The horse is dead and been beaten into a pulp, we know: Apple’s Maps application is awful. It was just two days ago that we were reporting on one of its more “entertaining” failings. It’s been all the more frustrating due to the continued absence of the reigning king, Google Maps, from iOS 6. That’s about to change, apparently. AllThingD is reporting that Google Maps is to be released tonight. Finally!
Google’s mapping service had been prevented from being distributed on Apple’s platform due mainly to Google’s refusal to provide turn-by-turn voice directions on iOS devices. The search giant argued that it had invested massive sums gathering this data and wanted to provide this to Android, its own competing mobile platform. Apple balked, and went with its own, half-baked, replacement. Three months down the road, it is apparently capitulating, although the Cupertino company’s much maligned application will still be available and un-deletable on all its devices. That’s fine. We know of several people still living with iOS 5 because they didn’t want to live with Apple maps, and they’ll soon be able to update. As long as AllThingsD is right, of course, though they tend to know what they’re talking about.
[ AllThingsD ] VIA [ Gizmodo ]
