We thought it was bad enough Siri being released on the iPhone 4S when it was so obviously in beta and not fit for public consumption. But the Apple Maps fiasco takes the biscuit.
Basically, Apple was in such a rush to get rid of Google Maps and replace it with Apple Maps and its location-based money-making potential in iOS 6, it's released a hugely substandard product that's so bad it's laughable.
Apple Maps does not work. Search throws up inaccurate results and satellite view makes you seasick.
Give Apple its due, it acknowledged the balls up early on...and now the company is out and out grovelling.
CEO Tim Cook has released a letter to iOS 6 users apologising and advising us to use rival products like Microsoft's Bing Maps and the web-based version of Google Maps.
To our customers,I'm not so sure Apple will get over this simply with an apology. After Siri, Antennagate and now Maps, it simply can't be trusted.
At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.
We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.
There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.
While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.
Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.
Tim Cook
Apple’s CEO
Steve Jobs must be spinning.
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