Apple is looking for more staff to work on iOS Maps – which is a struggling alternative to the better-known Google (News - Alert) Maps.
It appears that Apple is trying to make its map app more competitive with Google’s product by adding more specialists, according to news reports.
Recently, there have been some negative comments surfacing about iOS Maps.
Apple (News - Alert) posted seven job listings which are believed to be connected to iOS Maps. One of these is for “a computer-vision expert, who will take on improving Flyover, Apple’s 3D terrain visualization feature,” according to AppleInsider.
Apple's recent job listings also look for a "senior software engineer to build highly-optimized vector content for our Maps application," and a Geocoder data analyst to "work to improve a corner stone of" Apple's mapping app.
A few weeks ago, Apple posted that it was looking to hire 10 software engineers in connection with iOS Maps. Responsibilities included “various programming duties” and “navigation,” AppleInsider reported.
iOS Maps was launched last year with iOS 6. It has been criticized for inaccurate location data and mistakes in 3D flyover data. Apple is working to correct the mistakes.
TMCnet reported that “the mapping software has gotten significantly worse with this new addition” in conjunction with iOS 6. Examples cited by TMCnet include that the search function got worse.
The Yelp (News - Alert) database is not as extensive as previous offerings either. The iOS apps also do not feature public transit directions, which are offered by Google Maps.
Among the improvements Apple is in the process of making on the map app is with its “user interface, integration with other iOS services like Siri, how maps are displayed in real time, points of interest labeling and 3D flyover visual,” AppleInsider reported.
But not every comment about iOS Maps and iOS 6 has been negative. There are some praised features. For instance, TMCnet CTO Tom Keating (News - Alert) commented last year, “I like the new maps even with the controversy surrounding its accuracy compared with Google Maps. The 3D rendering and map ‘flyover’ mode of big cities is incredible.”