Google Maps for iPhone • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Maps for iPhone

#61

Post by reidmain » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 1:16 AM UTC

jonknee wrote: post #38

reidmain wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh of course Google would want it's application to be the default. Who wouldn't? It is free users. To my knowledge pure Google Android doesn't package any third-party apps that tap into third-party services which compete with Google. I'm happy that they don't block any apps from being added to the marketplace and for the most part I am happy with Apple for that same stance as well. I have Chrome, Gmail and Google Map…

> To my knowledge pure Google Android doesn't package any third-party apps that tap into third-party services which compete with Google. "Pure" Google Android doesn't package anything, to get the Google applications you need to make a deal with Google. If you were able to convince Apple to make an iTunes Android app you could certainly ship it by default on a phone. Real life example: some devices from AT&T ship with…

But Google has no control over the carriers. They can't prevent them from putting that stuff on it. They got in bed with the carriers to distribute as many phones with Android on them as possible.

Re: Google Maps for iPhone

#62

Post by Shooti » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 1:26 AM UTC

danilocampos wrote: post #40

jonknee wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But it's true. In iOS 5 I had Google Maps but no vector tiles, no turn-by-turn or voice navigation, and Apple tried to get Google to work with them on that but (regardless of whose fault it was) negotiations failed. Now, here we are, and as an iPhone user I now have a Google Maps that not only has those features but is arguably, currently, better than the Android version(!) The lack of innovation was exclusively Ap…

> The lack of innovation was exclusively Apple's fault. They neglected to update its Google Maps powered app and decided to enter into war with Google at the detriment to Apple customers. If Steve Jobs hadn't gone nuclear on Google, the Maps debacle would never have happened. From what body cavity have you pulled this? At this point the calculus is pretty well understood. Apple's license covered bitmap tiles, traffic…

Out of curiosity where are you getting the "way more user data" part? The WSJ/AllThingsD article which all the blog stories were derived from and is as close to definitive as we're going to get put it this way:

"Sources tell AllThingsD that Google, for example, wanted more say in the iOS maps feature set. It wasn’t happy simply providing back-end data. It asked for in-app branding. Apple declined. It suggested adding Google Latitude. Again, Apple declined. And these became major points of contention between the two companies, whose relationship was already deteriorating for a variety of other reasons, including Apple’s concern that Google was gathering too much user data from the app."

http://allthingsd.com/20120926/apple-google-maps-talks-crash...

Google Latitude doesn't automatically mean its collecting more data, since its opt in/sign in even on Android.

Re: Google Maps for iPhone

#63

Post by Steko » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 3:52 AM UTC

reidmain wrote: post #59

Steko wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Jailbreaking will never go mainstream" My understanding is that it's already mainstream for carriers to jailbreak phones for customers in many countries.

Really? I think you mean unlocking. Carriers are usually content producers and jailbreaking is mostly done for piracy reasons so I'd be surprised if carriers are onboard.

Maybe I meant "that guy at the phone shop". My understanding is that jailbroken phones are widespread in, e.g. China.

Re: Google Maps for iPhone

#64

Post by jkn » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:07 AM UTC

Steko wrote: post #52

w1ntermute wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you still can't easily highlight-open / link addresses to open in Google Maps And this is thanks to Apple's own my-way-or-the-highway design decisions with iOS. It's amazing how people still put up with not being able to change default application settings in iOS. Then again, that goes to show you how strong the RDF still is. Apple fanbois like Steko continue to come out of the woodwork any time Apple gets criticiz…

"Apple fanbois like Steko continue to come out of the woodwork any time Apple gets criticized, ready to defend them no matter what decision they've made." Me in this thread, 30 min before your post: "This can only bring more and more focus onto iOS's most glaring weakness: the lack of contracts/intents/services. If the next version of iOS doesn't have it I think you will see jailbreaking go mainstream." ... "fanbois…

I dont know if there is a good way of saying this, but I would personally find such feedback useful and there are no private messages on HN so here it is:

I do remember your username as maybe the second most Apple-biased contributor on HN. Feel free to say the same about me and Google if that is what you think...