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Keep in mind, you and I are tech nerds who visit an Apple Rumors blog (among other similar website) and are NOT in the majority of Apple consumers. With the tens of millions of units they sell every quarter, there's no way it can be that way.
The average consumer probably doesn't know of the Map "problems", or maybe briefly skimmed a headline in the news.

I think that the average user will try maps, immediately realise that it's unreliable and either try a few more times, or just not use it again. People will not use it if it doesn't come across as reliable.
 
I feel like the problems with Maps are being blown way out of proportion.

Depends where you live I guess. Quoted from a Slashdot Story:

In an effort to figure out how innacurate the data in my area is I did the following:
- Fired up Xcode
- Determined that Apple Maps uses the CLGeocoder Class by peeking at the iPhone's debug console in Xcode while doing live searches in Apple Maps
- Scraped an official list of towns and cities in the province of Ontario from the provincial governments website.
- Coded up something quick in Xcode to get the results of a couple thousand searches. Searches always included the province name to be more specific.
- Ran a quick analysis of the results - not perfect but enough to get a perspective on the matter.

This is what I found:
- 2028 cities and towns searched
- 688 are not even on the map! Error Code 8
- 551 are clearly incorrect (wrong country, street names that are similar to town names etc.)
- 389 were close but not good enough (for example turn-by-turn might send you off a bridge but you'll get rescued close to where you want to be)
- Only about 400 results were actually correct.

Actual results data here and methodology here for those interested: http://www.mtonic.com/applemaps/
 
Way too soft to lead men like Scott, Phil and Jonathan. With world's most valuable company and 100 billion cash, Apple's biggest threat is disruption from within. Cook's softness will make employees miss Jobs's tough, physical presence. Compare his response to Phil's on aluminum, it is clear they have completely different styles and a battle between Tim and Phil will cause massive damage to Apple.

Steve was a tyrant and was the only one who could have kept the fabulous four together in unity. Cook suggesting competitor product is a very bad decision, Toyota CEO was in tears when he stood up to the podium, but even he did not recommend his customers to buy Honda cars!

Oh please. Quit with the drama. It's the right thing to do. And it's not a fair comparison. Cook didn't recommend people purchase a competitors phone! And personally I'm glad Cook isn't a tyrant like Steve was. You don't have to be an ****** for people to respect you.
 
The apology letter is almost as silly as Apple thinking they can farm out mapping data and easily assemble collections into something that works and competes. It's not that easy. Geospatial data comes from so many different sources and scales of collection and has crazy variability in accuracy and precision. And getting current mapping data is anything but cheap. I think in order for maps to work, Apple needs to become a data service company, not just a connector to 3rd party data services. Clearly they know what google is doing and has done with Google Maps? And I don't think Apple is prepared to be a data service company in that way??
 
I would chose Navigon above Tomtom if I were you. And these are a good choice for turn by turn navigation.

But you won't have any real 2D map app, because this is the core of what will be lacking on iOS:
  • there are plenty of great 3rd party turn by turn nav apps, greater that apple maps, and such an apple app was not necessary
  • there is no more a decent 2D map app with a great search engine for points of interest, satellite view, public transportation, pedestrian routes: on iOS you don't and wont have such an app for years anymore it seems

Give us back Google Maps app. NOW.

You joined the site on Septemebr 20th and your post history shows nothing but Apple bashing and repeatedly saying "Give us back Google Maps app. NOW" the last few posts.
It might be time for you to get your android phone, then come back with a list of issues you run into. Or you can let me know how perfect it is. :rolleyes:
 
Tim is just responding to criticism. I'm sure nobody at Apple thought the backlash would be like this or they never would have released it. Apple hasn't changed THAT much without Steve.

Tim is not responding to criticism. He's himself criticising. He's acknoledging criticism is deserved
we fell short on this commitment
.
This is what apologies means.

I don't care if Apple has changed or not. What I care for is that my iOS devices have changed for worse.
 
Occasionally you get big product recalls in any industry.

CEOs apologise. But they tend not to suggest you use competitors' products while they get their **** together.
 
Talk is cheap, no one cares how sorry you are, we want a functioning product that works. If your going to block the best (imo) maps product in Google maps native app, then put out a product of equal or greater quality.
 
The apology letter is almost as silly as Apple thinking they can farm out mapping data and easily assemble collections into something that works and competes. It's not that easy. Geospatial data comes from so many different sources and scales of collection and has crazy variability in accuracy and precision. And getting current mapping data is anything but cheap. I think in order for maps to work, Apple needs to become a data service company, not just a connector to 3rd party data services. Clearly they know what google is doing and has done with Google Maps? And I don't think Apple is prepared to be a data service company in that way??



Because clearly they're a struggling company financially.
 
Maps would get better they would start approving corrections.

I've submitted a few and have yet to see them pop up.

