“Apple’s efforts to create its own mapping software has led to a different set of maps for its new mobile operating system built specifically for China,” Paul Mozur and Ian Sherr report for The Wall Street Journal.
“When the Silicon Valley company released its iOS 6 mobile operating system last week, customers who upgraded their devices began to complain that one of the marquee technologies–a new maps app to replace Google’s GOOG +1.60% maps service–had misplaced or missing labels for businesses, landmarks and roads,” Mozur and Sherr report. “Customers in China, however, found more detailed maps covering their country than those overseas, in part because their data is provided by AutoNavi Holdings, a Chinese mapping company that makes auto navigation systems as well as virtual maps and satellite images. AutoNavi is also the most widely used mobile mapping service in China, with 45% market share, according to Analysys International.”
Mozur and Sherr report, “The separated technologies Apple has built for the Chinese markets underscore the challenges it faces building its own maps technology rather than relying on Google’s offerings. Mapping experts say creating a comprehensive set of digital maps requires a lot of time and integration of data from many sources to ensure they’re all accurate, something Google has been doing since 2005. Apple still has refinements to make both globally and in China. Searches for businesses and landmarks in China often turn up incorrect results.”
Much more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Rainy Day” for the heads up.]
Maps, the Chairman Mao edition.
No doubt Taiwan is marked as part of China, in this version.
The southern half of Japan probably is as well.
Does their’s work or is the Great Wall of China somewhere in the middle of the South China Sea?
Ouch!
“…creating a comprehensive set of digital maps requires a lot of time and integration of data from many sources to ensure they’re all accurate, something Google has been doing since 2005. ”
Google’s maps aren’t accurate. Google’s maps contain 2 errors in my immediate neighbourhood, while the iOS 6 maps are accurate. Plus Google shows a private road on a neighbouring property, while iOS 6 does not – I am going to be really annoyed if Google adds my own private road to their data. There is such a thing as being TOO accurate…
The entire Great Wall of China is missing on Apple Maps. That can’t be good for America/China relations.
Maybe it can find the US jobs Mitt shipped there.