoom in and out, Apple Maps works, Google Maps does not and needs to connect to the Internet to download data. I don't have time to waste for basic zooming, and that is why I like Apple Maps. That was my biggest gripe with Google Maps. As time goes on Apple Maps will get better, and suits most my needs now.
 
PBG4 Dude said:
Agree. Seems like 2-3 years ago, Google switched from the most relevant information on top to the most relevant shopping results (I'm not talking about the paid search results, those have always been there.).
Click to expand...

Google was so much better at one time. Now Google, Bing and Yahoo are largely interchangeable in terms of search.

Google circa 2003 was amazing.
 
I wonder what's going to be next, a seance to find out what Steve Jobs did or would like to do about a particular piece of software or hardware. :rolleyes: I'm surprised, one year later about how many things he seems to be directing or influencing from the grave.

At some point this would have to stop, but perhaps the next thing would be rumors about Steve Jobs being alive and having been seen in Las Vegas. Let the man rest in peace. Apple is being run by Tim Cook, and although I can understand that some software and hardware pieces might have been influenced by Steve Jobs before his death, this influence has to gradually give way to market realities and day to day competition in the marketplace. Worst thing that could happen to Apple is getting paralyzed by trying to think what Steve Jobs would have done. I don't think Steve Jobs would have liked this either.
 
nagromme said:
Nor has anyone explained why we tolerated map errors from Google for years, and only suddenly do such errors matter SO MUCH MORE, even if they’re not truly more common than before.
Click to expand...

Because Apple is Apple. They are the biggest company in tech right now so everything they did/do wrong will be taken out of proportion. I think we all got used to it after the Antennagate. If you believed the hype, you'd swear that the phone couldn't make any calls if you hold it a certain way, yet it became the #1 best selling smartphone. Same with maps. I have had Google maps show me so many wrong roads/traffic directions/businesses over the years, I never even thought about complaining, because overall, the maps worked wonders and were so much better than using an actual printed map. Did I get lost couple of times while using Gmaps? Yes. Did it matter? No.
 
mr.steevo said:
Two days ago my wife's iPhone randomly switched search engines from Google to Yahoo! search.

Steve? Is that you?
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Lol.

But on a serious note, if you visit yahoo on a mobile it always prompts you to change default search engine, I did by mistake click 'Yes' and it changed.
 
nagromme said:
Nor has anyone explained why we tolerated map errors from Google for years, and only suddenly do such errors matter SO MUCH MORE, even if they’re not truly more common than before.
Click to expand...

It is not about errors but the fact that Apple errors are huge and so far behind Google. People like you are trying to compare the Apple maps of today to Google maps of 7-8 years ago in terms of errors.

Sorry does not work that way. You have to compare it to today which shows have far behind it really is. Google has error no one says other wise but the amount of errors and massive lack of data on Apple part is the issue.
 
I don't care who designed it. Apple Maps sucks. It does not work as advertised and demoed.

If Waze works better than Apple Maps, I'd say Apple Maps got a few things wrong.
 
rorschach said:
Ditching Google Maps WAS the right decision. It makes no sense to rely on a competitor for a core feature of the phone, which maps are.

The problem was that the replacement was released too early, before it was ready. Of course there would always be some issues no matter when it was released. But they could have released Apple Maps as a downloadable app for a year to get lots of real-world feedback, then for iOS 7 just said "...and now in iOS 7, Apple Maps is built right into the OS."
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The problem with that approach is that nobody would have used Apple Maps, except maybe for users who don't have any problems with it. Which wouldn't really help Apple get better maps.
 
Last edited:
I'm so glad this report has surfaced. Corporate bickering was Steve Job's number one past time. He hated Adobe, Google, and Microsoft and fought with them at all time. His petty arguments with these companies prevented the iPhone from being all that it could be, and is still doing so as evidenced by Apple maps.
 
jamesnajera said:
Exactly, yeah Apple Maps lacks in some areas, but the Vector Maps is awesome.

