Google reportedly distributing near-final version of standalone iOS Maps app
It was reported on Thursday that Google is distributing a test version of a standalone iOS Maps app to people outside the company, suggesting an application to the App Store may be imminent.
According to a person familiar with the matter, a Google Maps-powered app may soon hit the iOS App Store as the internet search giant is almost finished tweaking the software for Apple devices, reports The Wall Street Journal.
"We believe Google Maps are the most comprehensive, accurate and easy-to-use maps in the world," a Google spokesman said. "Our goal is to make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser, or operating system."
Google's standalone app will reportedly feature turn-by-turn navigation, which was reportedly one of the main reasons Apple ditched the service in iOS 6. According to reports, which were later corroborated by CEO Tim Cook, Apple decided to move away from Google's service because of disagreements related to offering free turn-by-turn directions, a feature Google had long since included in its own Android operating system.
Apple replaced the first-party Google-powered Maps app in the latest iOS 6 with a new in-house proprietary solution. Using assets from recent mapping-related acquisitions, along with help from TomTom data, Apple's Maps app, with its Flyover 3D mapping tech, was one of the standout features of iOS 6 when the mobile operating system was highlighted at WWDC in June. Critics and consumers panned the new Maps app for lacking Google's massive dataset, as well as missing features like Street View. The issue was further compounded by incorrect data and quirks with the Flyover function.
The fallout from the system's debut prompted Cook to write a letter to customers, apologizing for the new mapping service's shortcomings.
Google's Street View as seen in mobile Safari.
Google has been working to re-establish its presence on iOS after its YouTube app was also deprecated from the platform, and has offered a number of free apps that return most of that functionality back to Apple's devices. Maps has been noticeably absent, however, though the company did activate Street View for web apps, meaning mobile Safari users can access the feature in-browser.
In October, photographs of an iOS device running Google's alleged standalone iOS Maps app were leaked to press, showing what appeared to be a near-final version of the software. It is unclear if and when Google will submit the app for approval.
According to a person familiar with the matter, a Google Maps-powered app may soon hit the iOS App Store as the internet search giant is almost finished tweaking the software for Apple devices, reports The Wall Street Journal.
"We believe Google Maps are the most comprehensive, accurate and easy-to-use maps in the world," a Google spokesman said. "Our goal is to make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser, or operating system."
Google's standalone app will reportedly feature turn-by-turn navigation, which was reportedly one of the main reasons Apple ditched the service in iOS 6. According to reports, which were later corroborated by CEO Tim Cook, Apple decided to move away from Google's service because of disagreements related to offering free turn-by-turn directions, a feature Google had long since included in its own Android operating system.
Apple replaced the first-party Google-powered Maps app in the latest iOS 6 with a new in-house proprietary solution. Using assets from recent mapping-related acquisitions, along with help from TomTom data, Apple's Maps app, with its Flyover 3D mapping tech, was one of the standout features of iOS 6 when the mobile operating system was highlighted at WWDC in June. Critics and consumers panned the new Maps app for lacking Google's massive dataset, as well as missing features like Street View. The issue was further compounded by incorrect data and quirks with the Flyover function.
The fallout from the system's debut prompted Cook to write a letter to customers, apologizing for the new mapping service's shortcomings.
Google's Street View as seen in mobile Safari.
Google has been working to re-establish its presence on iOS after its YouTube app was also deprecated from the platform, and has offered a number of free apps that return most of that functionality back to Apple's devices. Maps has been noticeably absent, however, though the company did activate Street View for web apps, meaning mobile Safari users can access the feature in-browser.
In October, photographs of an iOS device running Google's alleged standalone iOS Maps app were leaked to press, showing what appeared to be a near-final version of the software. It is unclear if and when Google will submit the app for approval.
Comments
Apple Maps has been the single most annoying and useless thing the company have ever done for me. 20+ years. This is the worst.
It's so infuriatingly useless.
They have, like *one* person that can do reasonably good design at Google (G ), so if he is busy it's going to be a dog's breakfast for sure.
I dont know what all the fuss is about. Apple maps works flawlessly for me.
Never had a problem with it.
I think the people having problems with it are folks outside the US.
I'm just saying.
Most consumers are over the whole Maps thing.
