Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Debate Continues

Sep 27, 2012 11:33 AM EDT | Matt Mercuro

Even though the iPhone 5 was just introduced on Sept. 21, the revolutionary phone is already receiving some tough criticism. The Apple iOS 6 Maps app has been the biggest complaint and issue amongst customers and competitors alike.

Apple is currently in crisis mode over the complaints that the company's home-made replacement for Google Maps comes up drastically short of expectations. As one of the most anticipated features for the iPhone 5, the app is supposed to offer beautiful Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation, the ability to "fly" over an area and more.

Instead it has been called inconsistent, inaccurate and frustrating all around. The app is missing public transit stops, roads that wave in and out, entire towns and key buildings are non-existent as well.

The company polled 16,000 iPhone owners in the US and determined a satisfaction rating of 7.65 for iOS 6. This number is a slight dip from the 7.75 it saw when assessing satisfaction for the iOS 5.

This could be a problem for drivers as well who were hoping their driving experience would enhance after shelling out an average of $200 for the phone. Many other phones offer different navigation systems and maps, but with commercials featuring celebrities like Martin Scorsese using the navigation system, people have felt duped.

"We launched this new map service knowing that it is a major initiative and we are just getting started with it. We are continuously improving it, and as Maps is a cloud-based solution, the more people use it, the better it will get," said Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman in a statement to Fox News.

iPhone 5 users should be too upset though, considering the phone is still relatively new. This allows the company to work out the kinks and improve them as time goes on. Some experts feel that Apple will have to work quickly to make sure the app isn't a completely failure. Some feel that if they don't address the issue quickly, iPhone will have no choice but to return to using Google Maps as early as January, stating that Apple Maps will never be a worthy competitor with the way the app is currently.

The iPhone 5 broke sales records over the weekend, selling more than 5 million phones. 

See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?

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