Tim Cook Publishes Open Letter on Maps for iOS 6

[Small White Car]

Stop defending him. He knew this would happen. He knew their maps weren't ready. But in order to further piss off google, Apple rushed an inferior product out the door. You can't honestly believe that he looked at apple maps a few weeks ago and considered it ready to ship.

Apple is some how capable of making amazing products right alongside terrible decisions. Tim had the power to delay apple maps another year and he didn't. Luckily for him they still sold a crap ton on phones so the Board probably doesn't care about this blunder.

If I bump into you on the sidewalk you have no opinion on if I say "sorry" or not?

I consider someone who moves on without saying anything to be ruder than the person who apologizes. You really wouldn't care and would consider either outcome to be equal?

 

[Gasu E.]

Isn't that self criticism a bit to harsh? I actually love using Apple maps as it works much faster on my 3GS and the results in Germany are at least up to Google maps...

Perception is everything. On the iPhone, Apple Maps is better than Google Maps 98% of the time. That is what drove Apple to release now. They certainly made an error of judgement, but what they underestimated was that they would get beat over the head with the 2% of the time Apple Maps do actually suck.

Frankly, if this were hardware, sucking 2% of the time would not really be acceptable, and I doubt they would have released it with a known problem of that magnitude. It's not at all uncommon for software to be released with some problems, and that was what drove Apple's judgement. However, what Apple really missed is that this is not a typical software problem, but a "data accuracy" issue, which users are much, much more sensitive to than normal bugs.

 

[frank100]

no body talks about privacy

mmm... interesting, if they are sorry now that means that they had no idea about the quality of what they were launching. It also makes me wonder if they test their products in non ideal conditions: outside San Francisco, other languages, other countries

Even so I was all in for the new maps app. So much praising Google maps but nobody is talking about the great benefit of moving away from an app that wanted so badly to invade our privacy. The places we frequent, the people we meet, the shops we go to... it is the tastiest info for an advertiser... oh well, most people do not care if they get free cookies

It is hard for me to imagine that there will ever be an offline google map because that could reduce the amount of information the user sends to Google. Apple has no interest in exploiting the privacy of its user, therefore at a minimum could have released an app that works not only offline, but can cache your own city maps and avoid downloading them every single day.

 

[krewger]

Dear Tim Cook

You might start thinking about buying good mapping program from one of the dev's in your store. Jobs would have never let that map app out into the wild... You know Tim, Google is off shopping buying up devs from your app store... Taking #1 hits and making them their own.... Just recently my dearly beloved Snapseed was scooped up by Google... You know Tim, you've got an awfully big war chest. Use it to pick up some good devs and quit fussing over patent battles. You'll have no one good left in your sand box at the end if you don't focus on what matters now.

Sincerely a long time mac user and previous employee of the once visionary Apple Computer Inc.

 

[Coffee Minutes]

I wonder if Foxconn shows up on the new iOS 6 Maps.

 

[browneb]

I'm happy with new Maps

As I've commented previously, in another thread about the new Maps, I like the new Maps because it actually has the name of my street correct (and MANY others in my area). I've sent requests to Google several times over the last few years to make the correction, but the incorrect name still exists. The names of streets were changed around here over 7 years ago for the 911 system, so you'd think Google would've figured it out by now. Right?

 

[Kariya]

Personally i don't think Tim should've apologised. All he needed to say was;

"We're working on it

Tim"

The End.

But good on him for doing it.

 

[Qfic]

Are you serious? You're a troll. It's known that there are no public transit or street view.

Ding ding ding! Problem with Maps right there!! Accuracy is one thing, lack of useful features is a huge let down.

 

[Jibbajabba]

or use Google

Lies

 

[gotluck]

Then by all means, keep 5.1.1. You're assuming they just decided to swap out GMaps for their own product on a whim. While they may have had a choice, it wasn't a good one. As has been reported Google wanted concessions from Apple for basic features Android had like tbyt and vector-mapping that Apple didn't want to allow (and I'm glad they didn't).

The point is, there are plenty of options. Apple needed to move away from GMaps in order to have control and update their maps app like they wanted. I don't understand why people are faulting them for doing what is in the best interest of their company.

Guess what.....it's not all about you.

Yeah, its about the customer - who is obviously suffering. Otherwise apple wouldn't have issued this apology. I never insinuated it was all about me, just that apple maps is a downgrade, which again, due to this apology, apple seems to agree

 

[alcides11]

No problems!

I must agree with what others have said, I have zero problems with the maps. I live in the Pittsburgh, PA area and navigation here can be hectic, (I know it is not New York). I have used turn by turn navigation 3 times to locations over a half hour away from me, and have had zero problems.

I think sometimes we as consumers just like to complain.

 

[newyorksole]

this will definitely get over 1000 comments.

 

[bpaluzzi]

Ding ding ding! Problem with Maps right there!! Accuracy is one thing, lack of useful features is a huge let down.

That's asinine.

How's Google's turn by turn?
How's Google's vector maps?

 

[b166er]

So you'd rather they wait until the contract ran out to start using their maps app and gathering data? Yeah, that's a good idea. :rolls eyes:

You're all a bunch of spoiled brats. Like the other guy said, we used to "navigate" around with no maps at all, and somehow we survived.

