Apple CEO: We are 'extremely sorry' for Maps flap

[jsr]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57522196-37/apple-ceo-we-are-extremely-sorry-for-maps-flap/

Apple CEO: We are 'extremely sorry' for Maps flap
Tim Cook says Apple fell short on its commitment to its customers, acknowledges their frustration, and even suggests using alternatives.
by Roger Cheng

Apple CEO Tim Cook took the most drastic step yet to address the growing furor over the company's beleaguered map application, saying he was "extremely sorry" for the frustration felt by customers and vowing to improve the program.

"With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment," Cook said in a statement, which was first reported on by TechCrunch.

An apology from Apple is a rare thing, but the company has said sorry from time to time, including the "Antennagate" troubles two years ago with the iPhone 4. This time again, Apple has been forced to confront a problem publicly. The maps flap has allowed competitors such as Motorola Mobility take a swipe at the smartphone giant, and left it vulnerable to criticism.

Cook also took the unusual step of recommending alternatives such as the Bing, MapQuest, or Waze maps apps, or using Google or Nokia's map Web sites while the company works to improve its own app.

[ReasonableToo]

1. Heard about maps. Holding off on update. End.

[ksoze]

2. Worth the upgrade unless you live and die with a google map

Other good changes that make the weak maps less of an issue. There are so many map and direction apps anyway, it is not worth missing the 6.0 enhancements due to a less than stellar built-in map app.

[ReasonableToo]

6. Perhaps I'll look I to it.

I guess I'm getting old b/c I'm not pressed about having the latest software version. I'm on the 3s, 4s schedule so not due for new hardware yet.

I'll check apple for what's included with 6. . .

[reformist2]

3. Sorry? They should have waited a few months to get it right, instead of taking advantage of fans.

Personally I don't care - I don't own anything Apple.

[Bake]

4. I haven't upgraded to iOS 6 yet, because of the Maps issue.

But the panorama camera looks pretty cool!

Bake

[onehandle]

5. I've been using them since Friday of last week on my iPhone 5. No problems whatsoever.

Glad to have the Google Spy System off my phone...

Speaking of Google...
_________

Google's "iLost" Motorola ad faked an address to "lose" iOS 6 Maps

Google's Motorola Mobility subsidiary went looking for an address that didn't actually exist in an effort to artificially portray Apple's new iOS 6 Maps as deficient.

In a marketing ploy not unlike Nokia's faked camera shots to promote features of its new Windows Phone 8 models, an ad promoting Motorola's Droid RAZR M is portrayed being able to locate an address that iOS 6 Maps directs to a wrong road name in what appears to be the wrong city.

The problem, as noted by reader AMD Pettitte, is that 315 E 15th Street is not an actual address in Manhattan. A public park sits on that side of the street, making none of the block's odd numbers a valid address. The number will never be a valid address in Manhattan. This is indicated by looking closely at the picture, but none of the thousands of people sharing the false address lookup ad seemed to notice this.

What was apparently once the 300 block of East 15th Street is now named Marlborough Road. Five blocks away, Marlborough Road turns into E 15th Street, where numbers begin on the 800 block. So Apple's Maps returning a location on Marlborough Road when searching for East 15th Street isn't nearly as absurd as Google's ad portrays.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/09/27/googles-ilost-motorola-ad-faked-an-address-to-lose-ios-6-maps