I used to be the guy who ran out and purchased new technology, just because. They call those idiots, “early adopters” and I wore that mantle of geeky goodness with pride. However, life, it seems, has taught me not to be so quick with certain tech because invariably disappointment will follow.
The best example I can come up with is the iPhone 4 release. I was rockin’ a 3GS for a while and figured I’d jump to the brand new, squared off designed iPhone 4. But that purchase brought me nothing but issues, not to mention “antenna-gate” so I returned the phone within 29 days. On the opposite side of that coin, I waited and purchased the second generation iPhone 4S and have been nothing but happy — I may also add switching back to Verizon galvanized the positive change. Truth be told, I made the right choice delaying for the iPhone 4S.
So with the release of the iPhone 5, a brand new design, LTE support, and more Apple goodness I considered paying the early contract termination fee to jump on board as an early-adopter but initial impressions of the iPhone 5 have sharply dulled my interest in that expensive move. Allow me to be clear, it isn’t the hardware that is the issue (though there are sporadic reports of chipped screens right out of the box), it is the upgrade to iOS6 and Apple dumping Google Maps for their own mapping application.
There are some core reasons I have a smart phone. First, I primarily use the phone as a … wait for it, a phone! Uhmazing, I know. Then the remaining core uses include email, texting, contact management, Internet and MAPS! I use the mapping feature more than most applications on the phone because it works flawlessly but the iOS6 mapping app appears to have significant issues. Some tech pundits have even called it “horrendous.” With lack of detail, incorrect data, and bad locations, the iOS6 mapping app is not what one should expect, especially when coming from Apple.
I went to the Apple Store yesterday and chatted with two different employees about the mapping issue. Independent of each other, both told me “Google have been doing maps for seven years; this is Apples’ first year!” and “You cannot expect perfection just yet.” Uh, yes I can. One employee even tried to compare mapping with the issues of Siri. Are you kidding? Mapping is kind of critical to the phone, while Siri is an indulgent extra and hardly required. As for the consistent reply, clearly Apple has briefed their employees on talking-points in an attempt to spin the negative press.
In my humble opinion, Apple’s exuberance to jump ship from Google Maps is premature and though I like the look and feel of the new iPhone 5 design, I won’t go anywhere near the iOS6 or the phone until they get the map issue sorted out.