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Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

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Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#71

Post by jlgreco »

qq66 wrote: post #54
Tichy wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was Apple's decision, not Google's.

Sorry - I meant the decision to put an App in the App Store. If the Apple Maps are bad as people seem to be proclaiming, Google should let iOS 6 brew up ill will with Apple's customer base, especially since Apple users tend to upgrade their OS's immediately, and use it to promote Android.

You could alternatively see this situation as Google signaling that they are willing to act in the best interests of the consumer even if it means sacrificing strategy, putting them in stark contrast with Apple in the eyes of the people who are critical of Apple's new mapping application (ie, the people who are going to be deciding to continue using Google's maps.)

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#72

Post by jmelloy »

masklinn wrote: post #12
michaelkscott wrote: post #6

Seriously, why wouldn't Apple approve it? Which of their terms will this app violate?

"Duplicates a native service" would be my guess". "We'll refuse what the fuck we want" is an other possibility.

I don't believe they've used that in a while. They let Chrome & Sparrow on without any complaints.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#73

Post by msbarnett »

capo wrote: post #7

Duplicates a native service Surly it can't be legal for Apple to potentially reject an app on such grounds?! and on that subject where is the talkative Google search update? http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/building-search-engin...

How to understand this in 3 easy steps:

1) Build a product. Any product, doesn't matter.

2) Walk into Wal-Mart and demand that they sell it.

3) Watch them laugh you out of the store.

Stores aren't under any obligation whatsoever to sell something just because you, or I, or Google, wants to sell it in them.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#74

Post by qq66 »

jlgreco wrote: post #71
qq66 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry - I meant the decision to put an App in the App Store. If the Apple Maps are bad as people seem to be proclaiming, Google should let iOS 6 brew up ill will with Apple's customer base, especially since Apple users tend to upgrade their OS's immediately, and use it to promote Android.

You could alternatively see this situation as Google signaling that they are willing to act in the best interests of the consumer even if it means sacrificing strategy, putting them in stark contrast with Apple in the eyes of the people who are critical of Apple's new mapping application (ie, the people who are going to be deciding to continue using Google's maps.)

I don't think that the typical consumer's understanding of technology industry dynamics is deep enough for this to be relevant. I think the decision is more like, "Steve's phone's maps suck, I don't want that phone."

After all, all of these companies have faced huge amounts of criticism (Apple for worker's conditions, Google for its actions in China, Facebook for privacy issues), and they don't seem to meaningfully erode consumer enthusiasm.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#75

Post by xuki »

nachteilig wrote: post #38

Thank god. I'm holding off on upgrading to iOS 6 until this is released, so it will be very welcome. I live in a city, so accurate location data is important to me (and I prefer not to use the web based google maps because I don't want to give safari permission to use location data)!

Note that you don't have to give location data to all websites. You can allow maps.google.com and deny others.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#76

Post by 27182818284 »

recoiledsnake wrote: post #29
nostromo wrote: post #21

This map uproar seems a tad hyperbolic. I used it this morning and I was actually pleasantly surprised. My map experience wasn't worse as I expected, but actually much better with turn by turn. The people most upset seem to generally be edge cases. I'm sure Apple will work those out as complaints roll in. Google has had 7 years to perfect maps. Apple feels maybe a year behind in some respects and a year ahead in othe…

>The people most upset seem to generally be edge cases I love it how you dismiss 99% of people and the globe as an edge case by your anecdote of it working well for you. Let me take a guess, you live on the West Coast where Apple engineers live?

I like your comment a lot because I often feel like Silicon Valley dismisses the Midwest (sometimes even including Chicago!) as an edge case / not important and that's in the same country even.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#77

Post by msbarnett »

mmanfrin wrote: post #15
enjo wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can legally do whatever they want. They've pulled apps before for the same rule. It's part of playing in Apple's ecosystem. As a developer you always take the risk that Apple will decide to wield the ban-hammer, and you basically have no recourse.

Just like Microsoft could legally do what they wanted on windows vis-a-vis Netscape and IE.

Those aren't even remotely analogous. Nobody required Microsoft to sell Netscape. Microsoft got slapped for using its monopoly in Operating Systems to pressure third parties into not signing agreements to ship Netscape on their products.

The fundamental thing that's lacking here is that third-party coercion. The government is never going to force any company to carry and sell products they don't want to carry and sell.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#78

Post by jlgreco »

qq66 wrote: post #74
jlgreco wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could alternatively see this situation as Google signaling that they are willing to act in the best interests of the consumer even if it means sacrificing strategy, putting them in stark contrast with Apple in the eyes of the people who are critical of Apple's new mapping application (ie, the people who are going to be deciding to continue using Google's maps.)

I don't think that the typical consumer's understanding of technology industry dynamics is deep enough for this to be relevant. I think the decision is more like, "Steve's phone's maps suck, I don't want that phone." After all, all of these companies have faced huge amounts of criticism (Apple for worker's conditions, Google for its actions in China, Facebook for privacy issues), and they don't seem to meaningfully e…

You're right. I think the thought process likely to go through most consumers heads is either:

"This new maps thing sucks. Oh look, I can get Google's maps again. Thanks Google!"

or

"This new maps sucks. Oh well, the rest of the phone is great."

Google passing up the chance to keep people who already like one of their products happy on the off chance that they can pry Apple consumers away from Apple doesn't strike me as the best decision in the world.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#79

Post by 0xABADC0DA »

juiceandjuice wrote: post #41
cooldeal wrote: post #16

Wonder how this jives with Gruber's comments on the maps situation: >Using Maps to Improve Maps >> Scott Rafer: >>What’s missing from this conversation is that map usage is critical. […] Google’s maps are going to start degrading. Apple’s will get better. They’ll meet in the middle within 18 months. >The idea is that you need to collect usage data to improve your data. The only way for Apple to get from here to there…

This is such a stupid assumption. Apple's maps will never reach Google's. Why? Because Google's business model is so heavily dependent on highly accurate maps at so many levels. There's been posts on HN regarding Google's usage of Streetview/OCR to improve their map directions, and it's absolutely critical that their maps be the absolute highest quality in terms of content and accuracy of that content for their drive…

Apple's maps will never reach Google's.

There is one way Apple's maps already surpass Google's: no advertising.

For instance the iOS 5 Youtube app never showed ads, whereas the new app store one shows tons of them. Sometimes 1/4th of the screen is advertisement.

I'm sure it will be the same way for maps. Looking up a bus route, looking for used cars for cheap? Oh you are walking someplace, wouldn't you like a bicycle? There's five StarBucks® on your route!

No thanks. If I need the better features in Google Maps then I'll use it, but I'll go with the ad-free version if it works well enough.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#80

Post by gimiluv »

qq66 wrote: post #42

If this is true, then Google is making a catastrophically bad tactical error, or Apple Maps are not as horrendously awful as the blogosphere is making them out to be (haven't had a chance to try them myself).

I believe it to be a very wise tactical move. You have unhappy Apple customers looking for an immediate alternative. By the time Apple gets maps to an acceptable user state, the Apple customers will already have adapted to using Google maps on an Apple device. That's a major blow to Apple IMO.
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