There is a lot more to this story than meets the eye at first glance. When the full picture comes out, people will realize that this has nothing to do with Maps. This entire story is about Search.
When the iPhone first launched, Google was paying Apple $100M to be the default search provider on the iPhone. About 2 years back, when relationship between Apple and Google soured, Apple upped the amount to $1B - and Google had no choice but to pony up. This was a whole lot of money, but not being the default search engine on iOS would have hurt Google even more, by allowing Bing access to the high profile customer base of Apple.
Before the launch of iOS 6, Apple is said to have upped this amount to $2.5B - and really turned the screws on Google. This is really painful for Google, but they still don't have a choice, because at this point in time, iOS is still way too important, both in terms of sheer numbers, as well as the profile of customers. But $2.5B is more than what Google makes out of iOS, which means, Apple was really hurting Google bad.
Google attempted to negotiate access fees for Google Maps and Youtube - but Apple called them out, and decided to evict YouTube and Maps from iOS. The story with YouTube is very interesting - being part of iOS, the YouTube app was not allowed to offer any ads. And being a free service, Google could not stop Apple from riding on top of YouTube, without indulging in anti-competitive practices. During the iOS 6 stand-off, Google decided to make up for the removal of YouTube by launching its own app, with ads. This was a no-brainer, because Google would actually make a lot of money doing this.
But when it came to Maps, the scenario was totally different. Google is not releasing Maps for iOS in an attempt to collect information about users on iOS. While that is useful, the benefit to Google from having a much better Maps implementation on Android (thereby adding a lot of value to Android) was a lot more. However, Google realized that the army of iOS users were helping Apple rapidly eliminate inaccuracies in iOS6 Maps. It was just a question of time before iOS6 maps became usable - literally months away. Absolutely the only way for Google to stop that from happening, was to release their own Maps app on iOS, in an attempt to slow down the momentum of corrections in iOS6 maps. If most customers had a very good alternative, there would be zero incentive for them to use iOS6 maps, and report inaccuracies. It is this motive that prompted Google to release iOS6 maps.
Paradoxically, Google Maps on iOS6 makes the iPhone the best mapping platform - and the only platform where you can access multiple mapping solutions from Apple, Google, Nokia, for free. This will increase adoption of iPhone 5 and iOS6, as even the doubters now have no reason to hold back.
And the worst part from Google's perspective, is that Apple can still up their demands for keeping Google as the default search engine on iOS. Google literally has no option but to pay up. The only way for Google to avoid this threat is to dramatically increase market share of Android, to make iOS devices.
And removing Google as default search engine will have even lesser repercussions than what happened with Maps. Whoever is really pissed and misses out on Google can still continue to use Google as their search engine, while the vast majority of users would not even realize that things have changed!
The best part is, Apple won't even be missing out on the money - MS would happily pay Apple any amount for selecting Bing as the default search engine - and this money makes sense for Bing, because it is attempting to catch up on Google. For Google, paying ridiculous sums makes absolutely no sense, since they are already the market leader!
All said and done, Google has come out worst out of the entire exercise - Apple takes back all the money Google makes from iOS, and iOS users still get to use all the stuff from Google - and get even more features than they had before!
The important thing to remember is that Apple makes its money off of hardware sales. Whether the customer uses iOS6 maps, or Google Maps, makes absolutely no difference to Apple in the short term. And in the long term, Apple can work on ironing out the glitches in its maps, and offer not just a technically superior alternative, but also a more accurate alternative.
...no need for this step....
It might be reasonable if there were data to base it on, but, what little solid data I'm aware of, does not at all support that assertion.
It could possibly have something to do with licensing restrictions. Google uses data from sources other than their own who may not allow repackaging of their map data for a turn-by-turn application to be built by a third party. ...
As usual, a load of bull from GG. At this point, we all know that Google was using turn-by-turn as a bargaining chip to gain access to personal data, and Apple told them to stuff it. Please stop it with the constant rewriting of history.
At 71% global market share, android does not need the minor competitive edge that the real google maps app gives. They've already won. They're an ad company that makes money on volume. To that end, it's not even a contest.
