Apple maps was an unmitigated disaster..sort of. Apple’s
main reason for developing their own maps application was to provide iPhone
users with turn-by-turn navigation, something Google had been shipping to
Android users for years.
Undoubtedly, many aspects of Apple maps fell short of what
Google had previously offered. Pictures were screwy, landmarks were flat-out in
the wrong location and transit directions were no longer available. Apple
apologized for an app that didn’t meet their usual high standards.
But here’s where the real gain comes: competition. Google
now has a “competitor” for their maps app and has a reason to produce one for
iOS and make it better than what Apple has. Apple has always relied on the
strength of the wide offerings of their apps, not necessarily on the strength
of the apps that Apple develops.
For dedicated iOS 6 users, the current maps app landscape is
not as great as it was in iOS 5. However once Google gets their own app into
iOS 6 the real gains for consumers begins. And Apple’s strengthening of their
consumer base continues.
Hooray for vector-based!
No comments:
Post a Comment