Apple CEO Tim Cook apologizes to customers for Maps in iOS 6 - Page 3

Thing is for Cook to make a statement it couldn't be anything but an apology. So in some ways it's kind of damned if you do damned if you don't. My only concern is it opens the door to people expecting apologies for every little thing.

I have not had a single problem on several trips from 5 minutes to 1 hour in and around Philadelphia.

 

The new maps are beautiful and will get better and better.

 

Google is off my iPhone. That's almost as beautiful.

 

Thanks, Tim.

 

 

"The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get"
Hmmm... Where have I heard this before?

 

Seconded,

Quite surprised and impressed that Cook offered such a full apology, and even recommended rival products.

 

I guess Apple has to look at the issue pragmatically. They had to release Maps at some point to cut their dependency on Google, but the product could never improve until it was released and corrections were crowdsourced. Hence, release it and collect data from those persevering, whilst acknowledging that some may not be satisfied and pointing them humbly to competing products. Makes sense.

my only gripe is using a 3rd party app for public transit.  in Mpls/StP, maps are pretty accurate, but this is a rough city for transit due to the population density (lack thereof... therefore lots of bus schedule changes throughout the day, so if you're a transit user, if you vary your schedule, it's almost impossible to figure out the best fit bus trip).  

 

The former interface had a very simple transition from bus to car, which allowed me to best fit my options.  Current interface driving me to 3rd parties doesn't provide me with the comparitive option.

 

I'm a singular data point, but the the 'one stop nature' of prior maps was big in my book.

Where I live, and where i regularly travel too, it's hopelessly unusable.

 

Actually the people that download 3rd party apps on iOS is very high, BUT how many download "replacement" apps for built in functions is entirely different, and I agree.  I think people will get over this pretty quick.

 

The only negative experience I had was it seems to have a bit of trouble finding things close by in some cases.  It found a store close by but did not find a street address until I added a city, then it was fine.

It also has issues with generic terms, like "restaurants".  

 

I consider those minor quirks that are easy to fix.  I general I find it really hasn't changed that much.

No explanation necessary. Any logical mind would simply induce that if a licensing fee(s) were not to be paid to Google over the future years then Apple would be making a substantial amount of money. Unless of course if Apple's R&D costs are more. And judging by where they are vs where they need to be with Maps it very well could be.
But I doubt it.

I think the weight thing is crazy too. I think it's more impressive that they were able to pack all that technology into something so thin and light, As far as scuffs, I'll take at trade off for something so thin and lit with this build quality. But I always take care of my phones and I'd never put a naked phone in the same pocket as keyed and coins. I own several pairs of expensive suede shoes that I would never wear outside in the winter knowing that going through snow, salt and sand would soil the fabric. I don't blame the manufacturer for not making suede shoes that don't get dirty.

You seem reasonable, but your Windows Phone gave you away.

J.

if Google maps are that important to you, why don't you get an Android phone? You will ALWAYS have the latest Google Maps on it.

 

Yeah! How dare Google release their maps in this condition! It should be absolutely perfect from the instant it launc—what's that? Yeah, I said Google. Uh huh? Oh, yes, don't you remember? Google Maps had these same problems when it was launched. How silly of you to forget. Ignore is probably more accurate.

 

Ah. Right. That solves everything, doesn't it? Forgive me if I just mock everything you say from here on out. 

Your analogy is flawed, Google Maps didn't replace anything.

 

Easy, most folks wont bother since maps works okay for many users.  In those areas they will get the POI updates they need.

 

For areas where the maps completely suck crowdsourcing wont help unless it's of the OSM kind where some folks enter data for an entire local area.  

Sorry I failed your inane pop quiz.
Go right ahead. Who cares?

 

Obviously Tim apologized because he could see the public perception, even if Maps works fine for you, was damaging the iPhone and Apple brands.  Tim is diffusing the situation, and for customers who are having trouble (and people who are considering a 5), will look like he's listening to them and making folks considering buying feel a little more secure (there are other options and its really important to us that we get this fixed).  JMHO...

Edited by Sasparilla - 9/28/12 at 8:12am

WTF are you doing, Tim?

 

 

 

Blah blah blah blah, meaningless corporate jibber-jabber which denigrates your company. By giving the "problem" *even more* attention, you've made an even larger issue out of it. Those who didn't really notice or care will now *really* apply the microscope. The issue was already resolving itself and Cook turns into a pu**y.

