Apple Acknowledges iOS 6 Maps Failure, Hiring New Devs

Last week, just a few days prior to the official iPhone 5 release date, Apple released its iOS 6 into the wild, bringing with it a highly criticized maps application. When the company initially announced it would drop Google Maps and YouTube from iOS 6, users were concerned Apple's replacement maps application wouldn't compare to Google's refined app. Unfortunately for them, their worst fears came true.

While the app does work, it is plagued with poor directions, erroneous map data, strange visual glitches and a lack of a Street View-like feature. It didn't take long before parody twitter accounts and dedicated tumblr blogs were made to poke fun at Apple's lackluster app. In response to the criticism, Apple told AllthingsD "We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better."

Apparently, the company wasn't lying and has been actively trying to recruit new developers for its maps application. According to multiple new job listings on Apple's corporate page, the company is seeking several software engineers to help improve the overall maps experience. Though we'd agree building a maps application from the ground up is no easy task, it is still surprising to see Apple's maps application launch with so many obvious flaws.

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Tuan Mai
Tuan Mai is a Los Angeles based writer and marketing manager working within the PC Hardware industry. He has written for Tom's Guide since 2010, with a special interest in the weird and quirky.
  • azz156
    woo first

    i tested it from home to work n it works fine here in australia though i'd rather use my tomtom app
    Reply
  • bennaye
    azz156woo firsti tested it from home to work n it works fine here in australia though i'd rather use my tomtom app
    2rd

    but thumbs up for living in aus :)
    Reply
  • JOSHSKORN
    3rd!

    And Google Nav FTW :D Screw Apple sheep.
    Reply
  • ashinms
    God, crippled is getting so much media attention right now. Makes me sick.
    Reply
  • Chipi
    Tuan Maiit is still surprising to see Apple's maps application launch with so many obvious flawsYou're funny! :)
    Reply
  • Apple is only admitting this to more quickly recruit some software engineers from their legion of drones and get the problem fixed. Once they're satisfied, they'll start suing the blogs for hosting "copyrighted Apple intellectual property" and strongarming news sites like this one into removing any articles that mentioned it, and just like that it will have never happened. The Dems and the Reps got nothing on Apple's PR goons...
    Reply
  • the3dsgeek
    i still don't understand how this abomination passed testing in the first place (if they did it)
    Reply
  • L0tus
    Too little too late. Google's had swarms of devs working on its app for years. The notion that Apple can surpass let alone catch up is fantasy.

    Apple sacrificed the user-experience for corporate revenge and an insatiable appetite for control. Crap company and now a crappy phone to go with.
    Reply
  • It's not a bug, it's a feature!
    Or, in the words of the late S. Jobs: You're using it wrong!!
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    They should have kept the existing maps program then rolled it out when it was ready with an update, this is unforgivable.
    Reply