Australian police: flawed Google Maps putting people’s lives at risk, too

By Christian Zibreg on Dec 12, 2012

Look, digital maps are imperfect – some more than the others. Australian police earlier in the week issued a public safety warning over a major flaw in Apple Maps which incorrectly put the town of Mildura in the middle of Australia’s Murray Sunset National Park.

It wasn’t Apple’s fault entirely as the company was working on data from The Australian Gazetteer, a company run by the Geosciences Australia agency which supplies Gazetteer with mapping data sourced from the state of Victoria itself.

And now, we learn that the police in Colac, west of Melbourne, warn of safety concerns from Google Maps. Ouch! Read More

 

Samsung dissing Apple’s Maps in Sidney

By Christian Zibreg on Dec 12, 2012

You can’t blame Samsung’s marketing team for pouncing on Apple’s every misstep. Remember the Apple Maps snafu in Australia that led to the police issuing a public warning advising against using the mapping product because it incorrectly placed the town of Mildura in the middle of Australia’s Murray Sunset National Park? Seen at the top is a new display banner found on Sydney’s George Street.

A mud-soaked SUV and a sign that reads “Oops, should have got a Samsung Galaxy S III. Get navigation you can trust” really needs no description. The wrong data Samsung’s ad is referring to was supplied by the Australian government, iDB reported yesterday, and was incorrectly rendered in other mapping products… Read More

 

Analyst: Apple could buy out TomTom to fix Maps

By Christian Zibreg on Dec 12, 2012

Apple’s boss Tim Cook in a recent shakeup at the company’s top added Maps and Siri to the already vast range of responsibilities of SVP Eddy Cue. Apple’s ‘Mr. Fixer’, as he’s been called because of his expertise in Internet software and services, also a member of the Ferrari board, could be looking to make a takeover bid for TomTom, a Dutch vendor of automotive navigation hardware and software and Europe’s leading maker of navigation systems.

TomTom is a major data provider for Apple Maps and bringing the company’s expertise and data sets under Apple’s roof could help accelerate the pluming work needed to fix Apple’s service. Rabobank analyst Hans Slob wrote in a research report today that there’s a 30 percent chance that Apple will seek to acquire TomTom “because the Dutch software maker has the capacity to make speedy changes to correct any mapping errors or create new functions”… Read More

 

Find My iPhone, now with driving directions to lost devices

By Christian Zibreg on Dec 11, 2012

A small but noteworthy update to Apple’s Find My iPhone software has just surfaced on iTunes. The iPhone and iPad app which lets you locate stolen or misplaced devices on a world map has gained ability to provide driving directions to your lost gear. This capability requires the new Find My iPhone app version 2.0.1 or later and iOS 6 or later. Apple has also enabled another tweak where Play Sound, Lost Mode and Erase buttons appear separately from the main map view. Unfortunately, the repugnant stitched leather theme is still all over the app… Read More

 

Australia Maps snafu was the government’s fault

By Christian Zibreg on Dec 11, 2012

When the town of Mildura was showing up inside iOS Maps in the middle of Australia’s Murray Sunset National Park, users were quick to point out that Apple’s data was 43 miles off the town’s actual location. It was already too late: the police issued a public warning as some iPhone-totting travelers had gotten lost in the Park’s maze-like roadways. That the area has poor cell reception and lacks water supply didn’t help either.

Apple has corrected the problem since and now we’ve learned that particular snafu wasn’t Apple’s fault in the first place: the company simply re-used the data supplied by the state of Victoria… Read More

 

Apple quietly fixes dangerous Maps glitch in Australia

By Cody Lee on Dec 10, 2012

Apple’s Maps app took another hit earlier today, when word got out that police in Victoria, Australia had issued a public warning regarding the software. Apparently, they had been receiving a number of calls from travelers who were getting lost in a nearby National Park due to the app’s inaccurate data.

The problem was that the town of Mildura was showing up in the middle of Murray Sunset National Park, about 43 miles south of its actual location. And since the Park has maze-like roadways, poor cell reception and no water supply, this was a potentially dangerous situation. But don’t worry Apple is on it… Read More

 

Australian police issue warning regarding Apple Maps

By Cody Lee on Dec 10, 2012

Apple’s Maps application has had nothing but problems since it was released to the public back in September. Users have complained that the company’s in-house replacement for Google Maps has inaccurate location data and other bugs.