Everyone complaining about Apple Maps, look up the area you are in or going to and then disable data/wifi on your phone. Now zoom in and out, Apple Maps works, Google Maps does not and needs to connect to the Internet to download data. I don't have time to waste for basic zooming, and that is why I like Apple Maps. That was my biggest gripe with Google Maps. As time goes on Apple Maps will get better, and suits most my needs now.
Click to expand...

And what makes you think that Google is not already working on vector maps. By the time it takes Apple to make their maps even close to the level of accuracy of Google maps, Google could be delivering vector maps. Even if they started the conversion now, they would still beat Apple to the finishing line.
 
This is basically Cook/Forstall PR spin to get some traction using Jobs name.

There is nothing wrong to have a team to work on Maps.

It is completely wrong to shove it on customers face when it is not ready for primetime.

Jobs carefully choose his battles, Cook is fighting with everybody as if there is no tomorrow.
 
Technarchy said:
Google was so much better at one time. Now Google, Bing and Yahoo are largely interchangeable in terms of search.

Google circa 2003 was amazing.
Click to expand...
I always find everything I search with Google, usually even faster than a couple years ago.
Bing and Yahoo work well when I search for major websites or for shopping, but not much else. Bing has a nicer looking interface, Bing Maps also have nicer imagery for the countries they cover, but appart from that, Bing Search usually fails at finding anything except for the above.
 
msprygada said:
And what makes you think that Google is not already working on vector maps. By the time it takes Apple to make their maps even close to the level of accuracy of Google maps, Google could be delivering vector maps. Even if they started the conversion now, they would still beat Apple to the finishing line.
Click to expand...

Google Maps (outside IOS) is already vector based.
 
msprygada said:
And what makes you think that Google is not already working on vector maps. By the time it takes Apple to make their maps even close to the level of accuracy of Google maps, Google could be delivering vector maps. Even if they started the conversion now, they would still beat Apple to the finishing line.
Click to expand...

Google has vector maps, they didn't make them available to iOS. Android has had vector maps for at least 2 years.
 
spatlese44 said:
I've been saying for a while now that all Macbooks in the future will be iPads.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't mind that if iOS actually did something useful in the Enterprise market.

Think detachable keyboard...
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Think Microsoft Surface. :) Seriously. I hope MS puts some pressure on Apple.

...and Airplay to AppleTVs around the house/office. Ecosystem complete.
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You had me up until the word "office". Facebook, Twitter and Angry Birds not allowed where I work. :D

bretm said:
You have some Mac rumors for us? Please tell.
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They will go on sale Nov 14 at all Mickey-D's across the land. (Fries full price though.)
 
nagromme said:
Nobody has yet explained to me why Apple should have (or even could have) made a different choice among these three:

http://daringfireball.net/2012/09/get_the_fainting_chair

Nor has anyone explained why we tolerated map errors from Google for years, and only suddenly do such errors matter SO MUCH MORE, even if they’re not truly more common than before.
Click to expand...

So you can't choose option 1 because not having turn by turn and vector tiles is a feature disadvantage compared to other OSs, but having maps that direct you to the wrong city isn't a disadvantage? Very objective opinion.
 
b166er said:
I don't care who designed it. Apple Maps sucks. It does not work as advertised and demoed.

If Waze works better than Apple Maps, I'd say Apple Maps got a few things wrong.
Click to expand...

For you it doesn't, but for me it works well. I don't rely on maps in general, but when I do, it works fine. Houston, TX.
 
sza said:
Steve is not always correct.
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Personally, even with its criticism, I think this was the right decision. Apple needed to get away from Google. If my main competitor told me to go shove it when I wanted a feature their phones have had for years (turn by turn), I would walk away too. There are transitional pains in Apple's map (mostly for non-US users), but the pains will lesson and Apple's mapping solution will be at or near the top once they are able to catch up.

This is clearly a long-term decision, one that had to happen. I am in full support of Apple's long term goal.
 
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