Q: Apple maps very disappointing

I never used Google maps very often, but when i did, it was great. However, my husband uses Google Maps all the time. He refuses to upgrade to ios6 because he does NOT want to lose Google Maps. I went ahead and upgraded to ios6 and have been playing with the Flyover feature in Apple Maps on my ipad and find it's like watching a weird Sci-Fi movie, NOT something that could EVER help someone find a location. STREET VIEW was very helpful in Google Maps. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PUT GOOGLE MAPS BACK IN IOS6 and beyond. Work WITH GOOGLE to please your loyal customers.

With Tim Cook's apology, I would not any more accuse Apple of being arrogant. That apology was the right thing to do and as a customer of Apple, I appreciate it very much.

However, the need was for a solution as well and unfortunately the solutions offered in Tim Cook's  letter do not solve the problem for many of us. I am still stuck with the additional cheap Android phone that I bought 2 days ago, just for Google Maps.

The reason is that for a very large part of the world, outside the USA, the applications (Waze, MapQuest etc. do not work and in a large country like India, are simply not available). None of the Map applications available on the Apple store in India (like Maps+) any longer use the Google Maps data. They have been forced to use the firmware APIs and now offer the same maps and data as the new, dysfunctional, Apple Maps.

Using Google Maps or Nokia Maps via Safari (home screen icon or not) is not a solution either as it is extremely cumbersome to use, especially on an iPhone. The larger screen of the iPad makes it somewhat usable. This is simply not a workable solution to use while on the move with the smartphone - the ease of use of a native App is required.

Apple must make its old app available as an independent option. So that we can use it for the next few months. After all, you still have the license for Google Maps data for another year. In the next few months, the Google Maps IOS App will be available. Other options may also come up and Apple Maps itself may become somewhat usable.

We need the old app as an interim solution. Otherwise, a lot of Apple customers who are dependent on Maps will lose time and money in the next few months. For some, it may even be life threatening at times - older people or less tech savvy people who do not know about the problem may end up using it during a medical emergency. Others may make traffic mistakes that could lead to accidents. Some businesses who have become dependent on good Maps may get disrupted as well.

I see that the 'Hosts' removed your shortcut. Is this the Apple police attempt to keep us disappointed/furious buyers in the dark?

"Sorry your maps didn't work. I have had a great experience with my maps."

So what? Are the rest of us making it up?

This is about so much more than turn-by-turn. There are a dozen excellent and mature apps that had that covered. My TomTom app beats the heck out of Apple's 'new' attempt at sat-nav - more accurate maps, more options, voices, etc, etc.

This is about map detail and accuracy, satellite imagery, STREETVIEW and integration with iOS. Apple Maps suck - end of.

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Ie.bouch nailed it. Why is that there are those annoying few, and really it is just a few who are that annoying who always enter a conversation or discussion and say they have a great experience when the majority do not? There is a time and place to keep your comments to yourself. This is something your parent's (assuming they raised you well) would've taught you. The fact is the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (you know where that quote comes from).

The map issue is so bad that even Captain Cook himself had to apologize for it. To dismiss or discount this is absurb and only shows your infatuation with Apple, devoidof  any logic. What Apple should and must do now is allow us all to downgrade to iOS 5.1. They should allow their servers to accept the previous version as instructions were posted here and the web along with the actual firmware for your device.

For people like me who have the iPhone 5, that might be more tricky. However, if Apple believes the impossible that they can create a similar mapping system in a very very short period of time (akin to parting the red sea) then they can figure out how to get Google maps onto the iPhone 5.

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Hi Jingling,

I feel for you, I really do but I don't think your posts have been removed as there are over 20 posts of yours shown on this link: https://discussions.apple.com/people/Jingling?view=profile

Unless there are others that have been removed?

The iOS 6 update has also left me with useless Apple devices but my plight is not as disasterous as yours but bad enough for a small UK business that put its trust in Apple.

I feel like a trusted member of staff sneaked into the business in the middle of the night, stole property and then the following day asked for a pay rise.

I know there are lots of people who did not rely on Streetview and Googlemaps i.e the ones who come on here and say "I'm all right Jack" but, don't they realise that this is a 'trust' issue.

I no longer trust Apple and, as such I can no longer allow them into my business.

Please 'All right Jack' people, realise that Apple can come along at any time and just remove the things 'You' need.

As an individual and not as a business, my need for working Maps on my smartphone (iPhone) and unavailability of viable alternatives in India forced me to buy a cheap android phone a couple of days back specifically for Maps.

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Lynnfromleigh, (and everyone)

My posts have all been removed - they erase all trace of them - even from your post list.

It's as if you never wrote them...

Unlike Apple I think people should understand the issue.

It may dissuade someone from buying an iPhone5 or upgraging to iOS 6 until they get the firmware fit for purpose.

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To gkinchina,

Yes, we're already on that one.

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There is no way to get in touch with you Jingling, you have the email address on your profile set to private

I didn't do that... Some other people did.

I'm sure you can guess who.

<Email Edited by Host>

We do not want to go back to 5.1.1.

We want a working Maps App like Google Maps on 5.1.1.

It's funny to see Apple Thinktank breaking ties with Google and now dirverting all of us to Bing who is again another competitor !

Chinatamani

You need to understand how this works - yes you are right we'd all like iOS6 with Google Maps.

However the firmware is written with the mapping application embedded. 

I believe iOS6 did not have a license for Google maps.

However reverting to iOS5 which does have a license would be a simple and low cost way for Apple to fix this whilst it sorts out what to do.

Time is the killer here, the longer that Apple leave it the deeper the damage.

Indecision is fatal, and we're about to find out if Captain Cook is worthy of the post he currently holds.