How long do you think it takes to make corrections? iOS6 has barely been out a week... :rolleyes:

Nothing is gained by this letter other than official record of Apple putting out a failed product. Stock is going to take a big hit as a result. Tim should have stayed quiet and let their engineers work to fix it.

What happened to Apple Maps team allegedly being under lock down to fix this? Clearly they are saying it can't be fixed and to use a competitor. This is not a good thing.

Sometimes acknowledging the faults of your product is more important than stock prices. Stock price will fly right back up as rumors of iPad mini roll in. I applaud Cook for his honesty and willingness to provide alternatives to those who are up in arms. He isn't saying it can't be fixed; he is saying if you don't want to help improve the map data, there are other alternatives.
 
Did everybody read the article in the NY Times where David Pogue says:

"In short, Maps is an appalling first release. It may be the most embarrassing, least usable piece of software Apple has ever unleashed."

The criticism of Apple's Maps has become so deafening that Tim Cook had to issue an apology!

Maps is a disaster for Apple.

If Maps belonged to anybody else, it would've been kicked out of the App Store by now.
And that quote is another example of severe hyperbole. Maps works pretty well for many users in the US (other countries have more legitimate reasons to be unhappy), myself included. Calling Maps a "disaster" or "appalling, embarassing, least usable," is patently absurd.

I postulate this as someone who doesn't even like Apple all that much, but these claims are obnoxiously audacious and tiring.
 
I don't get the issue. If that's all you need, use google maps website. Works fine.
Except that it's slow, the refresh rate of the GPS in Safari can't keep up with normal walking speed, the map doesn't work with the built-in compass, etc...
 
http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/28/editorial-apple-apologies-actually-arent-that-infrequent-and/
Editorial: Apple apologies actually aren't that infrequent, and that's okay
We live in a world where it's now a surprise to hear of a company listening to its users, issuing an apology and vowing to make it better. There is something fundamentally wrong with that premise. Indeed, those very acts should be celebrated by all in the industry, even those who wish ill on Apple. What's the alternative? Wishing that monoliths like Apple would just bury their heads in the sand while doing nothing to improve the state of their products? If anything, I can only hope that the Maps apology ignites an industry-wide trend where even more apologies are issued
This is just a little quote from this article. One article I agree with 100%. It takes a real person to remove your head from the sand, admit what you made does not cut the mustard and promise to make it better. Very few companies do this currently. I do wish a lot more did though.
 
How hard would it be for them to put out an ios6 fix to reinstate Google Maps side by side with Apple Maps (even though it lacks turn-by-turn) and remove it down the road? That would certainly stop the discussions around the globe and then incrementally provide Apple maps releases.
 
I think that the average user will try maps, immediately realise that it's unreliable and either try a few more times, or just not use it again. People will not use it if it doesn't come across as reliable.

Which avg. user? It depends where this user is located. I ams sure the probability that you run into problems with Apple maps in downtown San Francisco is practically nil.
 
I've used street view when looking for a new apartment. Or when I'm going to an unfamiliar place. It's been useful, but I don't consider it a must have killer feature. Turn-by-turn in the default map app is much more important to me.

Agreed. I'd trade turn-for-turn for the lost features any day.
 
Jobs would have never let that map app out into the wild...
[...]
Sincerely a long time mac user and previous employee of the once visionary Apple Computer Inc.

ah, another "Steve Job would never!" numb-nutter. unless you actually do know what he would have done because you were close personal friends?

because jobs released plenty of crummy or half-baked items: the hockey puck mouse, MobileMe Final Cut Pro X, Ping, etc...
 
Keep in mind, you and I are tech nerds who visit an Apple Rumors blog (among other similar website) and are NOT in the majority of Apple consumers. With the tens of millions of units they sell every quarter, there's no way it can be that way.
The average consumer probably doesn't know of the Map "problems", or maybe briefly skimmed a headline in the news.

Ok - let me rephrase. I wonder how many people searched and got wrong information. ;)
 
You joined the site on Septemebr 20th and your post history shows nothing but Apple bashing and repeatedly saying "Give us back Google Maps app. NOW" the last few posts.
It might be time for you to get your android phone, then come back with a list of issues you run into. Or you can let me know how perfect it is. :rolleyes:

Your post history shows nothing but fancying Apple shortcomings when the slightest touch of criticism is raised. It seems the way you spell poor is g r e a t.

I don't intend to get an Android phone (unless you buy me one) because I already own 3 iPhones and I want them to work as properly as they're supposed to and as they used to.

Give us back Google Maps app. NOW
 
Apple's history has been littered with mistakes, bad marketing calls, wasted investment and poor products....

An under developed Map app is pretty minor in comparison.
We must be talking about different companies. There might have been negative instances that happened with Apple but they are extremely small and sparse in comparison to their successes. As far as I know, they have a much better record than most companies.
 
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