Photos allegedly show native Google Maps app for iOS
A set of images released on Sunday reveal what is claimed to be Google's anticipated Google Maps app for iOS, suggesting the internet search giant is well into the process of developing standalone software after Apple ditched its mapping services with iOS 6.
Photo of alleged native iOS Google Maps app. | Source: Ben Guild
As noted by Forbes, Developer Ben Guild posted what are apparently photographs of an iDevice running a native version of Google Maps, which he says is currently in the alpha testing phase.
It is unclear how Guild acquired the photographs, or if they are legitimate, however the developer claims to have further inside knowledge on the supposed app, writing:
Apple replaced the Google Maps-powered Maps app in iOS 6 with a proprietary solution that has been criticized for a lack of features and incorrect data, among other operating issues. The iOS Maps fiasco prompted Apple CEO Tim Cook to offer an apology to users, saying the service will get better over time.
Subsequent reports revealed the Cupertino-based company had a year left on its contract with Google Maps, but decided to move to its own mapping service despite warnings from developers that the product was fraught with problems. Some speculated the move was driven by disagreements over free turn-by-turn directions, a long-standing feature of Google Maps for Android that was never seen on the iOS iteration.
Photo of alleged native iOS Google Maps app. | Source: Ben Guild
As noted by Forbes, Developer Ben Guild posted what are apparently photographs of an iDevice running a native version of Google Maps, which he says is currently in the alpha testing phase.
It is unclear how Guild acquired the photographs, or if they are legitimate, however the developer claims to have further inside knowledge on the supposed app, writing:
Google is expected to offer its mapping service on iOS sometime soon, though an exact timeline remains nebulous and the recent news of alpha testing hint that the software is months away.
- It?s vector-based.
- It?s got two-finger rotation to any angle.
- It?s super fast.
- 4-inch height of the iPhone 5 is supported!
Apple replaced the Google Maps-powered Maps app in iOS 6 with a proprietary solution that has been criticized for a lack of features and incorrect data, among other operating issues. The iOS Maps fiasco prompted Apple CEO Tim Cook to offer an apology to users, saying the service will get better over time.
Subsequent reports revealed the Cupertino-based company had a year left on its contract with Google Maps, but decided to move to its own mapping service despite warnings from developers that the product was fraught with problems. Some speculated the move was driven by disagreements over free turn-by-turn directions, a long-standing feature of Google Maps for Android that was never seen on the iOS iteration.
Comments
So huge that it’s impossible to stand back far enough to photograph the entire screen.
I’ll be glad to have it for the occasional Street View check, and for transit (Google’s site already does all this on iPhone, but an app would be nicer).
But I don’t expect to use it much... people seem to be figuring out that iOS 6 Maps is actually pretty good in daily use. (Even if they have forgotten [URL=http://vore.cc/post/32503374905/old-maps-vs-new-maps]all the errors[/URL] they still run into with Google Maps. Google seems to get a free pass on errors that cause a furor when it’s Apple! Funny how people loved TomTom and Waze, but now that data’s suddenly not good enough with Apple in the picture...)
I don't need Google Maps anymore thank you.
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
Why not post complete screenshots instead of these teasers? Unless it's not real.
Same reason the original iPad leaked pictures were only partial and in the dark like this, probably. Those were real, while the "Office on iOS" images of this type so far haven't been.
I know I am only in the 3% of IOS user bothered by the shitty apple maps, but to me personally it matters enough to wait patiently to upgrade to IOS6 and am holding of on buying a IPhone5.
In the meantime I'm starting to look around for alternatives to replace my apple gear, cause without maps I don't need an Iphone. Without an IPhone I need a different media player, so I don't need I-Tunes and without I-Tunes I don't need my Apple TV. And subsequently can also move my dev platform from OS-X back to Linux, and if I do that I don't need to pay premium for a mac book pro.
All because of a simple stupid maps app. Crazy.
I think Apple should, and will, allow them to go about it the same way that anyone else with an App would. I am looking forward to seeing the outcome of this horse race -- unless Google can offer their most cutting edge product, it won't fly.
Originally Posted by Marcel655
All because of a simple stupid maps app. Crazy.
Yeah, it is pretty crazy to spend thousands of dollars and waste all that time to fix a problem that doesn't really exist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfergenson
Am I the only person who likes the new Maps app? It fixes a few of my pet peeves including the fact that the old app's route highlighter blocked the traffic. I've found it to be accurate every time I've tried to use it and it's much faster on my 3G iPhone 4.
