Did Google just steal Apple's iOS 6 thunder?

[gnasher729]

I don't think Maps in iOS 6 will be the biggest selling point. At least, I hope not. If Apple can bring is close to being on par to Google Maps for Android, then I think most people will be satisfied. What is great about Google Maps for Android isn't 3D (it doesn't exist yet and I doubt many people care). It's the integration with places/reviews along with voice guided navigation. Apple may wow people with 3D maps but at the end of the day, they need to create a feature complete maps solution not just some pretty maps.

If Apple released iOS 6 with a free, high quality map application, that allows downloading maps beforehand (for example for a town, or for a journey with plenty of space for detours) and that allows turn-by-turn navigation, that would be quite a selling point. I want to replace my Tom Tom, because both the hardware and the software are just rubbish, so that cost would be subtracted from the cost of an iPhone or iPad, making it a lot cheaper.

(Turn-by-turn software taking advantage of the compass would be great. One problem with Tom Tom is that as you start a journey, it doesn't know which direction you are pointing, so quite often the first turn is a guess with a 50/50 chance of getting it right. )

 

[malman89]

How do you know what Apple has planned for next Monday?

How do you know Apple won't be using this? Good lord.

Nokia has had it for year(s) on all their phones, so yes, Apple is incredibly behind. It's not just a WP offering - it's been on their Symbian OS as well. Even on cheap candy bar phones that are hardly more than feature phones.

 

[KnightWRX]

He's talking about an actual RELEASED product, and not an ANNOUNCED product. There's a big difference between the two.

Sure, and Google didn't announce any products, so it's moot.

Google announced feature updates for RELEASED products.

 

[bozzykid]

Sure, and Google didn't announce any products, so it's moot.

Google announced feature updates for RELEASED products.

They spent a lot of time talking about street view and how they are improving it by going places they could never go before. These are things that are happening now and are constantly appearing in the released product. The only actual feature they discussed not in a product was offline maps which is coming in a few weeks. The improvement to 3D maps isn't really anything new at all but just an improvement that will be coming to Google Earth.

 

[PlaceofDis]

i really can't say that i was wowed by anything that google showed off. i mean mapping and all that is pretty neat and its great that they're trying to make everything better, but it just seemed like it was an event for the sake of having an event with nothing out immediately etc. just felt out of place and odd.

 

[smoledman]

This coming on heels of reports that this current quarter is going to be 50 million iPhones and Android users are leaving that platform in droves for iPhones. Then Apple will get an injunction against the Galaxy SIII. Apple is just rolling along like thunder.

 

[roadbloc]

This coming on heels of reports that this current quarter is going to be 50 million iPhones and Android users are leaving that platform in droves for iPhones. Then Apple will get an injunction against the Galaxy SIII. Apple is just rolling along like thunder.

You appear very certain about these uncertainties.

 

[Djs621]

Nope. I saw this as Google trying to preempt Apple and having pretty much nothing to say. Difference between proactive and reactive companies.

Well said #