Yup. Well tell that to the people shelling out several hundred dollars on iPhones that promised the apps program we saw the demo for back in June.

For the record I kept iOS 5 because I knew iOS 6 didn't offer me anything personally. The fact that the CEO of Apple is recommending third party apps would suggest that he is aware of this failure and I doubt they are counting on gathering much data at this point. Even if they did when would we see it? iOS 7?

 

[edvis.ks]

I read that letter twice. Who the hell told Tim to write this?? It is a stupid stupid stupid idea!

First of all apology means nothing. You should just make your product better. Secondly Tim you are the CEO of largest company in the world. You knew that your maps will suck and should told the story in a different way to consumers. If you wanted to be sincere you could just told that it is a beta version, that apple made a decision to move from google maps because ios app was lacking functionality and Google made it clear that it will always be behind android app... You could told that you made a trade off by putting turn by turn navigation instead of public transit and the reasons why you think it is more important. After that you could explain your customers how maps will get better, what you need for it to get better (example users help!) and give a timeline for improving..

And what you did Tim in this letter was a huge mistake. You encourage users to use your competitors products and services. For the first time in last 10 years you said that our product is bad - use google or nokia instead..

This letter does two things. Shows Apple as a company which doesnt believe it could provide better solution. And secondly that maps will suck for long term.

This letter just ruins Apple Brand. And gives nothing. Apology is good - but you should said it prior your product realise or after you fixed something.. it just doesnt make sense to do it in a way to did it.

 

[chrisd1974]

He thought he had a point, but he left it on the bus seat.

My point is that the maps are crap - you brought up the subject of your platonic admiration for Tim Cook.

And the dude that made the bus comments. I don't know where you're from but in London people take the bus. Strange but true.

 

[435713]

Really can't see why so many are making such a big deal about this, get a ****ing life!!!

Those Bus routes and all other local transit is just too much for them to handle without someone holding their hand. Walking directions as well, you know when they walk a few feet from their house, they may get lost.

 

[Fishticks]

Bing ?
Nokia ?

Why isn't he recommending the best Map app out there, that is to say Google Maps on iOS 5 ?!

This letter ducks big time ! Lame excuses, no real solution.

 

[JGIGS]

I've used maps once and it was wrong. Put me on a street below the one I was supposed to be on. That was in the largest city in Toronto. If you can't get the major cities right that's a bad sign.

 

[chrisd1974]

I read that letter twice. Who the hell told Tim to write this?? It is a stupid stupid stupid idea!

First of all apology means nothing. You should just make your product better. Secondly Tim you are the CEO of largest company in the world. You knew that your maps will suck and should told the story in a different way to consumers. If you wanted to be sincere you could just told that it is a beta version, that apple made a decision to move from google maps because ios app was lacking functionality and Google made it clear that it will always be behind android app... You could told that you made a trade off by putting turn by turn navigation instead of public transit and the reasons why you think it is more important. After that you could explain your customers how maps will get better, what you need for it to get better (example users help!) and give a timeline for improving..

And what you did Tim in this letter was a huge mistake. You encourage users to use your competitors products and services. For the first time in last 10 years you said that our product is bad - use google or nokia instead..

This letter does two things. Shows Apple as a company which doesnt believe it could provide better solution. And secondly that maps will suck for long term.

This letter just ruins Apple Brand. And gives nothing. Apology is good - but you should said it prior your product realise or after you fixed something.. it just doesnt make sense to do it in a way to did it.

You've clearly given this a lot of thought.

 

[canadianpj]

Wow. Wasn't expecting so many idiotic replies in this thread. Looks like the human race is in the decline.

I should be, but I am not shocked by the level of civility to be found on comment sections and forums these days. While there are many people on this forum acting like an adult, there are a lot of snot nosed little children filling their diaper repeatedly.

 

[dgree03]

But it is not the best product you COULD of had if Apple would of contracted with Google for their turn by turn and vector maps..

 

[Rogifan]

Steve would have absolutely allowed the product to be released. All Steve would have done perhaps differently is better present the rough edges. Perhaps, call it a beta like Siri. That would have solved a lot of problems just doing that.

I agree with this. Maps would have come out under Steve but the the expectations might have been set lower. We didn't get that from Forstall.

 

[Qfic]

You might start thinking about buying good mapping program from one of the dev's in your store. Jobs would have never let that map app out into the wild... You know Tim, Google is off shopping buying up devs from your app store... Taking #1 hits and making them their own.... Just recently my dearly beloved Snapseed was scooped up by Google... You know Tim, you've got an awfully big war chest. Use it to pick up some good devs and quit fussing over patent battles. You'll have no one good left in your sand box at the end if you don't focus on what matters now.

Sincerely a long time mac user and previous employee of the once visionary Apple Computer Inc.

LOVE Snapseed! Didn't hear about it getting 'snapped' up though

 

[Wardotzu]

Tim Cook is no Steve Jobs

Remember Jobs' letter about flash support on the iPad? Cook could learn a lot from reading that over and over until he gets it.