I don’t know what transpired either and I don’t know when Apple started maps either. But, what we do know is, maps is half-baked, which means they released it too soo. Google have been know release beta software, but not Apple. Only recently did Gmail came out of beta. So, your Google example is not a really good one. Many Apple fans have been poking fun of Android for and basically calling it a beta. Apple pride themselves in releasing stuff when it’s ready and good. Which is why iOS didn’t have copy and paste when it was released. Maps-gate is an issue for regular user, or else, why would Tim Cook come out and publicly apologize?
Google release those features for their Android maps, regardless of whether Apple have their own Maps or not. Those features have been in development for probably as long as Apple started their Maps endeavor. As you stated, those features have been in Google Earth and now they’re just porting it to maps. Again, like I said, competition is good. However, in this case, it didn’t drive Google to do anything different than they have been doing. It will only be good for end users once Apple’s map database is as robust as Nokia and Google and they license out those data, just like Nokia and Google. If they don’t, then the effect to end user is probably limited, unless you use an iDevice.
BTW, this is what Nokia has to say about it: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/28/nokia-navigation-business/#continued
“What we are doing on a global scale is difficult. It’s difficult and expensive. Everybody who wants to get into that should understand what they are getting themselves into.” Apple, in other words, is in for a hell of a marathon if it wants to deliver something as comprehensive as the petabytes of data Navteq has acquired, and catching up on 30 years of expertise won’t be easy.” I have to agree with him. This is how Google builds their maps: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/how-google-builds-its-maps-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-everything/261913/. So, yeah, it’s a long way away before Apple Maps will start to be at parity, much less pushing the boundaries and cause a positive effect for end users.
