Apple Maps

Poll: how do you feel about Apple’s Maps apology?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 29, 2017

It's easy to get carried away with Tim Cook's "we're really sorry" apology to customers over sub-par mapping experience in iOS 6. After all, everyone is holding Apple in high regard as the company has literally become a yardstick of quality for smooth, pleasing software folks actually love to use.

"If the hardware is the brain and the sinew of our products, the software is their soul", Steve Jobs once said. And when that soul is left in darkness, Apple's brand gets tarnished. We've seen it happen with MobileMe and it sure looks like history is repeating itself as iPhone customer satisfaction drops due to the Maps fiasco.

Or is it a fiasco? Like every misstep of Apple's, this one feels like it's been blown way out of proportion by click-hungry, bloodsucking media vampires (Antennagate, anyone?). iDB is curious to hear your thoughts on the Apple Maps situation so I've put together an interesting little poll embedded right below...

Apple explains how to create home screen shortcuts to Google and Nokia maps on the web

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Apple's boss Tim Cook just issued a mea culpa on Apple's awesome Maps in the form of an open letter published on Apple's website. What's really interesting is that the issue which threatened to snowball into a PR catastrophe has forced Apple to advise customers to use rival services "while we’re improving Maps".

It takes a tremendous amount of public outcry to force Cupertino into such a defensive position. I imagine heads will roll as Cook gives Apple's mapping team a kind of dressing down Steve Jobs once gave to the MobileMe team ("you should hate each other for having let each other down"). No matter how you look at it, the Maps fiasco has tarnished Apple's reputation, at least in my view...

Apple CEO Tim Cook issues open letter apologizing for iOS Maps flaws

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Acknowledging what has become Mapgate, Apple's chief executive Tim Cook issued an apology for inaccuracies, faulty data and other issues plaguing Apple's new in-house mapping service that replaced the stock Google Maps app on iOS 6 devices.

And just as his predecessor did when Apple got entangled in disputes with the music industry over copy-protecting iTunes songs or Adobe over Flash, Cook issued an open letter on the company's web site to explain Apple's position on the matter...

Maps says sorry

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 27, 2012

And the iOS Maps bashing saga continues… Wanna know how it ends? Go past the fold for the remaining three tables. Joy of Tech also has another funny take on Mapgate, by the way…

Google’s iLost ad uses a phony street address to exaggerate Apple Maps flaws

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 27, 2012

Remember an ad Google's subsidiary Motorola recently published to highlight Apple Maps flaws? "Looking for 315 E 15th in Manhattan?", Google's advertisement read. "Google Maps on Droid Razr M will get you there & not #iLost in Brooklyn", it went on to suggest that iOS 6 Maps will direct users to a wrong road name in the wrong city. Well, guess what? That address doesn't even exist!

That's right, 315 E 15th Street is not an actual address in Manhattan. This whole maps thing is really getting blown out of proportion. Why would Google fake an ad and make folks search for an incorrect, ambiguous street address other than make Apple Maps look bad. Apple of course also isn't one to shy away from deceptive advertising. Remember this?

Street View coming to Google Maps mobile web app in two weeks

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2012

I just read through David Pogue's freshly published article on the Mapgate situation and noticed a couple interesting revelations. The New York Times technology columnist says that in two weeks, you’ll be able to get Street View in the Google Maps mobile web on your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

Right now, you can use Safari on your iOS device to navigate to maps.google.com and use Google's maps on the web, though without spoken directions (you'll get written directions instead). More tidbits right below...

Voice navigation was a deal-breaker in the Apple-Google maps talks

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2012

The Verge reported yesterday that Apple could have kept Google Maps until iOS 7 as Google's contract to keep the maps app on the iPhone had more time remaining. A new report sheds more light on the matter, with sources claiming that talks between the two Silicon Valley technology giants crashed over voice-assisted navigation.

Long story short, Google fought hard to bomb the deal as it wouldn't hand over the data needed to bring voice-guided navigation to a competing platform. Instead, the search Goliath continued to offer advanced location and navigation features on Android, widening the gap as it differentiated its platform from Apple...

Survey: iOS 6 leading to increased iPhone customer dissatisfaction

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

For the first time, an iOS upgrade is leaving a bad taste in consumers' mouths. While it's usually the case that upgrades are viewed as improving the iPhone experience, a new survey finds iOS 6 actually hurt Apple's sterling customer service reputation. Apple's decision to replace Google Maps with its own service appears to be the root cause, say researchers.

"We have always seen an increase in device satisfaction as consumers upgrade their mobile operating system from one version to another," On Device DEO Alistair Hill told TechCrunch. While the rating for the upgrade from iOS 4 to iOS 5 received high marks, the move to iOS 6 saw ratings decrease to 7.65 from 7.75. On Device surveyed nearly 16,000 U.S. iPhone owners...

Apple could have kept Google Maps until iOS 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2012

Apple could have kept the stock iOS Google Maps for another year, if it wanted, a new report alleges. When Apple publicly announced in June it would drop the native Google Maps app in favor of its own solution, Google was shocked as its contract with Apple to keep the maps app on the iPhone "had more time remaining", the New York Times reports.

Luckily, if the paper's sources are to be believed, Google is working on a standalone Google Maps app though it won't be released immediately because Google wants to do it right and incorporate 3D view as it wants the program to be comparable to Apple Maps, namely its three-dimensional Flyover views of major cities...

Mapgate gets Der Führer treatment

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 25, 2012

I'm tellin' ya, this thing has gone mainstream and it's pretty obvious it needed a Hitler meme. I'm guessing Team Coco will wanna take a look into Mapgate as well. In the meantime, Apple Maps haters needn't worry: Garmin has you covered. More on amazing iOS 6 Maps right here...

Eric Schmidt: a Google Maps app is up to Apple

Cody Lee ∙ September 25, 2012

As Apple continues to take heat over its new mapping software, the question on everyone's mind seems to be: will Google release a standalone Maps app for iOS? It's a fair question, considering it recently published a YouTube app for the platform.

But a report that surfaced last week claiming Google had already submitted a Maps app to Apple and was awaiting approval was quickly debunked. And Eric Schmidt himself confirmed yesterday that his company hasn't made a move yet...

And here comes Mapgate

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 11, 2018

Here, in case you've been wondering why Apple shipped buggy iOS Maps... Come on, you knew this was coming. I'd bet my shirt that Conan O'Brien will be next to diss Apple's crappy maps. Can you say Mapgate?