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Apple launches 'find maps' list in App Store

Apple is pushing users towards alternatives to its own Maps app with a new section in the App Store that highlights competitors.

Josh Lowensohn Former Senior Writer
Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
Josh Lowensohn
2 min read
Josh Lowensohn/CNET

Having officially apologized to usersover the quality of its new Maps application, Apple has now gone one step further by promoting a list of alternatives to its customers.

A new curated list in the "featured" section of Apple's App Store offers alternative mapping applications for iPhone and iPad users.

The list of apps (click to enlarge).
The list of apps (click to enlarge). Josh Lowensohn/CNET

So far the list includes just over a dozen applications:

MotionX GPS Drive (99 cents)
Waze Social GPS (free)
MapQuest (free)
GPS by TeleNav (free)
Scout by Telenav (free)
Garmin U.S.A. ($39.99)
Gokivo GPS Navigator (99 cents)
Navigon USA ($39.99)
CoPilot Live Premium HD-USA ($12.99)
CoPilot GPS (free)
Bing (free)
Magellan RoadMate USA ($49.99)
AT&T Navigator (free w/subscription)

The list is slightly shorter on the iPad, at just eight apps, and differs by country. In Canada, for instance, Apple is pushing Canadian and North American versions of apps from Navigon, Garmin and Sygic. It's the same in the U.K., with localized apps from Microsoft, Skobbler and AA Satnav.

In an apology to users earlier today, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the company was working to make its own maps software better, though did not provide any sort of estimate on when that might happen. In the meantime, Cook suggested users download an app, or use a mobile Web-based service from competitors, including Google, Microsoft and Nokia.

Apple debuted its own maps technology at its annual developers conference in June, and shipped it to users as part of iOS 6 last week. While the on-stage demos were quite impressive, many users have found the newer version of the software, which uses various Apple and third-party mapping data, to be underwhelming or inaccurate compared to Google Maps. Apple reportedly ditched Google for its own Maps app because of disputes over control and branding of the app, which comes pre-installed on more than 400 million iOS devices.

(via RazorianFly)

Watch this: Inside Scoop: Apple mapping took a wrong direction