Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Google's Work Toward Standalone iOS Maps App Complicated by Integration with Google Earth
Amid varied reports claiming that Google has been working on a replacement standalone Maps app for iOS to replace the bundled app included with every version of iOS until last week's release of iOS 6, The New York Times weighs in with its own sources claiming that Google is indeed working on a standalone app for iPhone and iPad and is hoping to have it available in "another couple months or so".
As was noted yesterday by The Verge, Apple and Google still have over a year left on their contract for Google to provide Maps for iOS, and thus Google was caught off guard when Apple announced in June that it would be replacing Google's solution with its own Maps app for iOS 6. As a result, Google still needs several more months to complete work on a standalone offering to be submitted to Apple for inclusion in the App Store.
The New York Times notes that another challenge faced by Google stems from its desire to build 3D imagery into its upcoming Maps app for iOS 6. The functionality was added to the Google Earth app several months ago, but moving it to the more traditional mapping app will require additional work.
As was noted yesterday by The Verge, Apple and Google still have over a year left on their contract for Google to provide Maps for iOS, and thus Google was caught off guard when Apple announced in June that it would be replacing Google's solution with its own Maps app for iOS 6. As a result, Google still needs several more months to complete work on a standalone offering to be submitted to Apple for inclusion in the App Store.
The New York Times notes that another challenge faced by Google stems from its desire to build 3D imagery into its upcoming Maps app for iOS 6. The functionality was added to the Google Earth app several months ago, but moving it to the more traditional mapping app will require additional work.
Another complication, according to a person with knowledge of Google Maps: Google would likely prefer to release a maps app that includes 3-D imagery so it is comparable to Apple’s. But Google has 3-D images in Google Earth, which is a separate app with a separate code base from Google Maps, so it would take some time to combine the two.Apple's new Maps app has come under significant criticism for a number of issues, including incomplete or poor imagery, errors in locating points of interest and even cities, and a lack of transit information. As with Google Maps, users can report problems to Apple to help improve the product.
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88 months ago
By then, a lot of Apple's maps glitches will have been resolved.
The first couple of months will see a significant improvement in maps as millions of users calibrate data by simply using maps. If thousands of people travel on a road that is slightly off in maps, that road will be adjusted. If businesses find that their store pin is off, they'll Report a Problem and drop a pin in front of their door.
There will be a big bump in improvements in the first couple of months, then a gradual improvement as Apple tackles glitches and obvious problems over the year and then another big bump with the release of Maps 2.0 in iOS7 when Apple improves the codebase and adjusts/adds features.
Ripping off the bandaid is only going to hurt for a quick moment but Apple will gain control of their maps and we'll see steady improvements over the long term. It'll be worth it.
Big opportunity missed by Google in not having their app ready. Duh, who didn't see this coming??
The first couple of months will see a significant improvement in maps as millions of users calibrate data by simply using maps. If thousands of people travel on a road that is slightly off in maps, that road will be adjusted. If businesses find that their store pin is off, they'll Report a Problem and drop a pin in front of their door.
There will be a big bump in improvements in the first couple of months, then a gradual improvement as Apple tackles glitches and obvious problems over the year and then another big bump with the release of Maps 2.0 in iOS7 when Apple improves the codebase and adjusts/adds features.
Ripping off the bandaid is only going to hurt for a quick moment but Apple will gain control of their maps and we'll see steady improvements over the long term. It'll be worth it.
Big opportunity missed by Google in not having their app ready. Duh, who didn't see this coming??
88 months ago
looks like Apple may have played this one perfectly. Catch Google off guard, fix the problems as fast as you can, then by the time google does come out with something people will be used to Apple's map. BOOM. As long as Apple gets the map together, I don't think anyone will care about google maps. Apple actually gave me a much better route to take yesterday than what google suggested.
88 months ago
It will take YEARS for Apple to catch up on Google. Google is years ahead in experience, they have a bigger team dedicated to maps, and lots, lots, lots of data for POI's. Data gathering is their specialty, even. Add to that the poor reputation Apple has launching services (think MobileMe and Ping) and I can't see how this can ever succeed.
I believe Apple will improve their maps, sure, but catch up on Google? I don't think so.
I believe Apple will improve their maps, sure, but catch up on Google? I don't think so.
88 months ago
All these months of iOS 6 betas and Google was somehow taken by surprise? :rolleyes:
Edit: Okay, apparently Google has been “surprised” since June.
Edit: Okay, apparently Google has been “surprised” since June.
88 months ago
All these months of iOS 6 betas and Google was somehow taken by surprise? :rolleyes:
Edit: Okay, apparently Google has been surprised since June.
It was public knowledge that Apple had purchased Mapping companies over the past several years. If Google didn't know this could be coming and were not already working on a standalone map app for iOS they haven't been paying attention.
88 months ago
If Google had been founded by Steve Jobs they would have been working on a stand-alone map app "just in case" ever since 2008.
I'm not bashing Google here, they're probably acting like almost any other company would have. I'm just saying that this is interesting to me that as an organization they were apparently caught off guard by this.
I'm not bashing Google here, they're probably acting like almost any other company would have. I'm just saying that this is interesting to me that as an organization they were apparently caught off guard by this.
88 months ago
Delusional
A lot of you, including ipedro are delusional. Google HAS been working on an iOS Google Maps since iOS 6 betas were released showing no more support for Google Maps. Read up and do some research. Further, to say it's well played by Apple is hilarious. It's like Apple can do no wrong in your eyes. If you took all Google services off the iPhone like I hope Google does, i.e., Google Earth, Chrome, Gmail, Google+, translate, Google Voice, Google Drive, YouTube, Apple would be in a world of hurt. It's funny you people think it's going to take a measily couple of months to almost fully heal Apple Maps when it's taken Google years and years and years to get it done right. Start from the ground up. Apple bought tons of companies and slapped them all together hoping they'd work. I think it's genius of Google to have kept their app available at iOS 6 launch. Now people will see how horrible Apple Maps is and how long it'll take to get it even near usable and they'll be begging for Apple to bring back Maps.
A lot of you, including ipedro are delusional. Google HAS been working on an iOS Google Maps since iOS 6 betas were released showing no more support for Google Maps. Read up and do some research. Further, to say it's well played by Apple is hilarious. It's like Apple can do no wrong in your eyes. If you took all Google services off the iPhone like I hope Google does, i.e., Google Earth, Chrome, Gmail, Google+, translate, Google Voice, Google Drive, YouTube, Apple would be in a world of hurt. It's funny you people think it's going to take a measily couple of months to almost fully heal Apple Maps when it's taken Google years and years and years to get it done right. Start from the ground up. Apple bought tons of companies and slapped them all together hoping they'd work. I think it's genius of Google to have kept their app available at iOS 6 launch. Now people will see how horrible Apple Maps is and how long it'll take to get it even near usable and they'll be begging for Apple to bring back Maps.
88 months ago
I don't need a 3D map. I just want to find a place that is actually where it's supposed to be.
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