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When Apple switches basic technology it's almost always done in a gradual way, in stages.
1. First, it's optional. Only for the most adventurous users, developers usually.
2. Next, it's the default, but you can still run the old apps in a compatibility box.
3. Then they require you to install special software to run the old style stuff.
4. Then they introduce a version of the platform that only runs the new stuff.
Apple technologies that have transitioned like that include the switchover from the 68K processor to the PowerPC. Then from the PowerPC to Intel. They brought in the NeXT OS that way. It took many years before they shipped a version of the OS that would not run Mac apps from before the transition to NeXT.
People think they're doing that with app distribution on the Macintosh. And some people even think they're phasing out the Mac OS and that at some point they will say that Mac apps are "legacy" and eventually will ship a platform that only runs iOS apps. But that would have to be a long ways off, five or ten years, if ever.
It seems they could have shipped iOS 6 with the Google maps platform, and with a new app from Apple that implements their new maps technology. That would get it hundreds of thousands of users, immediately. The most change-averse users would stick with the existing maps app. And the power users, the insiders, those closest to Apple would help them fix the glitches and smooth things out so it would be ready in a year or two for the average iPhone or iPad users.
They certainly haven't explained to users why they didn't also ship a Google maps platform. It's not as if the Google software won't run on the new version of the operating system. You can go to maps.google.com in Safari, and it works as before.
User communities are layered. Think of concentric circles, like the layers of an onion. There's an inner core of users who are developers. They get the earliest releases of software, and know that what they're getting is both buggy and subject to change. They want that stuff, because they want to be ready when it ships with their own apps. After that there are enthusiasts. People who get glory from being early with the latest stuff. They also don't mind so much putting up with buggy or incomplete software. It validates their view of themselves as pioneers. And there are many more layers of expertise and tolerance for weird behavior, all the way out to the prototype end-end-user -- our mothers.
It's surprising they would subject all levels of users to the quirkiest software, the stuff that usually only developers have to use, especially mapping software which is integral to using mobile devices. It's almost as if the NYC transit authority introduced new software for the subways, it's really that important these days to getting around. It's a very radical shift, with lots of problems, and they haven't provided an explanation of why it is this way. What other changes like this will they make? Why the change? What other Apple platforms are subject to this kind of change?
See also: Apple's Feud With Google Is Now Felt on the iPhone.
The flip of this is "Why don't users expect to ease into Apple Maps". I rather like Apple Maps for the areas it has detailed coverage. I did miss the details for Wentworth lake in WA, but I have Google via Safari, MotionX maps, and my topo map apps to use to guide me to my fishing spots. All software is shitty when it first is released. It will get better. I am amazed at the uproar. (I guess I am not really amazed, as a far too large porportion of reporters and posters only consider negative news as news and seem to be overjoyed to report and embelish it. Maybe some of this bad news is just traders trying to push down Apples stock price.) If Apple Maps don't work for you, use something else until it is fixed. It does amuse me that so many people think they know how to run Apple's business and speculte on things such as the Apple and Google business negociations which I am reasonably sure are known to only a few.
If there are any misspelled words in this post, it is because 1. I am a terrible speller and 2. Automatic spell checking does not seem to work in OPML.
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I'm wondering if I shouldn't get a Samsung Galaxy S3?
"Yeah but they make the coolest adapters."
"What does that even mean?"
Using inclusion to point to another Apple-Related shitty software non-easing comment (it worked!)
Dave, re: greyed out functionality in iTunes: FTW.
Now how do I connect this thread to this one?
Maybe do an inclusion?
Nice podcast today. The voice memo is really working well for you.
Just one minor grievance, the files you are posting from it are m4a. Works ok for me, but may not be compatible with all players expecting an mp3 file.
Dave, you're right. People will make excuses for them and talk about contract negotiations and whether Apple or Google drove this change. And in one way, these excuses are valid. In fact, lets grant that point that an impass was reached that Apple and Google couldn't continue down the path together anymore.
The thing is, we all saw it coming. Apple and Google have been gradually becoming greater competitors over the past few years. An Apple owned maps solution has been rumored for over a year. Apple presumably has some very smart people running the company, they had to know this day was coming. And they probably knew it long before we did.
So, why wasn't there a beta Apple maps available to developers last year? Why not seed it to the Apple loyal and let people start getting used to it? They should have started this transition when they saw the writing on the wall.
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