The cult-like following that Apple (News - Alert) has for its products caught a small snag when they recently released their new iOS6 operating system on the new iPhone 5. People had become accustomed to using Google maps on their iPhones but with the iPhone (News - Alert) 5, the Google maps application was replaced by an iOS6 version of a map application.

Corporate infighting between the two technology giants, Apple and Google (News - Alert), prompted this new application for Apple, who was eliminating apps from its chief rival in the smartphone market. New iPhone users immediately started complaining about the new map app because it lacked detail and was missing public transit information. If problems with the US maps were not enough, phones being used internationally had even more issues with minimal maps available and several landmarks missing or mislabeled.


Image via www.apple.com

Users were less-than-thrilled with Apple’s first attempt at a mapping application, which shows promise for the future, but as it stands, is less-than-functional. Apple’s CEO may have issued an official apology for the app to their users, but it still leaves them without a functional mapping application in the meantime. Rival Google has been working quickly to solve the woes of Apple users.

Now, details have been leaked about Google Maps for iOS 6 through software developer Ben Guild’s blog, including both features and screenshots (albeit blurry, by his own admission). A few of the key features of the new Google Maps app are: two-finger rotation to any angle, impressive speed, vector-based, and the ability to support the iPhone 5’s four-inch height.

Apple users will, no doubt, be thrilled to have their trusty mapping application back when Google Maps for iOS 6 is officially released. Until Apple is able to improve their mapping system, the old standby will, no doubt, be the preferred mapping system, despite Apple’s hopes that their devoted users will eventually forgo all Google-related products.