The silver lining for Apple regarding the Google Maps release was that maybe, just maybe it would finally push people who were on the fence into upgrading to iOS 6.

But initially reports indicated that wasn’t the case. Google Maps’ effect on iOS 6 adoption seemed negligible, at best. Chitika found that in the first day, the adoption rate climbed less than 0.2%. Not exactly the boost that was expected.

Apparently, we simply needed to give people time – like a couple of days. A new report suggests that Google Maps actually is having an impact on iOS 6 adoption – and it’s significant.

This data comes to us from MoPub (via BGR) They looked at around 12,000 of the iOS applications in their network and saw an astounding 29% increase in iOS 6 adoption in the first five days after Google released its Google Maps for iPhone app.

“We observed since the launch of Google Maps for iOS 6 a 30 percent increase in unique iOS 6 users, and we think it’s related to Google Maps,” said MoPub CEO Jim Payne. “It verifies the hypothesis that people were actually holding back to upgrade until Google Maps was available.”

Of course, this data comes from the clients of a specific company, and the data that pegged Google Maps as an exaggerated motivator also came from a specific analytics company. The point being these are not necessarily 100% representative of all iOS users at large.

But it does suggest that iOS 6 adoption was spurred on by the re-addition of Google Maps to the iOS ecosystem – eventually.

Google Maps for iPhone app was a big hit among iOS users in general. That we can be sure of. Google says that it saw over 10 million downloads in its first 48 hours in the App Store.

But don’t think that Apple is going to sit back and watch Google and Facebook dominate the local search game. Just because their Maps product was initially cast aside by early users and frankly embarrassed by Google’s product, it doesn’t mean they are going to throw in the towel on the whole project.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is in preliminary talks with Foursquare to acquire their location data, in order to incorporate it into Apple Maps.

Foursquare, which has been around for over three years, boasts over 3 billion total check-ins and millions of tips for local businesses all across the world.

Although Apple has seen its share of criticism for rushing out an not-ready-for-primetime maps app (most of it rightfully earned), the app does have some things going for it. First, it’s pretty – there’s no denying that. Second, it’s the default maps app integrated into the OS. No matter how good a third-party maps app is, some people will struggle to venture outside the walls. Lastly, Apple has been fixing a lot of the more-egregious errors inside Apple Maps – misplaced landmarks, terrible directions, roads that aren’t there, etc.

Adding Foursquare location data to Apple Maps could be a very smart move for the company, who has and will continue to have the task of convincing people to stay/come back to their product. Saying that you can deliver top-notch personalized local results is a step in the right direction.

And for Foursquare, it would give them more exposure. We recently learned that the company will only generate about $2 million in revenue this year. Partnering with Apple may give them the reach that they’ve needed for awhile now.

And it’s clearly a win for Google. Of course they get to stick it to Apple by coming in and saving the day – but for Google it’s more about money. The launch of their native maps app for iOS means one big thing: ads, ads, and ads. Not only ads, but ads based of locations data (it’s a maps app, remember?).

But according to one analyst, the launch of Google Maps for iPhone is a mixed bag for Apple.

First, the bad. Not only is Apple forced to accept the fact, once and for all, that they failed in rooting Google from their operating system (which was one of the main points of developing their own maps app in the first place), but it’s now going to be harder to make that maps product better.

“Users’ input is critical in improving the quality of the application, and Apple will now receive less feedback on its own Maps app what with iPhone owners flocking to Google Maps,” says Needham & Company’s Charlie Wolf.

He’s right, of course. In the wake of the initial Apple Maps hullabaloo, Tim Cook told iOS users that they were better off using a competing maps product, as Apple Maps simply wasn’t up to their standards. He also asked users to help them make the app better by submitting feedback and letting them know where they screwed up. If tons of people switch over to Google Maps, millions of little unpaid scouts leave Apple’s employ.

Then again, Wolf points out the there is a silver lining for Apple – more interest in the iPhone 5 and iOS 6.

“It has the potential to attract a meaningful number of new users to the iPhone who had previously shunned it because of Apple’s well-publicized misstep in releasing a less-than-market-ready product in the first place.”

There’s a chance we’ll hear plenty of the “I can finally get the iPhone 5 (or upgrade to iOS 6) now that there’s Google Maps on it” sentiment over the coming weeks. A recent study did find that Apple Maps’ problems weren’t really a hinderance to people’s desire for the iPhone 5, however.