Except when they don't make money on volume, like with Android. Financially, Google would have been much better off if they had never gotten involved in Android.
Google is as transparent as you can get. They clearly outline everything they are doing in their privacy agreements and you can opt out of everything, which I have done.
If only that were true. Google never stops tracking you no matter what you do. All you can "opt out" of is seeing ads based on that data, they still collect it.
Google is the least transparent, most dishonest, least trustworthy enterprise I've ever seen. Nothing more than a criminal enterprise that ought to be prosecuted under the RICO laws.
I say again, Google allows for the opt out of tracking cookies among other opt outs. And as AsianBob pointed out, they are very transparent about what they do and don't do with the collected information. Google maintained that tracking was improper coding and was unintentional. But, who knows about that.
Are you ridiculously naive, or just incompetently disingenuous?
There was nothing inadvertent or unintentional about it, just like there was nothing inadvertent or unintentional about the WiFi snooping program. You are completely beyond the absurd with this notion of "Google's transparency". This is a criminal enterprise that has repeatedly lied to regulators and the public, attempted to cover it up, broken laws left right and center, bought their way out, ...
Just because you say it doesn't make it true. For years to come people will be saying "if Steve Jobs was alive" and no matter how much you dislike it doesn't change perception.
Members of an enthusiast forum are not an accurate representation of the general public. For those that track Apple on a regular basis if they believe Steve Jobs would have done something differently and the outcome would have been better, perception is reality. Get a clue, people like you acted as if Steve Jobs was a God, guess what God doesn't get replaced for years, if ever.
I see you have just as much anger as always. But, sorry, his point that you are simply stuffing words into Steve Jobs mouth is entirely valid. It's easy to do, and you never take the high road, but it still makes your posts so much nonsense when you do it.
Quote:
I didn't know that. Don't know that still. Because it is not true. Apple did not develop it alone.
Quote:
The only reason? I didn't know that. Don't know that still. And neither do you.
It's always amusing when you come into a thread like this late in the game and see all these posters desperately trying to blackguard Apple and spin the Google orthodoxy as truth.
True. But to be fair, there are also those who defend Apple when there is no reason or need. Some are fanatical about Google. Others (a larger population) are fanatical about Apple. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between.
There is a lot more to this story than meets the eye at first glance. When the full picture comes out, people will realize that this has nothing to do with Maps. This entire story is about Search.
When the iPhone first launched, Google was paying Apple $100M to be the default search provider on the iPhone. About 2 years back, when relationship between Apple and Google soured, Apple upped the amount to $1B - and Google had no choice but to pony up. This was a whole lot of money, but not being the default search engine on iOS would have hurt Google even more, by allowing Bing access to the high profile customer base of Apple.
Before the launch of iOS 6, Apple is said to have upped this amount to $2.5B - and really turned the screws on Google. This is really painful for Google, but they still don't have a choice, because at this point in time, iOS is still way too important, both in terms of sheer numbers, as well as the profile of customers. But $2.5B is more than what Google makes out of iOS, which means, Apple was really hurting Google bad.
Google attempted to negotiate access fees for Google Maps and Youtube - but Apple called them out, and decided to evict YouTube and Maps from iOS. The story with YouTube is very interesting - being part of iOS, the YouTube app was not allowed to offer any ads. And being a free service, Google could not stop Apple from riding on top of YouTube, without indulging in anti-competitive practices. During the iOS 6 stand-off, Google decided to make up for the removal of YouTube by launching its own app, with ads. This was a no-brainer, because Google would actually make a lot of money doing this.
But when it came to Maps, the scenario was totally different. Google is not releasing Maps for iOS in an attempt to collect information about users on iOS. While that is useful, the benefit to Google from having a much better Maps implementation on Android (thereby adding a lot of value to Android) was a lot more. However, Google realized that the army of iOS users were helping Apple rapidly eliminate inaccuracies in iOS6 Maps. It was just a question of time before iOS6 maps became usable - literally months away. Absolutely the only way for Google to stop that from happening, was to release their own Maps app on iOS, in an attempt to slow down the momentum of corrections in iOS6 maps. If most customers had a very good alternative, there would be zero incentive for them to use iOS6 maps, and report inaccuracies. It is this motive that prompted Google to release iOS6 maps.
