Apple's decision to replace Google Maps with its own iOS 6 app has triggered a wave of criticism from iPhone owners. Thousands have complained of misplaced labels for businesses and landmarks as well as missing roads and, in some cases, entire towns. Perhaps even worse, others have reported errors such as rivers being split in half and the misplacement of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.
The new Maps app relies on Yelp for its local content data, such as landmarks and businesses, which many iPhone owners have found to lack the accuracy and level of detail as Google Maps. The new app does offer at least some advantages over the old version, however, including turn-by-turn guidance, real-time traffic information and a Flyover view.
"We launched this new map service knowing that it is a major initiative and we are just getting started with it," Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said. "We are continuously improving it, and as Maps is a cloud-based solution, the more people use it, the better it will get. We're also working with developers to integrate some of the amazing transit apps in the App Store into iOS Maps," she continued.
Even with the negative publicity surrounding the Maps app, it's unlikely to slow momentum of Apple's iPhone 5 sales, which all come with iOS 6 pre-installed. Apple's online store is already citing a 3-4 week delivery window after smashing records with over two million purchased on the first day of pre-orders. Stirring the pot, Nokia says that its maps are far better, offering the product comparison below.
