Voice navigation killed Apple-Google maps talks

[Reality]

Voice navigation killed Apple-Google maps talks

But multiple sources familiar with Apple’s thinking say the company felt it had no choice but to replace Google Maps with its own, because of a disagreement over a key feature: Voice-guided turn-by-turn driving directions.

Spoken turn-by-turn navigation has been a free service offered through Google’s Android mobile OS for a few years now. But it was never part of the deal that brought Google’s Maps to iOS. And sources say Apple very much wanted it to be. Requiring iPhone users to look directly at handsets for directions and manually move through each step — while Android users enjoyed native voice-guided instructions — put Apple at a clear disadvantage in the mobile space.

And having chosen Google as its original mapping partner, the iPhone maker was now in a position where an archrival was calling the shots on functionality important to the iOS maps feature set.

And this caused Apple — which typically enjoys very tight control over its products — no end of philosophical discomfort, sources say. Apple pushed Google hard to provide the data it needed to bring voice-guided navigation to iOS. But according to people familiar with Google’s thinking, the search giant, which had invested massive sums in creating that data and views it as a key feature of Android, wasn’t willing to simply hand it over to a competing platform.


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[YosemiteSam]

Apple will get their maps situation resolved. It will just take some time. Chances are it will never catch the maturity and feature set of Google Maps. It's too far behind and Google uses more resources than Apple. (it's entire user base helps ensure Google Maps is correct)

Actually, it's the entire environment of Google's services merged that will always make it better. Google Now ties almost everything together. It takes the term personal assistant to a whole new level. I don't even have to ask for the information I want. Scores, current train schedules, current traffic, weather, restaurants close by, how long it will take to get to my next appointment that I have in my calendar and reminders to leave in time to get there. I just swipe up from the bottom of my phone and it all appears.

 

[JonJon]

After all of the shenanigans Apple has pulled recently, I would be reluctant to hand over full product support if I were Google as well.

 

[CowboysFan02]

Apple will get their maps situation resolved. It will just take some time. Chances are it will never catch the maturity and feature set of Google Maps. It's too far behind and Google uses more resources than Apple. (it's entire user base helps ensure Google Maps is correct)

Actually, it's the entire environment of Google's services merged that will always make it better. Google Now ties almost everything together. It takes the term personal assistant to a whole new level. I don't even have to ask for the information I want. Scores, current train schedules, current traffic, weather, restaurants close by, how long it will take to get to my next appointment that I have in my calendar and reminders to leave in time to get there. I just swipe up from the bottom of my phone and it all appears.

It will be a LONG time before Apple resolves their map issues or comes anywhere close to Google Maps. It has taken Google nearly 10 years to get to where they are now with Google Maps and Navigation, even assuming they somehow do it in half the time since Google has already laid out the groundwork and roadmap it will probably be years.

After all of the shenanigans Apple has pulled recently, I would be reluctant to hand over full product support if I were Google as well.

I agree, I wouldn't had it over either and it is not like Apple has not stolen in the past(what tech company hasn't though). If I were Google the only way I would hand it over is if Apple signed an agreement with them ending the patent wars.