Whatever the effect on Apple, we at least know that it’s going to have an effect. Google Maps for iPhone is already making a big splash; it’s the top app in the App Store right now and has been since about 7 hours after its launch.

[via AppleInsider]

This is the first native iOS maps app from Google since Apple kicked them out of iOS 6 and replaced them with (Apple’s) own maps product. That hasn’t really gone so well, as you may have heard (or experienced).

Here’s what Google has to say about their brand new maps app:

“The app shows more map on screen and turns mobile mapping into one intuitive experience. It’s a sharper looking, vector-based map that loads quickly and provides smooth tilting and rotating of 2D and 3D views. The search box at the top is a good place to start—perhaps by entering the name of a new and interesting restaurant. An expandable info sheet at the bottom shows the address, opening hours, ratings and reviews, images, directions and other information.”

On first glance, it is pretty. It’s no prettier than Apple Maps’ interface, but hey – that was never the complaint to begin with. The readily available location information is also a nice touch.

Of course, with Google Maps, you’re getting everything you know and love about Google Maps – 360 degree Street Views, indoor Street View with over 100,000 businesses across the world. But with this new release, iOS users are finally getting voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation, a feature previously reserved for Android users.

For developers, Google is also releasing the Google Maps SDK for iOS alongside the maps app. With the Google Maps SDK, devs can easily insert the new Google maps into their iOS apps.

“The SDK features vector-based maps that load quickly, allowing users to easily navigate 2D and 3D views, rotating and tilting the map with simple gestures inside your app. Developers can also change the Google maps view to include information such as traffic conditions, and control camera positions in 3D,” says Google.

You can apply for an API key here.

The app, which is available in over 40 countries and 29 languages, is ready to download in the App Store today. You definitely wouldn’t be the first. The app is already the number one free app in the world, garnered a five star rating with over 8,100 reviews in about eight hours. You may want to grab it before you start that road trip across Australia. Or, maybe not.

Bloomberg’s Adam Satariano cites “people familiar with the move,” indicating that Richard WIlliamson, who oversaw the mapping team was fired by SVP Eddy Cue.

It will be interesting to see how Apple is able to move past this smudge on its lauded product launch history, and past the relationship with Google, which provided maps on earlier versions of the OS. Many have grown familiar and comfortable with Google Maps, and are anxiously awaiting the release of a Google Maps app for iOS.

Earlier this month, reports emerged that the app was almost ready for submission.

Meanwhile, Google continues to update its maps offering, which should provide for a richer experience for users who have done without (granted, access via the mobile web has remained an option).

According to their sources, Google is currently in the final stages of polishing the inevitable Google Maps for iOS app, meaning that the company will be submitting the app for approval any day now.

“Google has distributed a test version of its new mapping app that will work on Apple’s iPhones to some individuals outside the company, said a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Google has been putting the finishing touches on the app before submitting it for approval to the Apple iTunes store, this person said, though it’s unclear exactly when that will happen,” says the WSJ.

Ever since Apple release iOS 6, the first version of their mobile operating system to not feature Google Maps as the default, we knew it was only a matter of time until Google released a native iOS maps app. That notion was all but solidified when everyone realized that Apple’s first venture into the mapping game was at best, a disappointment. Many called it an outright failure. Developers even warned Apple of the shortcomings of their Maps app before the launch of iOS – and those warnings were ignored.

Apple Maps, with it’s incomplete and inaccurate mapping data, was such a bust that CEO Tim Cook felt compelled to issue an apology, saying,

“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.”

He went on to suggest that users utilize better map options while they get their stuff together. Maps solutions like Waze, Bing Maps, MapQuest, and even Google Maps got a shoutout in the statement.

Although everyone knew that Google would develop a native maps app for iOS, there has been speculation on whether or not Apple would approve it. One report suggested that no matter how bad Apple Maps is, Apple wants to move beyond Google so badly that they may reject Google’s new maps app. Other reports rejected that notion, citing the overwhelming public backlash that would occur if Apple made such a short-sided move.

A native Google Maps app for iOS wouldn’t just benefit users, it is also a huge opportunity for Google. As Search Engine Land’s Greg sterling points out, Google will be able to show ads on the app like they do on Android maps – something that they couldn’t do when it was the default maps app for iOS.

