Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Apple's Biggest Miscalculation Yet: Google Maps ... by gimleteye

I'm not a big fan of Google maps in the earlier versions of the iPhone, but over time Google maps has become an invaluable app when I'm traveling. Compared to what could be -- the sturdy GPS devices like Tomtom for cars -- the iPhone has been a weakling. Apparently with the new iPhone, the GPS feature just got weaker not stronger. Steve Jobs would never have let that happen. I suspect Apple knows how important the mapping GPS feature is to consumers and decided not to cede the territory/product to Google. Who knows. But to launch a great new phone with a weaker mapping feature -- as universally reported -- is the kind of mistake Steve Jobs would never have made. The Apple strategy is apparently to let consumers suffer while it boot-straps into its own mapping expertise. Jobs would have recognized the importance of mapping and gone out and bought Tomtom or a similar competitor. I'm an early version iPhone adopter, and this latest controversy makes me wonder if I should buy the new iPhone or not.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

True. Gaming the consumer is what Microsoft did w Windows. Bad move!

David said...

Don't get the phone. It's not made for whiners.

Anonymous said...

If you want the phone for its other features, get it and just download a good GPS app. There's plenty out there.
I never even use the map feature so I guess I don't really see it as one of the reasons to buy or not buy a new phone.

Anonymous said...

I was in Dadeland last night and the Apple store was packed, wall to wall meat and the other stores were empty. Apple is doing fine.

miaexile said...

When Apple decides to manufacture the phone without slave labor, I might be tempted..until then, forget it. I'm sticking with my landline princess phone, yeah, it's bulky for pockets but oh so stylish when reclined on a divan..

Anonymous said...

Land line! I thought they had gone to the same place that beepers went. When I had one, the only people who called me on it was people selling things or doing surveys. I kept it for a while because of the fax line, but people started scanning everything in and emailing it. So now I have no need for a landl line.

Anonymous said...

Divan? You mean a davenport?

Anonymous said...

Well. Apple is paying attention to EOM. Imagine. Now if they will just put a phone on the iPad so I don't have to carry all this gear around.