 

I hope this is the last time I get to read such idiocy from Apple's CEO. 

 

I actually like the move. It shows confidence in his product and that it'll get better, and shows (and also shuts up the naysayers) people that this truly WAS a move to give the users a better product, and not an attempt to "Stick it to Google". So in essence, they really do want the iPhone users to have the best experience, and they are doing what they can to provide it. Hopefully it'll be with their mapping solution soon.

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Edited by MacRulez - 1/21/13 at 3:14pm

 

That's funny. Neither did Apple Maps. Both supplanted their successors.

 

Sorry you treat life like a pop quiz instead of just a question asked by others.

 

Everyone here intelligent enough to see through your lies. 

 

Pointing users to competitors shows confidence in their product?! 

Is this the same media that gives Apple praise and adulation at every product announcement/launch? Apple fans enjoy bragging and boasting when the media attention is positive but you'll smite the same attention when it's negative. Nobody's infallible, and there's no one that can right a ship better than Apple.

Your wrong, actually stock holders have a lot to say in Apples plans.

What's trust got to do with this issue? They made a big mistake. Now they need to act quickly and offer a satisfying correction. ASAP.

You must be one of those people who doesn't put his money where his mouth is. Me on the other hand I have done very nicely investing in Apple in spite of the lousy economy.

Apple stock has gone down this week partly because of the negative press associated with this Apples limited mapping choices.

I know of 3 people who planned to upgrade to the new phone but are holding off because of this app issue.

Tim's apology is not adequate he needs to get the Google app available for OS 6 now. 

 

 

 

 

This is my response to the people who argue that there's nothing wrong with the current iOS Maps App.  It's not about Navigation, it's all about information.  Not everyone uses the Maps app for JUST driving and Turn-By-Turn.  I've done plenty of whining in the last 5 days about iOS 6 maps and I'm just about over with all but 3 key things at this point.

 

• The geographical boundaries (water edges and lack of detail and accuracy) are hugely simplified (and sometimes non-existent) compared to Google Maps.  And in most cases even if you zoom in really close...somethings appear and some don't.  To me geographical data should be visible at all zoom levels.  And for god's-sake make the boundaries accurate.  They're using vector graphics for crying out loud, there's no excuse for simplifying these things.
• The building outlines can only be viewed largely at a zoom levels that are unusable in most cases (it's better on the iPad but on the iPhone it's unusable).  Meaning you have to zoom in too far to actually see building outlines.  Not to mention the way it denotes types of zoning (i.e. hospital, University, governmental boundaries) are inaccurate as well.
• Transit overlays on top of the maps.  It's great they they at least show transit stops on iOS 6 maps.  But not having the routes overlaid on the maps is a huge annoyance.  I could care less about Siri telling me which train route is the best and time tables.  Just give me the overlay transit system on the map and I can find my way.  In larger, more complex transit systems...showing the layouts of the stations and exit locations is also a huge advantage Google has over iOS Maps.  Check Beijing on Google Maps for a great example.

 

Using 3rd Party Apps is totally counter intuitive to the Apple method of design (meaning the one-stop-shop).  And I resent the suggestion to use existing 3rd part Apps as a solution to something that wasn't a problem until this new App was released.  If you want us to use 3rd party transit Apps, allow the Dev's to design "Plug-Ins" to the iOS Maps Apps, not the other way around.  If I have to switch to a separate App, It's a FAIL in my book and totally pointless.

 

Being able to interact with multiple layers of information in a Mapping App is what made Google Maps so brilliant.

 

Google had the vision to see maps as more than just for planning a trip from point A to B.  The ability to see all these layers of information allowed for an experience that was so much more than just navigation.  It became a tool for exploration and learning (in Google Earth there were Wikipedia links too).  With Street View you could quite literally tour the world (where available).  There are many more layers of information that made Google maps better (like names of buildings on College Campuses)...but you see my point.

 

I'd have to say that is really the one reason why I hate iOS Maps.  And I guess I shouldn't really be surprised, because everything in this new App is typical Apple's MO.  Start Small and get better over time with generational improvements.

 

That said though, I think the problem is that since Google has been at this for nearly 7+ years and is so flooded with data, people are used to that and we can't wait another 7 years for iOS Maps to catch up.  My guess is it won't take another 7 years...perhaps half that, but still that's a long time to wait for Apple to just get ON PAR with Google from now on.

