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What is most amusing to me about this whole thing is that two weeks ago The Atlantic published[0] an article offering incredible insight into just how much effo

by yock 14y ago

What is most amusing to me about this whole thing is that two weeks ago The Atlantic published[0] an article offering incredible insight into just how much effort goes into making Google's maps so good. Was it already too late at that point for Apple to see this and think that maybe they hadn't thought this thing through? The only alternatives I can think of are blindingly foolish. Either they thought they engineered their way out of a problem at which Google throws literally hundreds of people or they didn't bother to read the article in the first place. 0 - http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/how-google-builds-its-maps-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-everything/261913/ http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/how-go...

Splines 14y ago
We don't know about what the negotiations were like between Apple and Google. Given that the Youtube app was also pulled, there's probably some political maneuverings going on. Google pretty much pulled the rug out from under Apple's feet (whether this was Google taking their ball and going home, or Apple's hubris we don't know). If Apple doesn't provide a coherent story in the next few weeks/months, this may actually have a bottom-line impact on the iPhone 5 and iOS6.
ricardobeat 14y ago
Maybe they just didn't have enough time? Google Maps has been around for 7 years (more than that pre-acquisition).
randomdata 14y ago
It seems most likely that contract negotiations broke down and Apple lost access to Google map data completely, leaving them left to replace the Maps service as quickly as possible. There is no logical reason for Apple to just walk away from a good deal just because it is Google.
Havoc 14y ago
My thoughts exactly. I remember when I read the article about the Google approach I thought...holy shit. If the _best_ Google could come up with was throwing manpower at the problem then anybody else should think really carefully about their solution if it doesn't involve similar manpower.
fogol 14y ago
Apple has to start at some point with its own maps. The trick is that these will be lower quality in the beginning but only with time they'll be able to incorporate user data and get better. The longer you delay the later you'll have better maps.

by yock 14y ago

Splines 14y ago

We don't know about what the negotiations were like between Apple and Google. Given that the Youtube app was also pulled, there's probably some political maneuverings going on. Google pretty much pulled the rug out from under Apple's feet (whether this was Google taking their ball and going home, or Apple's hubris we don't know). If Apple doesn't provide a coherent story in the next few weeks/months, this may actually have a bottom-line impact on the iPhone 5 and iOS6.

ricardobeat 14y ago

Maybe they just didn't have enough time? Google Maps has been around for 7 years (more than that pre-acquisition).

randomdata 14y ago

It seems most likely that contract negotiations broke down and Apple lost access to Google map data completely, leaving them left to replace the Maps service as quickly as possible. There is no logical reason for Apple to just walk away from a good deal just because it is Google.

Havoc 14y ago

My thoughts exactly. I remember when I read the article about the Google approach I thought...holy shit. If the _best_ Google could come up with was throwing manpower at the problem then anybody else should think really carefully about their solution if it doesn't involve similar manpower.

fogol 14y ago

Apple has to start at some point with its own maps. The trick is that these will be lower quality in the beginning but only with time they'll be able to incorporate user data and get better. The longer you delay the later you'll have better maps.