Remember that Motorola advert that slated Apple Maps? You know, the one that pointed out that -- duh -- it couldn't even find a simple address in New York? Well it turns out that address doesn't actually exist, Apple Insider reports.
Ah.
"Looking for 315 E 15th in Manhattan?" the ad read. "Google Maps on Droid RAZR M will get you there and not #iLost in Brooklyn." But 315 E 15th isn't actually an official address. A public park is on that side of the street, meaning none of the block's odd numbers are valid.
The advert (for Motorola, which is owned by Google, let's not forget) shows Apple Maps as bringing up an address on Marlborough Road. What used to be the 300 block of East 15th Street is now called Marlborough Road, so Apple isn't as far off the mark as the ad makes out.
Of course this doesn't take away from the fact Apple Maps has been a complete disaster -- but still, Motorola shouldn't put the boot in without getting its facts straight.
Maybe Google should be more focussed on finding out why its own Maps service takes you to an invalid address when you enter the co-ordinates. What's doubly embarrassing is that Apple Maps does actually take you to where the address should be.
The advert was still on Motorola's Facebook and Google Plus pages at time of writing.
It did seem a bit opportunistic of Google to jump on the bandwagon mocking Apple Maps. But then I suppose it was annoyed since Apple spurned its navigation app in favour of its own in-house version. Apparently the spat came down to verbal turn-by-turn directions. Apple wouldn't allow Google branding, and Google refused to give up the spoken directions.
What do you think of tech companies attacking each other in adverts? Let me know in the comments, or on Facebook.
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Comments 8
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Mark Anderson 30 September, 2012 11:54
I don't think you're allowed to show actual private addresses in ads, are you?
And Apple deserve the mocking. After years of telling everyone that 'it just works' there was always going to be a backlash when it doesn't.
Still a nice phone though, if a little boring.
anonymous 30 September, 2012 12:52
Kick'em while they're down! Its always been the way and always will be...
So now that iApple has become the biggest tech company, surely people don't expect rivals to be nice towards them!
And especially since Apple loves to sue any company that crosses their path...!
anonymous 30 September, 2012 18:33
I've been using Apple Maps and I haven't come across any errors yet. Over all, I find Apple maps to be an excellent mapping and navigation app, and Consumer Reports agrees with me.
Consumer Reports recently put Apple’s new Maps against Google’s Android Maps in a “showdown” to see which provides better navigation features. The result led to Jeff Bartlett writing that while “both the free Apple and Google navigation apps provide clear routing directions,” the group concluded that “Google provides a better overall package, but we feel that both provide a good solution for standard software.”
The group noted that after “having more thoroughly tested Apple Maps alongside a Samsung Galaxy S3 running Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with Google Maps, we have a more favorable opinion – certainly more favorable than comments and articles that we’ve been reading online.”
Consumer Reports further stated “both Apple Maps and Google Maps route effectively, providing clear guidance and great points-of-interest integration."
ViewRoyal 30 September, 2012 18:34
I've been using Apple Maps and I haven't come across any errors yet. Over all, I find Apple maps to be an excellent mapping and navigation app, and Consumer Reports agrees with me.
Consumer Reports recently put Apple’s new Maps against Google’s Android Maps in a “showdown” to see which provides better navigation features. The result led to Jeff Bartlett writing that while “both the free Apple and Google navigation apps provide clear routing directions,” the group concluded that “Google provides a better overall package, but we feel that both provide a good solution for standard software.”
The group noted that after “having more thoroughly tested Apple Maps alongside a Samsung Galaxy S3 running Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with Google Maps, we have a more favorable opinion – certainly more favorable than comments and articles that we’ve been reading online.”
Consumer Reports further stated “both Apple Maps and Google Maps route effectively, providing clear guidance and great points-of-interest integration."
anonymous 30 September, 2012 21:55
Apple maps are not a disaster. They are a 1.0 product. The disaster is Google Maps and that disaster is tangible and is at the core of why Google does Evil. Google decided to hold onto turn by turn voice directions for the iPhone, while providing this for Android systems. Wall street and the tech press lauded this as a good business decision. No doubt, but it is also a decision that has caused injury and death. Using Google maps on the iPhone is unsafe and given the hundreds of millions of iPhone users, has no doubt led to traffic accidents, injuries and deaths. Google's decision to get an advantage over the iPhone by keeping voice driven turn by turn directions is not a good business decision, unless putting your customers in harms way is considered good business.
anonymous 1 October, 2012 00:33
Part of a story does not a story make.
Google withheld voice navigation because Apple wouldn't let them use any Google branding on Google maps.
Apple threw there toys out of their pram and killed of the licensing agreement with Google early.
Unfortuantly they did it before they had a viable alternative.
iOS 6 was about one thing and one thing only, removing all ties with Google but it backfired.
As for the lack of voice navigation causing untold death and destruction - don't be a drama queen.
People have been driving for over 100 years and they managed to get where they wanted without hitting a tree because of the lack of voice navigation on their smartphones.
The simple truth is, Apple cut off their own nose to spite their face, they lost their cool and weren't in a position to avoid this PR clustermug.
If they had waited another year with Google, their map app might have been a rival.
anonymous 1 October, 2012 00:38
The fact that Motorola had to use a fact address to try and embarress Apple was a dumb move (much like Nokia pretending their advert was filmed with a smartphone camera.)
Stupid cheapshot and that too has backfired.
With all the "issues" with Apple Maps it wouldn't have been hard to find a real one, then they really could have taken the high ground instead of this stupid schoolboy error.
damien2501 1 October, 2012 09:19
I can make google maps look crap by putting a fake address in too, what does this prove? Apple maps are nowhere near as bad as people say. I've used it loads and hasn't let me down yet. Over time it's getting better and better too