Paradoxically, Google Maps on iOS6 makes the iPhone the best mapping platform - and the only platform where you can access multiple mapping solutions from Apple, Google, Nokia, for free. This will increase adoption of iPhone 5 and iOS6, as even the doubters now have no reason to hold back.
And the worst part from Google's perspective, is that Apple can still up their demands for keeping Google as the default search engine on iOS. Google literally has no option but to pay up. The only way for Google to avoid this threat is to dramatically increase market share of Android, to make iOS devices.
And removing Google as default search engine will have even lesser repercussions than what happened with Maps. Whoever is really pissed and misses out on Google can still continue to use Google as their search engine, while the vast majority of users would not even realize that things have changed!
The best part is, Apple won't even be missing out on the money - MS would happily pay Apple any amount for selecting Bing as the default search engine - and this money makes sense for Bing, because it is attempting to catch up on Google. For Google, paying ridiculous sums makes absolutely no sense, since they are already the market leader!
All said and done, Google has come out worst out of the entire exercise - Apple takes back all the money Google makes from iOS, and iOS users still get to use all the stuff from Google - and get even more features than they had before!
The important thing to remember is that Apple makes its money off of hardware sales. Whether the customer uses iOS6 maps, or Google Maps, makes absolutely no difference to Apple in the short term. And in the long term, Apple can work on ironing out the glitches in its maps, and offer not just a technically superior alternative, but also a more accurate alternative.
thanks much for rational thinking! there is more stupid on the web about this now than maybe ever before.
simple fact is Google came crawling back to Apple with a much improved Maps app because it can't afford to be kicked off iOS. likewise, MS will soon release iOS Office suite apps, because it can't afford to be left out either.
meanwhile, Apple will keep improving its own alternative apps too to keep up the pressure and avoid ever being dependent on anyone else.
Schmidt just claimed Android is "wining the war." actually, it's winning the race - the Race To The Bottom. congrats, Fool!
Cheap Android phones aren't the iPhone's "competition", the high end phones Apple compete with are sold at comparable prices, that is until they are dumped in fire sales.
Hint when buying Android handsets wait a couple of months for the inevitable price drop, after the early adopters have been screwed.
Meanwhile enjoy your 480x320 or 800x480 screened, cheap gingerbread phone, like most of the rest of the world.
"The cobbler's children have no shoes", is a saying that applies a lot to companies who provide products and services. -KDarling on Google Search.
"The cobbler's children have no shoes", is a saying that applies a lot to companies who provide products and services. -KDarling on Google Search.
So they should retain the same errors Google maps has?
"The cobbler's children have no shoes", is a saying that applies a lot to companies who provide products and services. -KDarling on Google Search.
"The cobbler's children have no shoes", is a saying that applies a lot to companies who provide products and services. -KDarling on Google Search.
"Blank! BLANK! You're not looking at the big picture!"
"Blank! BLANK! You're not looking at the big picture!"
Not a valid comparison.
Any small development group can write a web browser without ever leaving their office. Heck, I've done it myself twice, back in the early 1990s when the web just started.
Creating a Google equivalent mapping solution requires over 7,000 mapping employees and contractors worldwide to collect data, fly planes, drive cars and make corrections, over 250 specially equipped Street View cars, and a fair amount of time.
In other words, it was a lot easier and quicker for Apple to create Safari to replace IE, than to create a Maps solution that could replace Google Maps. Not that Apple didn't try, of course, by buying up various mapping companies to try to speed up the process.
Re: webkit being popular. True enough. Too bad Apple's not likely to make their mapping solution available on other devices. In fact, I think the main reason Google Maps is so good is because Google also has a web version (which Apple does not have). Many people are more likely to submit corrections from a desktop browser than from a mobile browser on the go. If I'd been in charge, I'd have pushed for putting out a desktop version first, either web based or not.
