This New Yorker is pretty pissed about iOS 6 maps

[realeric]

Some people still don't understand why Apple started making new maps. WSJ, June 4th, 2012;

In 2008, Apple executives including Mr. Schiller sat down with Google executives, including Vic Gundotra, then a vice president in charge of Google's mobile apps, to renew the agreement over the iPhone's mapping app.

New tensions emerged when Apple grew concerned that Google was aggressively gathering data from the app, according to people familiar with Apple's thinking. Mr. Schiller worried it could compromise users' privacy, these people said.

Google executives felt Apple was unreasonable in insisting on controlling the look of the maps app and enabling only some of its features—like an "a la carte menu" where Google provided only the "back end" technology that powers it, according to a Google executive.

The two sides bickered over a Google Maps feature called Street View, which lets people see an actual photo as if they are standing in the street. Apple wanted to incorporate Street View on the iPhone just as Google already offered it for Android phones. Google initially withheld the feature, frustrating Apple executives, according to people on both sides of the debate.

Apple executives also wanted to include Google's turn-by-turn-navigation service in the iPhone—a feature popular with Android users because it lets people treat their phones as in-car GPS devices. Google wouldn't allow it, according to people on both sides. One of these people said Google viewed Apple's terms as unfair.

Google executives, meantime, also bristled at Apple's refusal to add features that would help Google. For instance, Google wanted to emphasize its brand name more prominently within the maps app. It also wanted Apple to enable its service designed to find friends nearby, dubbed Latitude, which Apple refrained from doing, said people on both sides.

...

In 2009, Mr. Schmidt confided in colleagues his concern over the fraying relationship, one of these people said. Around that same time, Mr. Jobs decided that location services were too important for Apple to rely on a partner that was also becoming a formidable competitor, says a person familiar with the matter.

...

In 2012, Members of the Google Maps team in recent months have told colleagues they worry about Apple replacing their program, given that as many as half the people who access Google Maps own Apple devices, says someone familiar with the matter.

 

[shandyman]

Someone seems very upset that they didn't know what the word compass meant.

Lol you have no substantial argument that you decide to debase my point by claiming I was upset? That's mature.... I presume you'd mixed up compass with GPS as I didn't think you'd choose the compass as your main argument against the web app as it's just an extremely weak reason....

The web app is perfectly suitable for the OPs gripes. You know it as well as I do...

 

[EmpyreanUK]

Don't upgrade to iOS 6.

 

[Johnny Quest]

Lol you have no substantial argument that you decide to debase my point by claiming I was upset? That's mature.... I presume you'd mixed up compass with GPS as I didn't think you'd choose the compass as your main argument against the web app as it's just an extremely weak reason....

The web app is perfectly suitable for the OPs gripes. You know it as well as I do...

Are you serious? Who really wants to use a slow web app over something integrated into the OS?

Again, disadvantages of the web app:

• No automatic launching when tapping addresses elsewhere in the OS, so I'm copying/pasting adresses back and forth
• No streetview
• No access to my contacts' saved addresses/location bookmarks
• No compass
• All around slower, choppier, less usable

 

[DaffyDuck]

Things like this are the reason why Apple doesn't do public betas.

I'm sure someone said this when people complained about Final Cut X when it was beta. We know how that turned out.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Except Facebook took it to a whole new level what does apple offer that google maps doesn't have? The 3d gimmick?

Facebook wasn't even close to what MySpace was for years. So your exception fails.

You truly expect the new maps to become equal or better than google maps overnight?

 

[estrides]

Don't upgrade to iOS6? People that want Rosetta support didnt upgrade to Lion. Just dont upgrade. Are the new features THAT necessary that you can't live without them. If so, your gripe is understood, otherwise....

 

[ericrwalker]

Psst, hey buddy. Open up mobile Safari and type in "maps.google.com"

New Yorkers. Always ignorant.

I was about to write the exact same thing (without the ignorant comment).

They will have the google maps, plus the tomtom ones. Sounds like a bonus to me.

 

[bisonthrow]

The elimination of mass transit and street view is confirmed. Don't tell me to quit crying when I'm legitimately pissed off about Apple taking away crucial features from me.

Anyone who thinks iOS 6's maps app is an acceptable replacement for the old one is caught up in the reality distortion field. Please... flyover view isn't something people are going to use after a week of playing around with it, if that.

Get a droid if you so badly cant live without Google Maps... That is the benefit in living in an open market. Stop crying and think about what matters more to you, Google Maps or having an iPhone. Then make a decision. You dont have to get the new phone, or upgrade to iOS6, in fact you can go get any of the number of droids out there. Open your eyes to choice.

 

[Risco]

Google will be releasing a standlone version of their maps app. So I would not worry at all. I am personally all for native apps, as they intergrate better with the OS.

 

[heliox8614]

Here is an interesting view in why Apple is taking the correct approach in using 3rd party apps for public transit information. Well worth the read, for a different perspective that had never occurred to me.

http://www.cocoanetics.com/2012/06/public-transit-in-ios-6/

"The truth of the matter is that if private companies are in charge of public transit and they have vested interests in pushing their own (or partner’s) apps then they have little to no incentive in providing GTFS data to Google. One might think that easy availability of routing info via Google maps might increase these transit companies’ income, but at least the two big Austrian transit authorities do not seem to agree."

