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Users of the iPhone 5 have been quick to note the device’s many and critical flaws. These complaints, mostly against Apple’s new mapping program, led Apple CEO Tim Cook to offer an official apology on Sept. 28.
After scrapping the popular Google Maps feature, Apple has released with the iPhone 5 its own mapping program which has been criticized heavily for its lack of landmarks, disorienting layout and a lack of public transportation and international options.
On gizmo.com, Adrian Covert compared the previous Google Maps program to the current Apple Maps program. “Google Maps app is faster at fetching locations, and has a more efficient UI design for calling upon directions,” he said. In addition, “when calling upon public transit, Apple Maps has to use third-party apps, which will take you out of the app completely (adding time and inconvenience), while Google Maps quickly plots the most efficient route.” In the case of international locations, “Apple Maps does not handle them well at all,” he said.
The criticisms against the new Apple Maps have been so overwhelming that Apple's CEO released an apology on the company website in late September. “We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better,” he said.
Still, for many users, the problems with Apple Maps can be sidestepped by using other applications such as Google, MapQuest, and Bing. Other complaints with the latest iPhone installment vary from a temperamental and easily-scratched screen to its very light weight.
The emerging complaints do not seem to have affected iPhone sales or review in any major way. Apple sold a record-setting 5 million devices during its debut weekend and will be sold in 100 different countries by the year’s end.
Despite the maps fiasco, the iPhone 5 has garnered high ratings with the influential rating group Consumer Reports. Its larger 4-inch screen and 4G capabilities have also garnered praise. Although, as Cook said, Apple “fell short on [its] commitment” to “make world-class products”, the iPhone 5 doesn’t seem to be suffering too heavy a price.
At the very least, the Apple Maps failure has spawned various YouTube videos about the application’s unrealistic depiction of the American and international landscape. Check out this one for a good laugh and print out directions next time you need to get some place important.
School, major and year: A&S ‘14, Political Science
HometownWestfield, NJ
What makes the Gavel so BANGin’? Awesome people, great content.
You have 24 hours to give prospective students a tour of BC and convince them to enroll. How do you spend the day? Hockey game, tour of campus, meal at Hillside, read The Gavel
If you could go back in time and give yourself a pep talk the night before you moved into BC as a freshman, what is the most important piece of advice that you would give to your former self?No worries, it all works out.
What is your favorite study spot on campus? Out of sheer laziness, my room.
What is your go-to meal at Late Night? Haven’t had a meal plan in a tragically long time.
What is the #1 most played song on your iTunes? "Lonely Boy" by The Black Keys
What is the best Halloween costume that you have ever worn? Sarah Palin, Halloween 2008
If you could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of your life, which would you choose? Chili’s, although I’d probably die of high blood pressure within a matter of days.
If you could befriend the main characters from any TV show or movie, who would you choose and why? Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy from "30 Rock," because, duh.