But if you thought Maps was bad before, wait until you hear this. Police in Victoria, Australia issued a warning this weekend regarding the mapping software after several travelers became lost and stranded due to receiving poor directions… Read More

 

Who exactly is this Williamson guy anyways?

By Christian Zibreg on Nov 27, 2012

News that SVP Eddy Cue fired Richard Williamson, the executive who oversaw the development of Apple’s much-maligned mapping service, came out of nowhere and surprised even seasoned watchers.

But who exactly is this Williamson guy?

Not much is known of the executive. Apple didn’t list him on its Leadership page and he ain’t talking to the press. I did some good ol’ digging on the Interwebs and managed to compile a quick backgrounder on the (un)lucky software engineer, here’s what I found… Read More

 

Another head rolls over the Maps debacle as Apple seeks advice from TomTom

By Christian Zibreg on Nov 27, 2012

Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of Internet Software and Services, is reported to have fired Richard Williamson, an executive who oversaw the team that created Apple’s own and troubled iOS 6 mapping service. The development marks the second high-ranked management departure of an Apple executive over so-called Mapgate, following the ouster of iOS boss and Steve Jobs confidant Scott Forstall last month after a CEO apology over the glaring flaws in Apple’s mapping software.

“We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make maps better”, Cook wrote in lat month’s letter of apology. In an effort to win back trust of its users, Apple is now understood to be seeking outside help to fix Maps. Jump past the fold for the latest info… Read More

 

Nokia’s Here Maps app hits the App Store

By Cody Lee on Nov 20, 2012

Last week, Nokia’s CEO Stephen Elop told reporters at a San Francisco press conference that Nokia was rebranding their mapping service to Here Maps, and would be releasing a native iOS app for the service within a few weeks.

Today, Nokia has made good on that promise, as its Here Maps app has just been spotted in the App Store. The HTML5-based software includes walking and public transportation directions, and many other features… Read More

 

Rumor: Apple Maps and Siri coming to the Mac with OS X 10.9 next year

By Christian Zibreg on Nov 19, 2012

OS X 10.9, the next major revision to Apple’s desktop operating system, will contain Siri and Apple Maps, the two headline capabilities currently exclusively available on newer iPhones, iPads and iPod touches. According to a new report this morning, early builds of OS X 10.9 that were previously spotted in web logs include Siri and Maps integration. Both features are purportedly in the early testing stages so it has yet to be determined if they will be ready for prime time when OS X 10.9 ships some time next year… Read More

 

WSJ: Google putting finishing touches on iOS Maps app

By Cody Lee on Nov 15, 2012

Since Apple replaced Google Maps in iOS 6 with its own mapping solution, there’s been a lot of talk regarding Google making its own Maps app for the platform. Rumors have persisted that such an app is in development.

But according to a new report this afternoon, it’s not only in development, it’s almost finished. The Wall Street Journal says that it has learned that Google is currently putting the finishing touches on a native iOS Maps app… Read More

 

Turn-by-turn voice navigation for iOS Maps now live in Australia

By Cody Lee on Nov 15, 2012

Apple has taken a lot of heat over its new Maps application in iOS 6. Users have complained that it’s inaccurate, buggy, and doesn’t have anywhere near the international support that Google Maps has.

Well it looks like Apple has made some progress on the latter front. Last night, reports started coming in that the Cupertino company has activated turn-by-turn voice navigation for its Maps app in Australia… Read More

 

Poll: your take on Here, Nokia’s new iOS map app

By Christian Zibreg on Nov 13, 2012

Nokia just announced Here, an upcoming iOS app with voice-guided walking navigation, public transportation directions and offline capability, the latter two glaringly lacking in Apple’s in-house built iOS 6 mapping solution. In comparison, Microsoft’s Bing app only supports basic maps.

Google has problems of its own, rooted in belief that Apple won’t approve a native Google Maps app so it hasn’t even submitted it yet. Regardless of the scarcity of details, we’d love to hear your initial thoughts on Here so cast your vote now… Read More

 

Nokia unveils new mapping service Here, native iOS app coming soon

By Christian Zibreg on Nov 13, 2012

The embattled handset maker Nokia introduced at today’s press conference in San Francisco today some interesting news related to maps. In an attempt to beat Google and Apple to the mapping punch, Nokia tapped 20 years of location expertise and its data sets spanning 200 countries to map out a new strategy which involves a re-branding effort, cool new features and a good ol’ acquisition. Nokia Maps is no more. Henceforth, the new mapping service shall be known as Here.

