There was a great uproar when Apple launched its own maps application along with the release of the iOS 6 for its new iPhone 5 and to update older iPhone and iTouch models. Apple finally let go of Google Maps as its native map app and instead used its own in-house developed application. Not a lot of users were happy with this move by Apple as the app certainly lacked many features and options, making it useless for many users.
A lot of jokes circulated all over the Internet about the map’s accuracy or the lack thereof. Not only jokes but also real life-threatening situations could have turned nasty if the users had relied on the application to look for health care facilities for emergency situations. There were also stories about people getting lost or being directed to other places, which clearly made the map application totally useless.
A lot of jokes circulated all over the Internet about the map’s accuracy or the lack thereof. Not only jokes but also real life-threatening situations could have turned nasty if the users had relied on the application to look for health care facilities for emergency situations. There were also stories about people getting lost or being directed to other places, which clearly made the map application totally useless.
Apple Flop?
This move by Apple was not a surprise, actually. In fact, it was a widely anticipated move by the company after its relationship with Google started to deteriorate when the later started to get serious with Android, Apple’s closest competitor in the software development game. Also, the launch of the new map app was in line with the company’s acquisition of various mapping companies. Since Apple had its own mapping abilities, the next step naturally would have been to rely on the data that these companies already had and to launch its own map app. The problem was that, clearly, these companies had yet to amass the same amount of data as Google Maps which has been amassing data since 2005.
It is clear that Apple was in a hurry to let go of Google’s services because of its deteriorating relationship with the company. Deciding to use the data from the mapping companies that they acquired was one of the reasons why the application failed miserably. Compared to Google’s data, Apple’s mapping arm clearly has a lot more compiling to do. This only goes to show how important data really is and how important it is that the data be updated regularly. Even with Apple’s partnerships with other mapping companies, they still fell short in providing a useful and remarkable application that their users could enjoy and appreciate using.
It is clear that Apple was in a hurry to let go of Google’s services because of its deteriorating relationship with the company. Deciding to use the data from the mapping companies that they acquired was one of the reasons why the application failed miserably. Compared to Google’s data, Apple’s mapping arm clearly has a lot more compiling to do. This only goes to show how important data really is and how important it is that the data be updated regularly. Even with Apple’s partnerships with other mapping companies, they still fell short in providing a useful and remarkable application that their users could enjoy and appreciate using.
What Apple Should Do
Now that Apple has realized their failure, at least they were humble enough to admit their shortcomings. Tim Cook even released an apology letter admitting that it was a terrible map application that came with their software update. All they have to do now is to work on the data that they have and enhance it. Apple can’t afford to scrimp on updating all the information that they have so that they will be able to provide more accurate maps, better images, and better rendering of cities and street views. If they are able to improve on this, then people will be more likely to forgive them and start appreciating Apple’s new maps.
Now that Apple has realized their failure, at least they were humble enough to admit their shortcomings. Tim Cook even released an apology letter admitting that it was a terrible map application that came with their software update. All they have to do now is to work on the data that they have and enhance it. Apple can’t afford to scrimp on updating all the information that they have so that they will be able to provide more accurate maps, better images, and better rendering of cities and street views. If they are able to improve on this, then people will be more likely to forgive them and start appreciating Apple’s new maps.
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