5 ms·

“Gurman warned that the move risks some amount of consumer backlash.” The frogs don’t have to wait and see if the pot is boiling, they have a pot named Android

by parsimo2010 1y ago

“Gurman warned that the move risks some amount of consumer backlash.” The frogs don’t have to wait and see if the pot is boiling, they have a pot named Android right next to them for a direct temperature comparison and other Maps apps available. If I lose screen space to ads in my native Apple apps then I’m out. How is the money they are getting from hardware sales and their developer fees not enough? I don’t see how the execs can’t tell how damaging this is to their brand image. Apple used to be something you accepted because you were filled with rage at Microsoft. Then Apple was something that cost extra money but it had good software and cross device integration. Then Apple’s software quality went down noticeably, but I stuck with them because at least I figured my data was slightly safer on an Apple device. But now if they’re using my data to sell ads they don’t even have a privacy angle. Apple now lags Android flagships in features, costs at least as much, and also sells my data. I’m out.

fsflover 1y ago
> I’m out. Where are you going? See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- phoronixrly 1y ago
  Here for example Organic Maps -- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps-offline-map/id1567437057 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps-offline-map/id156...
- parsimo2010 1y ago
  If both major options are doing the same thing, there’s nothing to justify me putting up with Apple’s stagnating product line. Android phones have some neat features, the hardest part is deciding which phone to pick.
- bean469 1y ago
  Depends on your use-cases, but I have found OSM to be a awesome alternative
crazygringo 1y ago
> If I lose screen space to ads in my native Apple apps then I’m out. The article says "The project will apparently give restaurants and other businesses the option to pay to have their details featured more prominently in search." It doesn't sound like it will affect screen space of the map view in any way. And software needs to make money. Their map data is hugely expensive to purchase and produce -- Maps isn't just a little app like Notes, it costs $$$$$ to develop and keep current. Apple isn't a charity. If you're out, who are you going to switch to? Are there OSM apps that are free without ads with the same level of functionality?
- gruez 1y ago
  >Are there OSM apps that are free without ads with the same level of functionality? The main killer would be lack of real time traffic data. I don't think there's any open source maps that provides this.
  - fainpul 1y ago
    I assume this is "crowd sourced" on Apple Maps and Google Maps, simply by gathering data from people who are currently in traffic. There's no reason this couldn't be done with free software, if people opt in. Of course it helps if there are many users, so let's start using it.
    - rkomorn 1y ago
      I've never looked into this but I have a gut feeling that, for Apple Maps and Google Maps, they rely on a mechanism that is less battery intensive (and not exposed with an API) than what a third party app would have to do.
      - crazygringo 1y ago
        It's exposed with an API. Google Maps is a third party on iOS but still can do the same timeline tracking all day even when it's not open, if you have it enabled.
squigz 1y ago
> How is the money they are getting from hardware sales and their developer fees not enough Because it's never enough. Even with 180b USD in profit last year.
- ryandrake 1y ago
  "Enough" is not even a real word, when it comes to corporations and rich people. They have zero concept of "enough." It doesn't even register. This is a world where "perpetually increasing growth rate" is seen as a reasonable, achievable goal.
deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
robin_reala 1y ago
I’m confused: are you saying that there aren’t other map apps available on iOS?
orev 1y ago
Google Maps also has ads. And there are other maps apps available for IOS.
- parsimo2010 1y ago
  Sure- so if Apple is doing the same thing Google does but hasn’t had a significant feature update in years, why should I stick with them? They’ve lost their differentiation.

fsflover 1y ago

> I’m out. Where are you going? See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
phoronixrly 1y ago
Here for example Organic Maps -- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps-offline-map/id1567437057 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps-offline-map/id156...
parsimo2010 1y ago
If both major options are doing the same thing, there’s nothing to justify me putting up with Apple’s stagnating product line. Android phones have some neat features, the hardest part is deciding which phone to pick.
bean469 1y ago
Depends on your use-cases, but I have found OSM to be a awesome alternative

crazygringo 1y ago

> If I lose screen space to ads in my native Apple apps then I’m out. The article says "The project will apparently give restaurants and other businesses the option to pay to have their details featured more prominently in search." It doesn't sound like it will affect screen space of the map view in any way. And software needs to make money. Their map data is hugely expensive to purchase and produce -- Maps isn't just a little app like Notes, it costs $$$$$ to develop and keep current. Apple isn't a charity. If you're out, who are you going to switch to? Are there OSM apps that are free without ads with the same level of functionality?

gruez 1y ago
>Are there OSM apps that are free without ads with the same level of functionality? The main killer would be lack of real time traffic data. I don't think there's any open source maps that provides this.
- fainpul 1y ago
  I assume this is "crowd sourced" on Apple Maps and Google Maps, simply by gathering data from people who are currently in traffic. There's no reason this couldn't be done with free software, if people opt in. Of course it helps if there are many users, so let's start using it.
  - rkomorn 1y ago
    I've never looked into this but I have a gut feeling that, for Apple Maps and Google Maps, they rely on a mechanism that is less battery intensive (and not exposed with an API) than what a third party app would have to do.
    - crazygringo 1y ago
      It's exposed with an API. Google Maps is a third party on iOS but still can do the same timeline tracking all day even when it's not open, if you have it enabled.

squigz 1y ago

> How is the money they are getting from hardware sales and their developer fees not enough Because it's never enough. Even with 180b USD in profit last year.

ryandrake 1y ago
"Enough" is not even a real word, when it comes to corporations and rich people. They have zero concept of "enough." It doesn't even register. This is a world where "perpetually increasing growth rate" is seen as a reasonable, achievable goal.

deleted 1y ago

[deleted]

robin_reala 1y ago

I’m confused: are you saying that there aren’t other map apps available on iOS?

orev 1y ago

Google Maps also has ads. And there are other maps apps available for IOS.

parsimo2010 1y ago
Sure- so if Apple is doing the same thing Google does but hasn’t had a significant feature update in years, why should I stick with them? They’ve lost their differentiation.