Apple CEO Tim Cook extremely sorry about Maps

Apple has made the extraordinary move of apologising to customers over its disastrous new mapping application included with iOS6 and the new iPhone 5.

Apple CEO Tim Cook last night issued a letter to customers about Maps saying the company “was extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused”.

The letter went so far as to suggest alternative map solutions from the App Store while Apple worked on improving Maps. One solution suggested was Google’s web-based version of its maps.

Since the Maps app replaced the existing Google Maps app with the release of iOS6 and the new iPhone, there have been a litany of embarrassing mistakes and anomalies discovered by users.

“Mapplegate” – as the Maps debacle has been called – has been one of the lowlights of an otherwise well received iOS6 operating system and iPhone 5.

This response by Apple has been conducted in similar way that Apple addressed previous controversial problems including the “Antennagate” dramas of the iPhone 4 in 2010 and the less than spectacular Mobile Me launch in 2008.

Here is what Apple CEO Tim Cook said in the open letter released on the company’s website:

“At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.

“We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.

“There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.

“While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.

“Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.”

Interesting the open letter apologising about Maps is only on the US website and was not on the Australian Apple site at the time of writing.

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