 

[hashholly]

Google will be releasing a standlone version of their maps app. So I would not worry at all. I am personally all for native apps, as they intergrate better with the OS.

Correct, people need to stop freaking out, if they don't like the Apple maps, there will be an alternative.

 

[lordofthereef]

No, it's you that have reading comprehension problems. I stated "you guys" as referring to the entire parking conversation. Nobody asked you to bring Boston into this. BTW ... Ha Ha @ Celtics.

I am not a sports fan, could care less about the Celtics (I assume they are from Boston). Boston was brought up in a discussion between myself an another poster. It was you who asked me about the pricing, hence I repeated myself. And your rebuttal was "who asked you anyway?" Lol... Yes, that spells reading comprehension issues. Anyway, done wasting time discussing parking prices with you. Take care.

 

[gotluck]

How to start Street View on the web app? Please inspire me

I would like to know this too.

 

[Frankied22]

Google will be releasing a standlone version of their maps app. So I would not worry at all. I am personally all for native apps, as they intergrate better with the OS.

Nowhere has this been confirmed.

 

[hashholly]

Nowhere has this been confirmed.

"With discussion around Apple's desire to introduce a mapping system of its own in iOS 6 to unseat Google from its preloaded app selection, Peter fielded lots of inquiries on the matter. He did an admirable job of dodging the obviously asinine bits, but continued to impress upon the crowd that Google itself was "committed" to bringing all of the features in Maps -- 3D, offline, turn-by-turn, etc. -- to iOS and other platforms."

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/06/google-peter-birch-committed-to-bringing-maps-ios-platforms/

 

[stuffradio]

"With discussion around Apple's desire to introduce a mapping system of its own in iOS 6 to unseat Google from its preloaded app selection, Peter fielded lots of inquiries on the matter. He did an admirable job of dodging the obviously asinine bits, but continued to impress upon the crowd that Google itself was "committed" to bringing all of the features in Maps -- 3D, offline, turn-by-turn, etc. -- to iOS and other platforms."

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/06/google-peter-birch-committed-to-bringing-maps-ios-platforms/

Where does it say, "Apple is committed to allow it in the App store."? Apple will just claim duplication of native App functions and reject Google maps.

 

[ericrwalker]

Where does it say, "Apple is committed to allow it in the App store."? Apple will just claim duplication of native App functions and reject Google maps.

It doesn't really need to be in the app store. google has found ways around this before. Just create a shortcut to maps.google.com

 

[hashholly]

Where does it say, "Apple is committed to allow it in the App store."? Apple will just claim duplication of native App functions and reject Google maps.

Well I guess that means we can also expect Apple to get rid of every turn by turn application on the iPhone too?

I don't think Apple will reject Google Maps, however it may take a bit of time to get approved though.

 

[shandyman]

Where does it say, "Apple is committed to allow it in the App store."? Apple will just claim duplication of native App functions and reject Google maps.

I see a flaw to your argument... There are many apps that duplicate native app functions in the app store, such as the many clock apps, calendar apps, browser apps, they would also kick out google earth and the very many sat nav apps, but oh look, they're still there.....

 

[Frankied22]

If it gets submitted expect a long "review" process before it gets released. Just like Google Chrome and Google Drive. And if it does get released expect missing features just like the other Google ios apps.

 

[frozzbite]

Beta beta beta

Please guys, stop allowing Apple to hide behind the Beta banner.

Things like streetview and public transport routing are major components which are most likely not going to be added in the final release. I am pretty certain the finished product of Apple's maps will be slick as ever, but it will lack in abilities and functionality.

But you know whats the worst thing? Theres nothing we can do.

 

[shandyman]

If it gets submitted expect a long "review" process before it gets released. Just like Google Chrome and Google Drive. And if it does get released expect missing features just like the other Google ios apps.

Have those apps actually been submitted? Or is it just speculation or Chinese whispers? Plus I wouldn't blame chrome being held up after google's data mining fiasco..... Lol

Edit: after a quick search, found a couple of articles saying Chrome MAY have been submitted, this was 1 month ago. There's no confirmation it am has definitely been submitted as yet....

https://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/15/google-chrome-browser-coming-to-ios/

 

[shandyman]

Beta beta beta

Please guys, stop allowing Apple to hide behind the Beta banner.

Things like streetview and public transport routing are major components which are most likely not going to be added in the final release. I am pretty certain the finished product of Apple's maps will be slick as ever, but it will lack in abilities and functionality.

But you know whats the worst thing? Theres nothing we can do.

No-one said street view will be added after beta. Chances are they will never have it, as they'd have to pay google for it in some way. If street view was free for all, Bing woulda had it too...

As for transit, google isn't totally reliable everywhere, I have better transit apps for London than google maps transit stuff. This gives the other transit companies, who might have poor apps, the motivation to improve their apps. It's still not clear if maps will pull the transit apps into maps or kick you into the relevant app, as it seems there are 2 camps to this debate.

 

[matttye]

Yeah, all you have to do is add Google Maps to your home screen.

Anyways, perhaps Apple wants us to use a third-party app for public transit directions because that allows us to choose whose directions we follow. So a user can get a map of a place in Maps, then use their favorite app to get public transit directions to that place.

Yeah, 'cause Apple's all about choice.