Wev’ve known for some time that the relationship between Apple and Google has been rocky — but is this the first hint that Apple might be ditching Google Maps?
If you fire up your shiny new copy of iPhoto for iOS, and have a look at the maps displayed in the app, you’ll notice something unusual — this doesn’t look like Google Maps. Google Maps has been used as the default map application for all iOS devices since launch, and now, suddenly, it’s not for one of Apple’s primary apps. This was first spotted by 512pixels, and it appears the information is slightly less current than Google Maps.
So, what’s going on?
It appears the app is pinging Apple directly for the information, and that the data may be based on OpenStreetMaps, but from 2010. The eternally well connected John Gruber says:
OK, what I’m hearing now is that Places still uses Google Maps, but the maps in Journals and slideshows are not using Google Maps, and are Apple’s own stuff.
We’ve been hearing for years that Apple may ditch Google Maps, and this might be the first hint of a split.
Written By 