 

I understand that crowd-sourcing is a necessary evil to improve maps accuracy.  But if you look at my bullet-points above, most of what I believe are THE KEY issues with iOS Maps are not something that necessarily needs crowd-sourcing to improve.  Just give me an accurate map with vital info.  Addresses and location accuracy will come.  We all agree even Google still has issues with that.  Heck, all Apple had to do is go to the local visitor's center in any major city and get the free city map to see what the vital info is they need to show.

 

Also solely relying on Yelp! for location data is a mistake.  They need multiple sources.  If I learned anything in school, it's that you need at least 3 sources for all information you present.  You need to cross-reference data for accuracy...triangulation of data if you will.  And Apple dropped the ball on that.  

 

Something needs to happen fast.  Or there will be a lot more articles about the deficiencies of this App.

Edited by antkm1 - 9/28/12 at 8:19am

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Edited by MacRulez - 1/21/13 at 3:13pm

lol

It will anonymously collect data from every user whether they use the app or not. That's how one is able to see how traffic is moving along on any given street /highway/expressway etc...

 

I believe so. it's that "Go ahead and try them, you'll be back" attitude. They feel they have a superior product, or that at the very least, in the near future it will be a superior product, so they aren't afraid of the competition.

 

Personally I reaaalllly like the new maps. I love the vector, the 3D, the cleanliness. Again, I live in Miami so it works pretty well for me. And I'm confident they'll make BIG leaps in the near future.

Wow!  I didn't think Tim Cook needed to apologize.  IMO, Maps in iOS6 works great.  I have used the turn by turn navigation and it works fine.  I like how it zooms in and out at like a 45 degree angle.  Now of course, it is nowhere near Google Maps, but Jesus it's a great start for a beta.  I'm sure Apple's Maps had a far better start then Google Maps did.  Yeh, yeh, Apple had all this time to make it perfect.  But we will soon have a downloadable Google Maps for those who are impatient.  And an update is surely to come soon for Maps iOS6.  It's a win win situation for us iPhone iOS6 users because in the end, we will have the best of BOTH worlds!

Same. I like the fact that Apple is actually acknowledging the problem, as much as it causes butt hurt to the idiots who assume that just because it works for them they should be the norm rather than the exception. I live outside of the US, and as far as my experience is concerned, there is no way I can trust the crap Apple Maps is; it fails to the point of being worse than I would expect from amateurs. When your map data isn't even in sync with your search database, your mapping app sin't ready for prime time; when your search fails to recognize that 'a' and 'â' are the same letter, your mapping app isn't ready for prime time; when your search fails to recognize that 'st' is an abbreviation of "saint', your map app isn't ready for prime time; when your vectorial maps take longer to download than the competitor's raster maps, your mapping app isn't ready for prime time; when rasterizing your vectorial maps consumes significantly more resources than displaying your competitor's raster maps despite you having an entire vectorial API at your disposal in the rendering platform that can accelerate it on the hardware (OpenGL ES), your mapping app isn't ready for prime time. Apple Maps fails on way too many levels to describe; it is a pristine example of pure incompetence, and totally unacceptable from a company that prides itself for quality; so I am pretty happy that Cook is coming out to say that they fucked up, because they really did.

Let the class action lawsuits begin.

 

That is a fantastic video!

This needs to be re-posted to everyone until the cows come home because I think even Cook needs a refresher.

"Lies, lies, lies, get up!"
Where do I find emoticons?

Hear, Hear!!

 

Sure it did - standalone GPS units - paper maps - dead reckoning - stoping to ask the gas station attendant for directions. 

 

How can he get the Google app available now?  The last report I saw said that Google themselves haven't even submitted an app yet, and won't be able to for a couple of months.  Tim going to design it himself?

 

3 people planned to upgrade to the new phone but won't because of the app issue?  I sure hope they don't upgrade to iOS 6 then on their current phones.  Because it's the OS, not the phone.  And who hesitates to upgrade a phone because of one app?  That's just silly.  It's a PHONE.  And their precious Google maps can still be accessed via web.  It offers the SAME features at the old Google maps baked into the OS.

 

Give me a break

THANK YOU!!

 

Ah, I see you're international now.  Hard to comment on that because I haven't used maps outside the US....well...ever.

 

It is doubtful that you will get the Google app back -- that is not the way to resolve this problem.  To provide top quality service, Apple needs to  have access to the maps database and to limit access (to others) for the individual requests and searches.  Google has demonstrated that it is not a reliable enough provider or partner to satisfy Apple's mapping needs.