[quote=craptcha]Right. So what’s the big deal wrt maps? It’s not like the built-in app is your only option. The old licensing term with Google expired, Google did not want to allow voice/turn-by-turn, Apple did not want to license maps without it and released what they had. If anything it’s a gain for everybody since Google is accelerating release schedule for vector maps and migrating some of the Google Earth technology to Google Maps. Competition is good. It leads to better products (like I care) and more importantly to more jobs and higher wages within the industry.[/quote]
It’s not a big deal. It’s just a kink in Apple’s armor. BTW, your logic is a little contradicting. If the built-in app is not your only option (which it’s not), then why didn’t they just keep Google map around w/out turn by turn and have its user buy a number of apps out there that does turn by turn. Or, they can easily just wave the 30% fee for the best turn-by-turn app and make it free for its user, by either bundling it into the OS or as a free download. However, that didn’t happen. My guess is, they thought they can swing it on their own and they faltered this time.
No one is saying that competition is not good. We’re (at least I am) just making fun of the fact that Apple releases a half baked maps app. They could either a) start their own map a few years earlier or b) they could have bought garmin, tom-tom, etc. and let it baked better before releasing it to the public. BTW, it’s not like Apple is an under dog, or a start up, that’s disrupting the mapping landscape. This would only be good for iOS users (when Apple full bake their maps). There’s no chance Apple will release their maps app on Android and WP8. So, the “Competition is good” logic is not really applicable here.
