Australian Police Discourage Use Of Apple Maps After Multiple Rescues
The Apple Maps App has proven to be so inefficient that Australian police now discourage motorists from using it after rescuing six iPhone users stranded in the wilderness—some lost as long as 24 hours without food or water. Victorian police believe the drivers were all using the iOS 6 maps software searching for the city of Mildura, but were provided directions to a national park some 43 miles away instead.
“Tests of the mapping system by police confirm the mapping system lists Mildura in the middle of the Murray Sunset National Park, approximately 70 km away from the actual location of Mildura,” Victorian police said in a statement. “Police are extremely concerned as there is no water supply within the park and temperatures can reach as high as 46 degrees (Celsius—about 115 degrees Fahrenheit), making this a potentially life-threating issue.
“Anyone traveling to Mildura or other locations within Victoria should rely on other forms of mapping until this matter is rectified.”
Apple has already recognized its mapping app for iOS is inefficient, so much so that CEO Tim Cook publicly apologized for the software’s inadequacies and actually encouraged customers to use competitor’s mapping apps until improvements could be made.
Apple chose to drop Google Maps from its iOS 6 in September, opting to launch its own app instead. Since then users have complained the new app pales in comparison with Google’s version and is riddled with inaccuracies. Apple iOS software chief Scott Forstall was promptly fired when he reportedly refused to sign Cook’s apology, as was exec Richard Williamson, who was in charge of the maps software for iOS.
[Image via Victoria Police News]