The new cloud-based map service works across multiple devices and operating systems, it does directions and location, lets people save favorite locations and supports crowd-sourcing by allowing users to report errors and make changes themselves.

The service is based on HTML5 and an iOS app is in the works, pending Apple’s approval. The iOS app will have voice-guided walk navigation, public transport directions and will cache data for offline use. And taking page from Apple’s book, Nokia spent an undisclosed sum to snap up California-based 3D mapping company Earthmine, with aim to use its technology to help index the world in 3D… Read More

 

Google Maps loses half its marketshare in China due to iOS 6

By Cody Lee on Nov 6, 2012

In an effort to distance itself further from its rival, and to enjoy the benefits of building its own in-house software, Apple replaced Google Maps in iOS 6 with its own mapping solution. And it’s been taking criticism over the switch ever since.

But iOS 6 Maps isn’t just negatively impacting Apple. It’s also substantially eating into Google’s mobile maps marketshare around the globe. According to a new report, Google Maps marketshare declined by nearly 50% in China last quarter… Read More

 

A Google Maps iOS app approval is anything but given, insiders claim

By Christian Zibreg on Nov 5, 2012

Google submitted its native Maps iOS app to Apple in September with the hope of having it approved by Christmas. Two weeks later, its chairman Eric Schmidt acknowledged that a Google Maps iOS app is up to Apple and a newspaper report this morning now suggests that insiders don’t have high hopes that it will be approved by the iPhone maker after all. Google previously released a native YouTube app for iOS devices following the removal of stock YouTube software from iOS 6. Last month, the search Goliath also enabled Street View as a web app in the mobile Safari browser… Read More

 

Apple looking to make further improvements to Maps in iOS 6.1

By Cody Lee on Nov 2, 2012

Apple released the first beta of iOS 6.1 to developers yesterday. It’s still early, obviously, but we’ve already discovered a handful of changes in the new firmware, including revamped Lock screen music controls.

And, as a reader has pointed out to us, iOS 6.1 also adds a new “Report a Problem” button to the stock Maps app. It replaces a smaller bug reporter link, and signifies Apple’s commitment to making Maps better… Read More

 

Why Eddy Cue is the right guy to fix Maps and Siri

By Christian Zibreg on Oct 31, 2012

Senior Vice President Eddy Cue is known as the fixer at Apple, a reputation he built back in 2008, when Steve Jobs appointed him head of iTunes and online services after giving Apple’s cloud team a serious dressing down over the MobileMe(ss) debacle. This 23-year Apple veteran immediately retired the flaky service, built iCloud from the ground up and took control of Apple’s iTunes and App Store infrastructure.

Last September, CEO Cook appointed Cue Apple’s new SVP of of Internet Software and Services, the role that encompasses the iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, as well as the iAd advertising platform and iCloud services.

Monday, Cue assumed Maps and Siri responsibilities after Cook fired iOS chief Scott Forstall for shipping buggy software prematurely, clashing with his peers and refusing to apologize personally for Mapgate (it was Cook who eventually signed the public apology instead). We, of course, already knew all of the above. Today, CNET runs an interesting profile which reveals a couple previously unknown tidbits about this able exec… Read More

 

Shake ups and shufflings: some thoughts on the new Apple

By Sebastien Page on Oct 30, 2012

If there’s one thing that really came as a surprise this month, it’s certainly not the iPad mini, or any other product announcement, but the executives shake up and shuffling at Apple. SVP of Retail John Browett is gone, and that’s a good thing, and really, hardly a surprise. The biggest surprise was that he was hired in the first place. The real bombshell in yesterday’s abrupt announcement is the departure of SVP of iOS Software, Scott Forstall.

Although it was the biggest kick, Apple’s press release also told us that Ive would now be in charge of Human Interface (aka everything design), iOS and OS X groups are now one, Maps and Siri are now part of the Internet Services unit, and Mansfield will lead the new Technologies group.

Now that we’ve gathered a little more information about the news and that I’ve had time to really soak it in, I’d like to share my thoughts on the situation, and what it all means for the new Apple… Read More

 
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