[Reftsheette]

06:15 GMT, 15 June 2012

Apple has given the first glance of its replacement for Google’s maps software -- and it
appears the firm has a lot of work to do. Screenshots claiming to be from the developer release
of the software show Apple's new Maps app confuses Greenland for the Indian Ocean, the
Indian Ocean for the Arctic Ocean, and places the North Pacific Ocean in the middle of Africa.

Although the mistakes are expected to be rectified before the software is made available to the
public later this year, they have led to Apple being called ‘dumb’ online for releasing the
maps, even to developers.



The iPhone maker revealed earlier this week it has been using a fleet of planes and helicopters to
create a rival mapping service. It has also struck a deal with satnav maker TomTom to licence its
maps to use in the project.

More screenshots obtained by website Gizmodo show Apple’s maps showing far less information
than Google’s and failing to display street names to create a ‘cleaner’ display.

The live traffic function of Apple’s maps, which will eventually use iPhone owners to crowdsource
data on delays, it also sadly lacking when compared to Google’s service. Bloggers have been
sceptical of the service.



'We'll see how Apple Maps really works once iOS 6 officially launches. But as of right now, it's
lacking a lot of the granularity and features that make Google Maps great. So far upgrading doesn't
seem like an upgrade at all,' said Casey Chan of Gizmodo.

Apple also admitted this week it won’t have support for tube and bus lines on the service, and will
instead send people to third party apps they must download in order to get public transport directions.