Apple was apparently aware of the problems with its maps application before its launch via the introduction of iOS 6, but still decided to release the app to iDevice users.
Numerous developers told Apple during June, the month the first developer beta of iOS 6 was released, that its new maps app had several problems. Speaking with CNET under the condition of anonymity, six developers said they gave warnings to the firm stressing the mapping solution wasn't delivering the best possible experience.
"During the beta period I filed bug reports with Apple's Radar system (notorious for being ignored), posted on the forums several times, and e-mailed multiple people within Apple's MapKit team to voice our concerns," one developer said.
"I posted at least one doomsayer rant after each (developer) beta, and I wasn’t alone," another developer stated. "The mood amongst the developers seemed to be that the maps were so shockingly bad that reporting individual problems was futile. What was needed wasn't so much an interface for reporting a single point as incorrect, but for selecting an entire region and saying 'all of this — it's wrong.'"
Apple ignoring the concerns from developers and releasing its shoddy app without implementing any worthwhile improvements definitely backfired. The firm experienced a high level of criticism from iDevice owners, which eventually led to Apple CEO Tim Cook issuing an open letter apologizing for the app's flaws. They've since been on the lookout for ex-Google developers to aid them in fixing the maps app, which has shown slight signs of improvement.
