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Tim Cook apologises for Apple Maps

Kathryn McConnachie
By Kathryn McConnachie, Digital Media Editor at ITWeb.
Johannesburg, 01 Oct 2012
Apple CEO Tim Cook has apologised for the disappointing performance of the new Maps app which has replaced Google Maps on iOS.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has apologised for the disappointing performance of the new Maps app which has replaced Google Maps on iOS.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has written a rare apology to customers, admitting the new Maps application has fallen short of Apple's commitment to build products that offer the "best experience possible".

The letter was posted in full on the Apple Web site on Friday, following the lashing Apple has received from customers, after the release of the new Maps app with iOS 6.

The Maps app replaces the extremely popular and widely used Google Maps application, which used to come pre-installed on Apple mobile devices. Maps has been criticised for its unreliability, inaccuracy, glitches and a lack of features users were accustomed to with Google Maps - such as transit information.

Cook wrote in his apology: "We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better."

According to reports, Apple's decision to drop Google Maps was largely due to the two companies' inability to reach an agreement over voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation (a feature that Android users enjoy, but which was never included in Apple's deal with Google).

Cook says: "We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up."

In his apology, Cook even went so far as to suggest Apple customers use alternative services in the meantime: "While we're improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their Web sites and creating an icon on your home screen to their Web app."

Cook also reiterated Apple's initial statement on the problems with Maps, saying: "The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you."

According to Apple, there are already over 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps and in just over a week, users had already searched for nearly half a billion locations.

Cook ended his apology saying: "Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard."

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