Tag Archives: ios 6 maps

Editorial: Apple’s smart Maps maneuver

Posted on by

Editorial Apple's smart Maps maneuver

More Info

It might seem as if Apple chose its iOS 6 release last week to practice the biblical directive to love one's enemy. For, by ejecting Google Maps from updated iPads and iPhones, Apple hath caused glorious comparisons to shine upon its foe. If most people were unaware of comparative feature sets and quality aspects that distinguish Google Maps from Apple Maps, every tech-loving person on God's earth is an expert now.

The media love a bloodbath, and Joe Nocera led the rhetorical pack by calling Apple Maps an "unmitigated disaster" in a NY Times piece. He wondered whether such calamity would have ensued if Steve Jobs (who called the 1998 "hockey puck" mouse the world's best pointing device) were guiding the company's product evolution. Mr. Nocera argues the Maps replacement as an indicator that Apple has peaked.

I argue that replacing Google Maps with Apple Maps was shrewd, inevitable and an indicator that Apple understands the true battle it wages.

Continue reading Editorial: Apple's smart Maps maneuver

Filed under: , ,

Editorial: Apple's smart Maps maneuver originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Apple selects TomTom as primary iOS 6 maps provider (update: confirmed)

Posted on by

iOS 6 maps are powered by TomTom

Been wondering exactly which data service is replacing Google as Apple's map provider? According to these leaked screenshots (shown above) from the iOS 6 developer beta running on an iPhone 4S, it appears to be TomTom. The company is no stranger to iOS, as its navigation app and car kit have been available on the iPhone since 2009. On an interesting note, the maps application specifically mentions "data from TomTom, others," which means there may be other suppliers that aren't getting called out by name. We'll keep you posted as we hear more what's going on behind-the-scenes.

Update: TomTom has independently confirmed to us that it indeed "has signed a global agreement with Apple for maps and related information."

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Apple selects TomTom as primary iOS 6 maps provider (update: confirmed) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments