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Apple says it's 'just getting started' with Maps, 'working hard' to improve experience

Apple says it's 'just getting started' with Maps, 'working hard' to improve experience

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Apple is seeking to calm any consumer unrest regarding its new Maps application by emphasizing that it's only in the beginning stages of what will unquestionably be an intensive effort to build out a robust service.

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Apple's new Maps application has quickly proven to be a hotbed for controversy in an otherwise iterative iOS update. Just one day after releasing iOS 6 to consumers, the company is facing intense criticism for replacing Google Maps with its own mapping solution — which is providing a less-than-ideal experience in many situations. Now Apple is seeking to calm any unrest by emphasizing that it's only in the beginning stages of what will undoubtedly be an intensive effort to build out a robust service.

"We launched this new map service knowing it is a major initiative and that we are just getting started with it."

"Customers around the world are upgrading to iOS 6 with over 200 new features including Apple Maps, our first map service," said an Apple spokesperson in a statement provided to AllThingsD. "We are excited to offer this service with innovative new features like Flyover, turn by turn navigation, and Siri integration. We launched this new map service knowing it is a major initiative and that we are just getting started with it. Maps is a cloud-based solution and the more people use it, the better it will get. We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better."

Clearly the company is hoping that anyone experiencing problems will take advantage of the "Report a Problem" option inside the Maps app. Highlighting Maps as a cloud-based product is also interesting, as it's unclear how features like Flyover and missing details will "get better" as people use maps. Still, it's obvious that Apple is planning to work quickly in delivering improvements as more users chime in with feedback, and Cupertino might've done well to stick a "beta" tag on Maps, at least at the outset. We've reached out to Apple for comment.

Update: Apple's contacted The Verge to add that it's also "working with developers to integrate some of the amazing transit apps in the App Store into iOS Maps." Here's the complete statement:

Customers around the world are upgrading to iOS 6 with over 200 new features including Apple Maps, our first map service. We are excited to offer this service with innovative new features like Flyover and Siri integration, and free turn by turn navigation. We launched this new map service knowing that it is a major initiative and we are just getting started with it. We are continuously improving it, and as Maps is a cloud-based solution, the more people use it, the better it will get. We're also working with developers to integrate some of the amazing transit apps in the App Store into iOS Maps. We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better.

We'll let you know as we learn more.