Good news for those of you that have been led astray by Apple’s iOS 6 Maps: Google is set to release its iOS app for Google Maps in the App Store tonight. The reliable AllThingsD is reporting that the app is set to go live after internal worry at Google that Apple would reject the app.
Google plans to release its much-awaited iOS Maps app tonight, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The New York Times originally reported that Google Maps for iOS was planned to arrive before the end of the year, and The Wall Street Journal reported that Google was putting the finishing touches on the app a few weeks ago.
Apple kicked the stock Google Maps app out of iOS when it announced iOS 6, and the new mapping software has come under much criticism since it was given to the public back in September. Tim Cook even had to issue a public apology begging for forgiveness.
It remains unknown as to whether the new Google Maps app will have turn-by-turn navigation, a feature that Apple wanted the Maps app to have originally before it decided to make its own Maps for iOS 6. Google reportedly didn’t want to give Apple turn-by-turn because it wanted to keep it as an Android-exclusive feature. Google also wanted to have its own ads in Apple’s Maps app. Internal disagreements combined with the growing rivalry between iPhone and Android caused Apple to part ways with Google in iOS, leaving the stock YouTube and Maps apps behind.
Google has already released a new YouTube app for iOS, and Google Maps should be coming back to an iPhone near you in a matter of hours.
Source: AllThingsD
