Waze celebrates 'Tim Cook Day,' says Apple Maps' botched launch led to success
The poor reception of Apple Maps in 2012 was a turning point for Waze, fueling enough interest in the navigation app to lead to its $1 billion acquisition by Google a year later, Waze's CEO said in a interview published on Wednesday.
"We were acquired in 2013, but 2012 was sort of a defining moment for the company. It's a day that's still celebrated today at the company every year: it's called Tim Cook day, and it's the day Apple came out with Apple Maps," Noam Bardin told Business Insider, referring to the launch of iOS 6.
"The day before I was interviewed by a not-to-be-named publication, and it doesn't really matter what I said, but the headline said 'Apple partner says Maps will be terrible'," Bardin continued. Apple was upset by the article, to the point that Bardin was worried about being fired and Waze disappearing from the App Store.
Cook came into play with an open letter published on Sept. 28, in which he promised to fix Maps and in the meantime recommended several third-party alternatives -- Waze among them.
"That was our coming-out moment in the US, and from there things start to pick up pace, eventually ending in the acquisition in 2013," Bardin commented.
Prior to iOS 6, the iOS Maps app depended largely on content and features from Google Maps. Due to growing rivalry and legal battles with Google, Apple decided to jettison Google content in favor of its own app based on several third-party data sources. The initial result was a catastrophe, with many items missing or mislabeled, in rare cases with life-threatening consequences for drivers. The app also lacked public transit directions and had poorly-rendered 3D.
Apple has since fixed most problems, and is now working toward rolling out first-party map data with improved detail. Some of this is being recorded by car and on foot.
"We were acquired in 2013, but 2012 was sort of a defining moment for the company. It's a day that's still celebrated today at the company every year: it's called Tim Cook day, and it's the day Apple came out with Apple Maps," Noam Bardin told Business Insider, referring to the launch of iOS 6.
"The day before I was interviewed by a not-to-be-named publication, and it doesn't really matter what I said, but the headline said 'Apple partner says Maps will be terrible'," Bardin continued. Apple was upset by the article, to the point that Bardin was worried about being fired and Waze disappearing from the App Store.
Cook came into play with an open letter published on Sept. 28, in which he promised to fix Maps and in the meantime recommended several third-party alternatives -- Waze among them.
"That was our coming-out moment in the US, and from there things start to pick up pace, eventually ending in the acquisition in 2013," Bardin commented.
Prior to iOS 6, the iOS Maps app depended largely on content and features from Google Maps. Due to growing rivalry and legal battles with Google, Apple decided to jettison Google content in favor of its own app based on several third-party data sources. The initial result was a catastrophe, with many items missing or mislabeled, in rare cases with life-threatening consequences for drivers. The app also lacked public transit directions and had poorly-rendered 3D.
Apple has since fixed most problems, and is now working toward rolling out first-party map data with improved detail. Some of this is being recorded by car and on foot.
Comments
But Tim recommending Waze reminds me of the Alexa notification.
I'm not part of the brain-dead "fire Cook!" crowd but those 2 events are reasons to get him or someone at Apple fired.
No loss, though, as Maps has greatly improved since 2012, unlike Ways.
I am glad that they are celebrating Apple (Tim Cook). I wish more companies would thank Apple for giving them the opportunity, so in the grand scheme of things, us consumers benefit with many different options, but with Alphabet purchasing Waze, the benefit will soon be irrelevant.
I'll be glad when and if Apple addresses those.
Apple actually took marketshare.
They were being sarcastic and thanking Cook for his failure.
Keep in mind at the time Waze was not a great mapping app, but getting full access to the Google APIs made it so. Waze requires constant user attention, it's distracting and not a great fit for Apple's vision, but it is perfect for Google.
That said, more people need to be fired over Apple maps. Apple maps should not still be sending people to the wrong fucking continent when a very simple, generic search is entered (eg when I typed in (“cps”) it sent me to fucking Spain; I live in the US).
The ongoing failure of maps, and most of Apple’s services, in doing even the most basic tasks reliably, is an ongoing slap in the face to Apples customers.
Whatever happened with Siri shortcuts btw? Why does Siri still completely suck, and continue to be completely obnoxious in her repetitive and stagnant “personality”, after 7 gd years in Apple’s hands?
/s So, since your experience doesn't match mine, you must be completely wrong! /s
I use Siri every day for multiple things and almost never have an issue. I'm not sure what you're referring to when you say "whatever happened with Siri Shortcuts" as I use them daily, as well. As an example, the app for our alarm system got Siri Shortcuts support and now we can arm/disarm the alarm system after we have left the house or before we arrive with a quick Siri request. It might sound like a little thing but it's nice to, say, disarm the system from the garage and not have to worry about keying in a code when I'm carrying my child and keys or groceries or whatever. It's also nice not to hear the beeping. It also allowed me to build a shortcut to arm the house and run our "Good night" HomeKit scene when we go to bed. Now I say "Hey Siri, Good night" and the alarm system arms, lights and stereo turn off, temps get set and some lights come on very low.