A recent survey found that 9/10 iPhone 5 users are having no issues with maps. And that number will increase everyday as it improves. So no, you're not alone. Not by a long shot. Don't be tricked into thinking that the hyper-sensationalized hysteria on the internet has anything to do with reality. I don't remember the last time internet reactions (tech-blog, comment sections, etc) have been in line with reactions in the real world. The majority of people have no issues with maps, myself included. The minority that do are extremely vocal about it. Look at someone like iSheldon, who has accumulated at least a few hundred posts trolling it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcel655
For everyone NOT living in the USA this is pretty cool. Currently Apple maps puts my place of work about 120km in the wrong direction in Australia, and my second home in Germany is only rendered in black and white. I mean black and white serious WTF?
I know I am only in the 3% of IOS user bothered by the shitty apple maps, but to me personally it matters enough to wait patiently to upgrade to IOS6 and am holding of on buying a IPhone5.
In the meantime I'm starting to look around for alternatives to replace my apple gear, cause without maps I don't need an Iphone. Without an IPhone I need a different media player, so I don't need I-Tunes and without I-Tunes I don't need my Apple TV. And subsequently can also move my dev platform from OS-X back to Linux, and if I do that I don't need to pay premium for a mac book pro.
All because of a simple stupid maps app. Crazy.
Bye
Quote:
Originally Posted by anantksundaram
I expect this is going to happen sooner or later. Google can't afford to give up this prime customer base and be left with just the Android low-enders.
I think Apple should, and will, allow them to go about it the same way that anyone else with an App would. I am looking forward to seeing the outcome of this horse race -- unless Google can offer their most cutting edge product, it won't fly.
Competition brings out the best in Google. Before that, I cannot have my turn by turn navigation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcel655
For everyone NOT living in the USA this is pretty cool. Currently Apple maps puts my place of work about 120km in the wrong direction in Australia, and my second home in Germany is only rendered in black and white. I mean black and white serious WTF?
I know I am only in the 3% of IOS user bothered by the shitty apple maps, but to me personally it matters enough to wait patiently to upgrade to IOS6 and am holding of on buying a IPhone5.
In the meantime I'm starting to look around for alternatives to replace my apple gear, cause without maps I don't need an Iphone. Without an IPhone I need a different media player, so I don't need I-Tunes and without I-Tunes I don't need my Apple TV. And subsequently can also move my dev platform from OS-X back to Linux, and if I do that I don't need to pay premium for a mac book pro.
All because of a simple stupid maps app. Crazy.
Yeah, cause, you know, having the satellite imagery of your house temporarily in black & white really affects your life, or something. Also. I'd hope you can find your way to your workplace by now. But yeah, your decision to change operating systems and dev platforms and spend thousands of dolars buying new products and transitioning workflows because of a single app (that has alternatives) is completely justified.
As I said, the people bitching the most about maps online are fringe cases like the above, with extreme, hysterical reactions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcel655
... am only in the 3% of IOS ... the shitty apple maps...... IPhone5. .... Iphone. Without an IPhone.... I-Tunes and without I-Tunes .... OS-X .... mac book pro.
Hey, just so you know the next time you post: it's iOS, Apple, iPhone, iTunes, OS X, and MacBook Pro.
If you were actually using an Apple device to post, it would have (helpfully) corrected you. ;-)
PS: Apple came up with this naming convention just to make it easy-peasy to catch the fraudsters!
Quote:
Originally Posted by anantksundaram
Hey, just so you know the next time you post: it's iOS, Apple, iPhone, iTunes, OS X, and MacBook Pro.
If you were actually using an Apple device to post, it would have (helpfully) corrected you. ;-)
PS: Apple came up with this naming convention just to make it easy-peasy to catch the fraudsters!
No kidding. I can't wrap my mind around someone that can't the damn product names right. I mean, capitalizing the i AND adding a dash? I'd say someone who spells the products like that while claiming to own them is completely full of shit. He managed to mangle every single product name.
Sorry google, your window of oppertunity was measured in Internet time. You are now waaaaaaay too late.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shen
Too little too late? Apples maps app has already significantly improved its backend data since I upgraded my phone on day one of the rollout. If google had been ready that day I likely would have changed, stuck maps in a folder, and forgotten about it. Instead it improved, and while not perfect, is not wrong any more often than google used to be. And was the old maps correctable? Now when something is off I just drag the pin, report it, and damned if it isn't better in a few weeks. I don't recall that with google....
Sorry google, your window of oppertunity was measured in Internet time. You are now waaaaaaay too late.
..and imagine how much further it would have improved by Christmas. I predict Google maps will make very little impact. Google lost a golden opportunity.. by Eric Schmidt's own admission, they'd know 'for a long time' that Apple were moving to their own maps. If they were forward thinking they would have had the app ready by launch day, or shortly after, and would have benefitted from all the media attention and got good adoption. Now, their maps will hardly make a blip, since it will be released near the end of the year, or maybe even 2013.