Wall Street Journal tech columnist Walt Mossberg says Google will announce Street View the web on iOS on Thursday. “In fact, Google plans to announce on Thursday that it is adding its popular Street View feature, missing from Apple’s maps, to the Web version of Google Maps accessed from the iPhone and iPad,” he’s quoted as saying. “I tested this addition, which displays 360-degree photographic street views of selected locations, and interior photographic views of certain businesses, using sample links Google sent me. These links worked well, allowing me to see the locations and pan around with a finger.”

Though I’ve only heard more complaints first-hand about Apple’s Maps in recent days, apparently the app uses less data than Google Maps did in iOS 5.

That’s one of the few positive things we’ve seen published about Apple’s offering, which led to a full on apology from CEO Tim Cook last week.

Popular Apple blog Cult Of Mac is calling on Apple to buy Nokia to fix its “mapping disaster”. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly getting some employees from its retail stores to help fix it.

Now, here’s Apple Maps “reimagined as a surrealist art project” (via BoingBoing):

Google Maps, however, is not in the App Store. Still, you can use Google Maps from the the mobile web version on iOS 6. This is pretty much common sense, but Google has taken to Google+ to post some steps for using Google Maps on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch:

Google6 minutes ago

Google Maps is available to everyone using any mobile browser. And this includes iOS6 users. Accessing Google Maps is really easy—just follow the steps below. 

1. Open the Safari browser and go to maps.google.com 
2. Tap the Share button (on the bottom middle of the screen on iPhone, at the top on iPad)
3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”
4. Tap “Add” in the upper right corner of the screen
5. Now, simply tap on the icon and let Google Maps get you where you want to go!

With Google Maps on your mobile browser, you get many of the same Google Maps features you’re familiar with, including the ability to:
-See your current location
-Get driving, transit, biking and walking directions
-Turn on satellite, transit, traffic, biking and other layers
-Search for nearby landmarks, restaurants and other points of interest
-See clickable icons for popular businesses and transit stations, as well as detailed information such as hours of operation, Zagat scores and more
-When signed into your Google account, access your recent searches, starred locations and My Maps

Google Maps for mobile web browsers provides the latest features without needing to install any updates, no matter what device you use.

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Even Cook mentioned the web version of Google in his apology letter as possible alternative. Clearly, Apple does not want to sacrifice user experience too much, and doesn’t want to alienate customers over such an important part of the mobile experience.

Google will likely have an actual app for Google Maps out by the end of the year, and Apple will no doubt work vigorously on improving its own offering. It will be quite interesting to see how the two are competing with each other a year from now. In the meantime, other services are getting a chance to shine, even with Apple’s help through featured App Store promotion and Tim Cook’s highly publicized letter.

“At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers,” said Cook. “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.”

“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,” he said.

Read the full letter here.

Interestingly enough, Cook didn’t just mention some alternatives in the letter, but Apple is actually promoting alternatives in the App Store. In the featured section, there’s a box for “Find maps for your iPhone/iPad,” which points to a selection of Map Apps, including: MotionX GPS Drive, Waze Social GPS traffic & gas, MapQuest, GPS by TeleNav, Navigon USA, CoPilot Live Premium HD, CoPilot GPS, Bing, and AT&T Navigator (hat tip: Drew Olanoff).

Competitors were already touting their offerings as Apple’s customers complained, and now the company appears to be helping them along. This is a good chance for some of these other apps to pick up some users, before Google undoubtedly gets a Google Maps app on iOS. It’s expected sometime before the end of the year.

ZDNet reports that Wozniak was speaking at an event for Fusion-io, of which he is the chief scientist. He has been playing around with the iPhone 5 since launch as he was first in line at the phone’s launch in Australia. So, he should know what he’s talking about when addressing the problems facing Apple’s new Maps app.

The Apple co-founder said that he was “disappointed” with the Maps app because he couldn’t get to where he wanted to go by voice. He noted that he loved the voice navigation that’s available in Android phones because “they always get it and are based on a better database.”

Wozniak is well versed in the many phones of the world. He’s always willing to give his honest opinions on the strengths and weaknesses in iOS, Android and Windows Phone. So when he talks about Apple’s iOS, you can expect his answers to be honest opinions.

To that end, he says that he’s not so sure the problems plaguing the Maps app “are that severe.” He says that “there are a lot of complaints about one little thing people spot, but it’s not that hard to deal with in life.” He’s worried about the app, but he’s not worried since there are dozens of other navigations apps for iOS 6 already available. Unfortunately, Google Maps is not one of them… yet.