What Needs To Be Fixed In iOS

I’m a big fan of Apple’s mobile operating system. I think largely it is successful because of its ease of use and visual polish. There are some features which is is missing that other competitors have, but I think the platform allows these to be easily implemented by third parties, so it tends to not be a big fault.

However, there is one area where iOS is severely behind the competition and it should be addressed in the next update.

Apple needs to revamp it’s Maps app.

The Maps app has gone largely unchanged since the phone launched. When the iPhone debuted, Android was not out yet, and Google was the obvious partner with their superior Maps product. However, since Android has become Apple’s chief competitor in the mobile space, one can’t help but feel the Maps app on iOS has been neglected as a result.

Above all, Apple needs a turn by turn voice guided navigation feature. Google’s phone has done this since Android 2.0. Windows Phone now has a turn by turn function built into it’s Bing Maps app. This is a major differential selling point for these other phones. See Samsung’s latest ad – a campaign I tend to snicker at as smelling of jealousy but on this point I think they are spot on.

Note how they mention “it just comes with it” as opposed to Apple where you have to buy an app for another $40 on top of your new phone.

Second, Google’s maps on their Android platform has added features that make Apple look silly by comparison, such as indoor maps of airports and malls. (Again, Windows Phone does this too, something that really should make Apple ashamed considering how young WinPhone is)

Worse, Apple’s lacking of updating their maps shows how reliant they are on Google. Google has little incentive to update a competitor’s maps app, it would take away a great selling point.

Therefore, Apple needs to come out with their own Maps app. There are hints they might be working on this. They acquired a 3D mapping software company. There was a small controversy when it was discovered your iPhone was keeping track of your location – and theories Apple might be collecting this data for mapping purposes.

Hopefully this is the big new feature of iOS 6. Apple needs to stay innovative in the face of a (potentially negative) constantly updating Android platform. This is the weakest part of the iOS platform currently.