Apple’s replacement for Google Maps has become something of a joke. Within days of the launch cartoons sprouted on the internet about the new service and how bad it is. I do not think a day goes by that I do not get several of these in my Facebook News Feed. Some are saying that Apple tried to make this move too suddenly and did not have their new app ready for launch. Others are speculating that the rapid removal and the launch of an “Apple” built app is a precursor to open litigation against Google. No matter what the reason is Apple pushed out a “new” mapping application that appears to be a few generations behind what Google and others are capable of in the mobile market.
We have taken a look at it on an iPhone 5 and have to say that we agree with the general consensus; buy another app for your navigation needs until Apple can get this thing fixed. Unfortunately for those of you that do own iPhones and have already upgraded you will not be able to have Google Maps back… Eric Schmidt has made the statement that they have not submitted a Google Map app to Apple and as of this writing there is no date when they might.
Schmidt even went so far as to say; "We think it would have been better if they had kept ours. But what do I know?" when speaking to Reuters while pushing the launch of the Google Nexus 7 in Japan. Of course this is what Google would say even if the new app was doing well, but since it is not all that great Google gets to say this with a bit of smugness. Still the move highlights something that we have been saying for a while; Apple is headed down a very slippery road. They have a pattern of breaking ties with partners despite the obvious gains for them and their products. This is just another example of this; there was really no reason to replace Google Maps in iOS other than pride and a desire to cut reliance on Google in the same way that Apple is starting to cut reliance on Samsung. In the end we have a feeling that cutting ties like this will hurt them more than help… but then again this is Apple and they appear to be drinking their own Kool-Aid these days…
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