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Article

Apple Cans Author of Its Maps Fiasco

The screw-up forced CEO Tim Cook to publicly apologize and promise the widgetry would improve
By Maureen O'Gara
Article Rating:
December 2, 2012 02:00 PM EST
Reads:
 2,312

Apple has reportedly fired Richard Williamson, the NeXT legacy who botched the mission-critical maps program that replaced the Google Maps program Apple used to offer on its widgets.

Apple wanted Google Maps off its iPads and iPhones because it loathes Google and its Android operating system.

The screw-up forced CEO Tim Cook to publicly apologize and promise the widgetry would improve.

Apple then fired Williamson's boss, mobile-software chief Scott Forstall, last month. He reportedly refused to apologize for the blooper.

SVP of online services Eddy Cue, a confidant of Steve Jobs, reportedly just fired Williamson and is supposed to be seeking advice from outside mapping experts and pushing digital maps provider TomTom to fix the unreliable mapping data it shares with Apple.

Meanwhile, Google is supposed to be getting an iOS-based mapping program ready.

Apple's maps include the turn-by-turn navigation and fly-over landscape views that Google reserved for Android. What they need are routes that don't get users lost, reliable landmark searches and public transportation directions.

Published December 2, 2012 – Reads 2,312
Copyright © 2012 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
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Maureen O'Gara the most read technology reporter for the past 20 years, is the Cloud Computing and Virtualization News Desk editor of SYS-CON Media. She is the publisher of famous "Billygrams" and the editor-in-chief of "Client/Server News" for more than a decade. One of the most respected technology reporters in the business, Maureen can be reached by email at maureen(at)sys-con.com or paperboy(at)g2news.com, and by phone at 516 759-7025. Twitter: @MaureenOGara

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