November 27, 2012: Apple fires the supervisor chargeable for the disastrous Apple Maps launch in iOS 6 after the glitchy software program delivered embarrassingly dangerous knowledge to customers all over the world.
Richard Williamson, who oversaw Apple’s mapping group, will get the ax from Eddy Cue, who assumes management of the venture.
Apple Maps launch: A historic misstep
The Apple Maps launch will go down as one of many largest missteps in Apple historical past. The mapping service proved subpar on many ranges. Even worse, the debacle got here within the wake of Steve Jobs‘ demise, when folks have been in search of any excuse to accuse the corporate of struggling a decline in high quality.
Sadly, the flawed Apple Maps gave these people loads of ammunition. Along with warping landscapes and distorting landmarks, the mapping and navigation app even steered that individuals steer the improper means throughout a taxiway at Alaska’s Fairbanks Worldwide Airport.
Scott Forstall acquired the ax, too
Williamson wasn’t the one high-profile exec to go down on account of the Apple Maps launch screwup. Apple additionally ousted Scott Forstall, senior vice chairman of iOS software program, after he refused to make a public apology for the debacle. (Cupertino introduced Williamson’s firing weeks after Forstall’s.)
To repair the Apple Maps downside, Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner beneficial that prospects briefly use different mapping providers. In the meantime, Cue requested that digital maps supplier TomTom NV assist repair the landmark and navigation knowledge for Apple.
“Look, the very first thing is that you simply’re embarrassed,” Cue advised Quick Firm a number of years later, concerning his response to Maps. “Let’s simply cope with that one reality of emotion. These items imply lots to us, we work actually exhausting, and so that you’re embarrassed. We had utterly underestimated the product, the complexity of it.”
Apple Maps since then …
After Apple Maps’ disastrous launch in 2012, Cupertino made large steps to enhance the service. The corporate began updating Apple Maps on daily basis, launched options like Flyover, and printed a lot of fascinating patents. (One instance: An effort to make navigation software program extra humanlike by referencing landmarks and avenue indicators as an alternative of simply street names.)
Apple additionally snapped up mapping-related corporations like Coherent Navigation, which helped develop a type of ultra-detailed GPS that’s correct inside centimeters versus the same old meters. Apple even utilized for permission to use drones to enhance its mapping.
The corporate reportedly spent “billions” updating its Maps app. And Cupertino continues to roll out enhanced variations of Apple Maps. iOS 15 launched 3D views of main cities all over the world. iOS 16 added the potential of planning routes with a number of stops. iOS 17 introduced much more large adjustments, like the power to obtain Apple Maps for offline use, and iOS 18 added topographical maps and different options for hikers.
As Cupertino continues to layer on options (like biking instructions and exhibiting charging stations for electrical autos), Apple Maps has grown right into a critical competitor for Google Maps and different opponents. In truth, as of late, many individuals love Apple Maps! (Right here’s our information to eight secret options in Apple Maps that can enable you adore it, too.)
Nonetheless, to at the present time, some folks nonetheless invoke the Apple Maps launch nightmare for example of tech gone improper. Nevertheless, it’s exhausting to fault Apple for correcting the issue because it did. Even when we by no means wish to see anybody lose a job.
