Apple's iOS Maps app is woefully at the back the times.
In fact, lots of third-party iOS apps offer features you won't find in the Maps app built in to iPhones and iPads. Even more deleterious for Apple: The Maps app built in to Android has offering turn-by-turn navigation for really a few time, but Apple never implemented the underline - notwithstanding the fact that it's always used Google Maps for its back-end.
So when Apple voiced Monday that iOS 6 would add a new Maps app built from the belligerent up by Cupertino's finest, the Apple loyal applauded. In short: Google's out, and Apple's going to right away manage its own mapping future.
It all sounds great on paper, and it's high time that Apple modernized its Maps offering. But the firm is still a late entrant to a mapping space that's abounding with determined players. Apple has a lot of infectious up to do, and there are going to be flourishing pains.
"Mapping is not easy," Gartner researcher Brian Blau told Wired. "Mapping technology is innately tough to do. The information sets are very large, and office building in directions fairly is difficult, as are things similar to implementing traffic, and points of fascination - notably with GPS not being notably accurate."
Monday's iOS 6 statement enclosed a demo of turn-by-turn navigation. It was an splendid spectacle, but it moreover annoyed a question: Why didn't Apple confederate turn-by-turn much, sufficient sooner? A look back in story provides answers.
When iOS initial launched in the iPhone in 2007, Apple embraced Google Maps as its mapping back-end. But over the years, opposition between the tech giants increased to a heat pitch. So it's expected that Apple motionless a few years ago to finally desert Google Maps, and emanate its own platform. And since Apple knew it was finally going to tumble Google as its back-end, there was no indicate in pulling serve enhancement or formation with the network cursed to a paltry lifespan.
As a result, turn-by-turn was never introduced in iOS, even though users could daub in to costly third-party apps is to same support.
It's now really without doubt that Apple's been office building its own mapping stage for really a few time. Over the past 3 years, the firm has acquired several not similar mapping-related startups similar to Placebase, Poly9, and C3 Technologies. The latter expected provides the smarts at the back Maps' new 3D Flyover feature.
But having a group doesn't matter if you do not have a strong information set of maps to work with. "If you do not own a map, you have to go out and permit one. That's a tough process," Waze CEO Noam Bardin told Wired. Google motionless 8 years ago to deposit millions on millions in its assignment to chart and sketch the roadways of the world. But Apple hasn't invested in mapping for wherever nearby 8 years, and its merger and partnership options have been limited.
Apple couldn't daub Google for help, since Google owns Android. Navteq would have done a great partner, but it's owned by Nokia, so Microsoft gets to take value of all those maps for Windows Phone. This left TomTom as the primary source for Apple's bespoke mapping platform.
"Apple has a large jump to jump over here. Mapping products from other companies are fairly modernized and have been around for a long time," Gartner researcher Brian Blau told Wired. Indeed, Apple's competitors have years of experience office building maps not usually is to browser and desktop, but mobile as well. Google, for example, now covers 26 million miles of thoroughfare globally in 187 countries.
Contrast this with TomTom, that has been around since 1991, and covers reduction territory: roughly 22.4 million passable miles in 109 countries.
"TomTom has the lowest-quality maps in the US," Bardin said. And Blau agreed: "I've attempted out all the mapping products over the past couple of years, and we would lend towards to consent that [TomTom]‘s products aren't tip of class."
According to authorised notices in the iOS 6 beta , Waze is providing crowd-sourced traffic and mapping information to Apple for its new Maps app, along with a handful of other not as big providers. These tiny partnerships are helpful, but Apple is expecting problems with Maps, and has accounted for it: "If you look at the iOS 6 [beta] map, it has a symbol to surprise them about a chart problem," Bardin said.
Some of these problems might add omitted references to new roads, misnamed roads, and routing changes that were never
Apple's new Maps will moreover insufficient Google's Street View feature, something many users will positively miss. It moreover won't add built-in movement directions. It will, however, in its initial chronicle send you to third-party apps that do give open movement information. Andy Baio posits that inclusive accurate, present movement directions "was as if as well tough to endeavor for this initial release."
So, with all these downsides, why would Apple take the luck to rise its own mapping solution? Is Google really such a melancholy contestant that the two companies can't find familiar belligerent in mapping?
The answer is simple: Apple needs superior, systemwide mapping formation opposite its whole OS.
"Maps are an integral square of functionality for a mobile device," Blau said. "Google's just not going to be able to give that for Apple given the turn of contest between them." Thus, Maps in iOS 6 won't just reinstate Google Maps - it will show up via the working network in new, novel ways.
Forrester researcher Thomas Husson echoed the significance of, and direction toward, stronger maps formation in mobile devices. "Location-based services go way over just maps and turn-by-turn navigation," Husson told Wired via email. "Location is no longer a service per se, similar to maps or navigation, but is increasingly an enabler of new product experiences."
Maps formation with Siri is one e.g. of this, as is iOS 6′s more strong local finding feature, that allows you to obtain information on more than 100 million business listings. Google usually has 80 million listings . Apple can moreover finally add features similar to turn-by-turn navigation and 360 views of civil areas with Flyover.
"Apple wants to pledge a great experience for its users by having a great product," Blau said. "They might have to rest on allies similar to Yelp and TomTom, but it's usually to the indicate where they obtain to manage the experience."
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