One of the biggest recent controversies in the smartphone industry is that of Apple replacing Google Maps with their own Maps solution in iOS 6. A small book can be written on the topic, but the tl;dr of it is that, after nearing the end of their Maps deal with Google, Apple had no choice but to include their own Maps in iOS 6, and the decision has garnered considerable criticism from customers.
Following hot on the heels of their previous update for their main iOS app, Facebook has taken the opportunity to push out a new update for their extremely popular Messenger app for the iPhone. Rather than just being an incremental update, Facebook has made enough changes to the messaging app to warrant it a v2.0 tag, and is now available through the App Store as a free download for new users and as an update to those who already have the app installed.
iOS Maps might have been criticized ad nauseam over the past ten or so days, but that hasn't stopped iPhone and iPad users flocking to the brand-new mobile firmware from Apple. Onswipe, a firm helping websites offer a more touch-friendly interface, reports the problems surrounding iOS 6 don't seem to have prevented consumers downloading and installing en masse, and of 100,000 users sampled through the company's partner sites on Friday, an incredible 59.43% of iPhone traffic and 41.3% of iPad traffic was coming from those running the newer software.
Google has followed the lead of a number of other well-known developers in the last few days by pushing out a well-timed update for their official iOS Gmail app that brings full optimization for the latest Apple smartphone as well as offering support for iOS 6. The official Gmail experience can now be enjoyed across all of Apple's mobile devices that run iOS 4 and above, with iPhone 5 owners no longer needing to view their incoming mails through a letterbox interface.
Android apps, as we know, tend to arrive after the iOS iteration, and with Rayman: Jungle Run having recently released for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, it was only a matter of time before Ubisoft's classic title made its way to Google's Play Store. That day has finally arrived, and for three dollars, you too can now enjoy a charming remake of the PlayStation and Atari favorite.
Tim Cook's open letter, published earlier in apology to the public for Apple's shortcomings with the new Maps app of iOS 6, was certainly required to try and calm the storm which has built up over the past ten days. The letter itself wasn't particularly surprising, but Cook and Apple's decision to recommend other, rivaling apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users to utilize until iOS Maps is sorted out, was a bit of an eyebrow raiser; and now the App Store echoes those recommendations made by the company's CEO.
Although it may have, regrettably, lost its place among Apple's native iOS apps, Google has been working tirelessly in updating and improving its Maps service, which is one of the strongest and most polished services available. Since announcing a bunch of improvements back in June, including dramatic enhancements to the quality of 3D images, much work and development has been going on behind the scenes, and the next large update looks finally ready to roll out to consumers.
With Google quickly releasing updates to Android on six month schedule, and there being so many different devices from different manufacturers on different wireless carriers, there is almost always some particular OTA update being rolled out.
Apple CEO Issues Open Letter On iOS 6 Maps App, Says He’s Extremely Sorry For The Frustration Caused
In light of the recent situation regarding the company's first in-house Maps application for iOS 6, Apple CEO Tim Cook has written an open letter to customers on his company's website in an attempt to address the issue. The letter, which can be found in its entirety after the jump, sees Cook make an apology for delivering a feature below standards of expectation, and rather honestly, goes on to suggest a bunch of rivaling mapping solutions one can utilize for the time being.
Having launched in the United States, United Kingdom and several other key areas last Friday, Apple has today further added 22 more countries to the roster, starting today where the new Apple flagship smartphone will land. Apple smashed first-weekend sales for any smartphone release by shifting in excess of an incredible 5 million units, and with the furor surrounding iOS 6 and Apple's own Maps offering, it'll be intriguing to see whether consumers who've had an additional weeks' wait will have been deterred.
