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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

#81

Post by clark-kent »

msbarnett wrote: post #73
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.

That's because Walmart is not a marketplace like ebay. An app store is a marketplace with terms and conditions, any one that meets those terms should be allowed to list their app.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#83

Post by alwaysdoit »

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…

What do you mean? Google has never had control over the maps app on iOS. The previous app was also written by Apple, just using Google's Maps API.

For all we know, Google could have released their own maps app only to have it blocked by Apple for providing "duplicate functionality" since Apple bans developers from even revealing if their app has been rejected.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#84

Post by toyg »

guimarin wrote: post #37
ChuckMcM wrote: post #18

Ok, this is an interesting twist to the story. See my comments elsewhere on why I don't think an App version of Google Maps would see the light of day (if it did that would definitely count as 'plan C' in my book). Fun times.

Apple lost this particular battle ( mobile search ) the day Google bought Android. OSM is cool as we know, but it was not deployed until now, and the reaction is epic. Apple will fight the good fight like bing is doing in web search, but ultimately will be found wanting, just like bing. The only f-u play Apple has left is to spend billions of dollars making OSM on par with GoogleMaps, contributing that knowledge 'ups…

It's not just OSM, Apple also gets data from TomTom (since June this year).

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#85

Post by brown9-2 »

lftl wrote: post #52
capo wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would GMaps degrade in quality? Apple's might improve but Google's are on Android devices, and they have another key data source in StreetView.

I think Gruber was postulating that Apple would continue updating the app to take advantage of iOS in deeper ways while Google wouldn't put the same level of effort into the iOS version of the app, making it stagnate. So more of degrading of the iOS experience than anything related to map data.

He wrote "Google’s maps are going to start degrading", not that their app would degrade. He seems to imply that with less iOS users, they'd get less corrections - which ignores the large userbase of Google Maps on other platforms (Android, web).

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#86

Post by qq66 »

jlgreco wrote: post #78
qq66 wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Do most users actively know that the tiles in the iOS 5 Maps application are served by Google? The app itself is Apple top to bottom -- the display does say "Google" in the lower-left-hand corner -- but it would be interesting to know how users think of their iPhone maps application.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#87

Post by qq66 »

lftl wrote: post #52
capo wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would GMaps degrade in quality? Apple's might improve but Google's are on Android devices, and they have another key data source in StreetView.

I think Gruber was postulating that Apple would continue updating the app to take advantage of iOS in deeper ways while Google wouldn't put the same level of effort into the iOS version of the app, making it stagnate. So more of degrading of the iOS experience than anything related to map data.

The ability to take passive GPS readings and integrate with other parts of iOS is pretty powerful. Imagine if you had a reminder to "Buy new guitar strings" -- your phone could beep and say "You're just around the corner from a musical instrument store -- would you like to get those strings?" Of course, Apple could also decide whether or not to charge the instrument store for this lead generation.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#88

Post by bluedanieru »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #40
nostromo wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First Apple would need to be considered a monopoly. They're clearly not a monopoly since there are so many smart phone alternatives available.

That's not true, you don't have to be a monopoly to get in trouble for anti-competitive behavior, you just have to be... participating in anti-competitive behavior.

Yes, but what's anti-competitive depends on what your market position is.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#89

Post by rieter »

0xABADC0DA wrote: post #79
juiceandjuice wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Apple's Youtube app also made a large portion of content unavailable because of lack of advertisement support.

Re: Google has an iOS 6 Maps app awaiting approval

#90

Post by Caballera »

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…

People just need something to complain about and this was the most obvious choice. I too have been using the new Apple Map app and have had no problems with it.
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