Google Rumored to Have iOS 6 Maps App Ready to Go
Word on the street says Google is waiting in the wings with its own Maps app for iOS 6.
Earlier this year, at WWDC, Apple revealed that it would say goodbye to Google Maps with iOS 6 and instead turn to its own proprietary mapping solution for mobile users. However, as people upgraded to iOS 6 this week, the buggy nature of Apple's own mapping application has come to light. So what now? Apple has said things will get better with time, but fresh rumors say Google may come to the rescue with its own app.
The Guardian cites sources that say Google is preparing a Google Maps app for iOS 6. These sources say the app will "appear in time" in the App Store. Reporting this news yesterday afternoon, 9to5 Mac said it had heard that an updated iOS 6 version of the Google Maps.app had been submitted to Apple for approval.
Google hasn't confirmed or denied rumors that it is developing (or has submitted) a Maps app for iOS 6, but Apple journalist Jim Dalrymple over at The Loop says it isn't true. In a post titled, 'On the rumor that Google has submitted an iOS 6 Maps app and Apple is sitting on it,' Dalrymple simply writes, 'Nope.'
If Google does have a Maps application pending, it's likely Apple won't approve it because it duplicates a function already available via iOS. However, we imagine there are plenty of iOS 6 users hoping these rumors are true and eager to bring Google Maps back to iOS.

Microsoft making installation of an alternative browser difficult NOT ok,
but Apple clearly shutting out competitors from their hardware is perfectly acceptable ?
As for removing Google map from iOS6, I don't believe that's a casualty of Samsung/Apple law suite. More likely, it was because Cook and Page could not reach a deal. If one digs slightly deeper into iOS6, one would see a much more tightly integrated map functions within iOS, which would be impossible with Google map since that demands Google to open up too much of its data set.
*6 Months ago*
Page, "I'd ask $1.5b for that and a seat on your board of directors."
Cook, "No way! TomTom charges $10mil, nothing else."
Page, "Well, go for it, give them a try."
...
*Today*
Cook, "O, s***, I've nought a lemon."
Microsoft making installation of an alternative browser difficult NOT ok,
but Apple clearly shutting out competitors from their hardware is perfectly acceptable ?
This.
Agree......but Apple is not about "Choice"
Everyone with a 3GS or a 4 got shafted. None of the new features worth mentioning made it to the older platforms. VOICE NAVIGATION doesn't work on 3GS or 4, but my MapQuest app DOES. Planned obsolescence much?
Oh, and the Panorama feature is gone too. Wow...
The panorama feature missing makes sense, as they are using some of the image processing power in the A5/A6 chips that are obviously not in the iPhone 3GS or 4. Yes they could just use software but that would require extra development time.
As for everything else... I understand what you're saying.
I personally was trying to decide between the Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 5. Went and saw both of them at a local Verizon store today. Almost ashamed of myself to say this... but I was honestly more impressed with the iPhone 5 than the S3. But... then learned about the lack of Google Maps on the iPhone and opted to go home empty handed.
At least you're trying to make an educated choice...
As far as the disabling features for older devices goes, this is Apple's version of fragmentation, something that iOS users will never accept it exists. It is very easy to modify the build.prop in any Android phone to show a different version of the OS when you go into About Phone, tab, but that does not make it the latest version. At least Android is being honest about it, whereas Apple is hiding it under the new version cover, even though most of the newer features are disabled, rendering the upgrade futile.
About the latest upgrade: I pity the fools that went ahead and lost the Google Maps with the latest rushed upgrade, another example of how Apple shafts it's customer base. In a couple years iOS maps will have the features that Google Maps has today, and Apple will be all over the news about how they invented the Maps application and all it's features. They just "invented" the notification bar in iOS 5, so go figure.
Apple, is x2 larger than Google, home comes you dont have street view cars driving all around the world?
-SK
since when does apple give choices to their customers.
You just blew my mind.
You shouldn't have been expecting much, the iPhone 4 is an older device, so Apple left out a few notable features. I purchased the iPhone 5 today, though I've been using iOS 6 since June 11, and I love the new phone.