Google Doubts Apple Will Approve Its New Maps Application 347
redletterdave writes "Even though Apple's App Store has also been friendly enough to offer alternative mapping applications to ameliorate customers upset with Apple's new default Maps app, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company may not be so friendly as to approve a Maps app submission from Google, which used to be responsible for the Maps experience in iOS until the iPhone 5. On Monday, sources at Google familiar with its mapping plans said the chances of Apple approving a dedicated Google Maps app on iOS 6 are 'not optimistic.' Specifically, they pointed to the lack of any mapping app in the 'Find maps for your iPhone' section of the App Store — accessible only via iPhones or iPads — that use the Google Maps APIs to call wirelessly for location, routing or point-of-interest (POI) data."
Re:complain (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:complain (Score:5, Interesting)
This is a case of apple exercising their reserved right to be an asshole.
Part of owning a walled garden is that you get to decide what is a weed and what is not.
Re:You don't need Google Maps... (Score:5, Interesting)
Good point, though I've just picked up one of the early Yuando N90FHD tablets, and it has an aluminium frame and back, not plastic.
It also has a 9.7" 2048x1152 screen, 1GB DDR3 RAM, 32GB Nand Flash, 10000mAh battery, runs Android 4.1, weighs just 674g and costs just over $220.
So yeah, you're partly right. It's not plastic, and it's not junk, but compared to Apple, it IS cheap.
Re:complain (Score:4, Interesting)
I honestly don't know HOW to complain to these companies. Their surveys and scripted responses make it impossible to talk to someone that can answer a question or respond intelligently. Exactly how they want it, I'm sure.
I tried to get people up in arms about the Lightning connectors for the new iphones and the authentication needed merely to charge... Several months ago. But slashdot, nor reddit would bother to help get the word out.
Re:Stupid apple (Score:5, Interesting)
Oh bullshit. Without Google Maps and Search on day one, the iPhone would have been a tiny fraction as effective a device as it was. Google Maps was the killer app, and STILL is as everyone has learned with the Apple Maps fiasco.
And Google didn't even *create* Android, they just bought a startup once it seemed obvious that mobile devices would be the dominant form of social interaction. What, was Google supposed to ignore that whole market just because *Apple* elected its CEO to their board? I'm pretty sure a CEO's responsibilities to his company trump a board member's, and if they were paying attention they should have asked Schmidt to leave a lot sooner.
Re:Is protecting your privacy a reason to hate App (Score:2, Interesting)
Are Apple users really worse off not having Lattitude track them as they use the map app? I don't think so
You don't have to use Lattitude at all to use the maps, and even if you do the tracking is opt-IN so it's only gathering data if you tell it to. While I object to having Lattitude force-bundled, frankly speaking the only concern is that it's bloatware.
In around a year the two maps will be equivalent for searches and iOS users will have a more readable map
That remains to be seen, Nostradamus. So far they don't seem to be doing a very good job fulfilling your prophecy.
with less user tracking
Uh, what? You mean less user tracking by Google, there's absolutely NO reason to assume that Apple won't track you.
I have used the navigation feature quite often and never had an issue, in fact when going to my house it chooses a route that is one I have been using for years, instead of a somewhat more roundabout path Google Maps always chose.
That's because the Google app is basing it's recommendation from data for the roads, traffic conditions, and travel times. The Apple app is using your own phone's location history in addition to road statistics and info. So it's not showing you the "best" route, it's showing you the route you've already told them you prefer to take. Do that same route lookup from a different iPhone which has never traveled that area, and you'll find the route it gives you is closer to the one Google and other navigation software provides.
Re:complain (Score:5, Interesting)
Well, Apple would have benefited too, you see. It's called a business deal - lots of companies do it, even if they compete in some markets. Still, it's clear that Apple felt it was worth spending millions on mapping companies and mapping development rather than give Google any more presence on their platform. Obviously the disagreement wasn't about cost.
It's interesting that while Apple may see Google as a competitor (and Samsung, Microsoft, Amazon etc etc), and may refuse to have anything to do with them outside the courtroom, Google has no problems working with Apple. Google make many iOS apps, they optimise their web services for Apple products, their employees are free to use iPhones and iMacs etc (and many do).
The comparison with Microsoft is also interesting. Apart from the infamous "look and feel" lawsuit in 1994, Apple has been far less antagonistic towards Microsoft than they are with Google, despite a number of similarities in the relationships.
The kool aid. (Score:5, Interesting)
I drank it for about 2 years, loved my iphone so much. My first smartphone - I was completely blown away by the thing.
Infact, I became so addicted to their products and so eager for new shit, I actually ruined a part of a nice long holiday in London in 2010 because I was so busy reading iphone 4 news, hoping for it's release while I was away, ordering the phone in the store over there - the whole lot. I was so desperate for the next 'iproduct' that I wasn't spending time enjoying myself on my holiday. Totally my own fault of course but part of dumb consumerism, brand loyalty, good marketing.
(Yes, I did end up buying it outright in the UK)
Over time though, I got sick of so many things I couldn't do. I hated that I needed to jailbreak just for SBSettings, which is frankly - fucking priceless (or was 18 months ago when I last used it) that one thing alone and the fact Apple hadn't copied SBSettings had me concerned. How can they NOT impliment this logical, awesome stuff?
They are devestatingly stubborn.
Someone showed me, I think a 2.2 build of Android and the pull down menu and the power bar widget. I was blown away. He was an Android nerd and lent me an Android phone for a few weeks. Almost all the shit which was pissing me off with an iphone was solved. I think I'd owned my iphone 4 for about 4 months at this point and then it went in a drawer for 7 months before I sold it - my journey had begun.
Would never EVER switch back now - just couldn't consider it
Won't deny one thing though - the hardware support from Apple, no one else comes close, not even remotely - which is sad. That whole "oh golly sir, it has a scratch and re-booted once on you?! Here have a new phone!" - that's good. That bought my loyalty for quite a while, won't deny that.
I hear Samsung and Asus are really bad to return things to - and I've personally
returned to Nokia (or tried to) I'll never purchase a Nokia product again.
Long story short though, this stubborn shit from Apple? surprising? Not at all, not even slightly.