Seems it was all media-inflated in the first place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ifij775
I'll probably download it and never use it. Apple maps works fine for me
I'll do the same...what can G-Map do that Apple Map cannot? May be offline map. I am not really expect it will be there. So it better be a good one, otherwise, I am the one to kick if off my phone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by super8sean
... I think the people having problems with it are folks outside the US. ...
This is it precisely. However, most of the world is "outside of the USA." Heck, most of North America is "outside of the USA." The USA is actually a small place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedicivalvole
Good. It is seriously needed for the UK and parts of Europe.
Apple Maps has been the single most annoying and useless thing the company have ever done for me. 20+ years. This is the worst.
It's so infuriatingly useless.
I have the exact opposite opinion. Google Maps was a useless kludge that Google intentionally crippled so it wasn't feature compatible with the Android version. It was a slap in the face to iOS users, just like Microsoft and its Mac version of Office, and just like the Mac version of Intuit's Quicken. I think canning Google Maps was a wakeup call for Google and I don't have any intention of downloading it as Apple maps is already superior in a number of ways. Google needs Apple more than Apple needs Google. And Google rushing to replace their app with a better version is proof of that. Why didn't they do this in the first place? Why did they wait until Apple told them to take a hike? I don't understand some Apple users' fascination with and reverence for Google. They have done nothing but screw over Apple and its devotees... from Android to Maps. They are evil.
Still no comment on the APPL fire sale today?
Quote:
Originally Posted by lkrupp
I have the exact opposite opinion. Google Maps was a useless kludge that Google intentionally crippled so it wasn't feature compatible with the Android version. It was a slap in the face to iOS users, just like Microsoft and its Mac version of Office, and just like the Mac version of Intuit's Quicken. I think canning Google Maps was a wakeup call for Google and I don't have any intention of downloading it as Apple maps is already superior in a number of ways. Google needs Apple more than Apple needs Google. And Google rushing to replace their app with a better version is proof of that. Why didn't they do this in the first place? Why did they wait until Apple told them to take a hike? I don't understand some Apple users' fascination of and reverence for Google. They have done nothing but screw over Apple and its devotees... from Android to Maps. They are evil.
I laughed at pretty much every sentence of your post, but the most amusing part was a guy from the midwest arguing with the previous commenter's opinion that iOS maps is a mess in the UK and parts of Europe. Spend a lot of time navigating the EU with your iPhone, do ya, Krupp?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedicivalvole
Good. It is seriously needed for the UK and parts of Europe.
Apple Maps has been the single most annoying and useless thing the company have ever done for me. 20+ years. This is the worst.
It's so infuriatingly useless.
Maybe where you are, but where I am it is great. I love the fast rendering, beautiful graphics, and turn by turn. Moreover, I didn't use Apple maps at all when it was powered by Google.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedicivalvole
Good. It is seriously needed for the UK and parts of Europe.
Apple Maps has been the single most annoying and useless thing the company have ever done for me. 20+ years. This is the worst.
It's so infuriatingly useless.
Agree 100%
I get a sick feeling every time I look at the Maps icon...
Quote:
Originally Posted by super8sean
I dont know what all the fuss is about. Apple maps works flawlessly for me.
Never had a problem with it.
I think the people having problems with it are folks outside the US.
I'm just saying.
According to the US Census Bureau:
US population: 311,591,917 (Jul 2011)
Area: 9,827,000 km²
World population: 6,973,738,433 in 2011 (source, world bank)
World area: 510,072,000 km²
I'm just saying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsdofny
I'll do the same...what can G-Map do that Apple Map cannot? May be offline map. I am not really expect it will be there. So it better be a good one, otherwise, I am the one to kick if off my phone.
personally, the disconnection of public transit directions to other apps is neck snapping... i prefer the old maps interface where I could enter start and destination, and compare driving to public transit in one app, as opposed to keying it up in 2 different apps (transit for me).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cash907
Still no comment on the APPL fire sale today?
What's to say? And what's the rush to say it?
1) If the bit of a crash is a transitory thing in a few weeks nobody will remember it; or
2) If it's a serious re-assessment of APPL (maybe biz partners upset over the ios6 glitch causing over-charges that have to be calculated and refunded, and some other things) then there will be plenty of time for all the sides to take up positions and deny it/snark it/over-analyze it/ignore it seriously.
Tomorrow's another day. Apple will be around being Apple.