Apple issues humble apology for maps

In it he accepts that with the launch of Apple Maps, the company "fell short" on its commitment to making world-class products that deliver the "best experience possible" to customers and apologized for the frustration that it had so far caused.

What is interesting to note in the letter is that according to Cook, when the company decided they needed to offer greater functionality, such as turn-by-turn directions and voice integrations -- features missing from Google's offering to Apple customers -- they had to rebuild the application from the ground up.

Cook stressed that half a billion searches have been performed on Apple Maps since its launch and that with each search the system improves, but for customers who were still experiencing problems, he suggested trying alternative apps: "by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app."

He signed off by promising that work would not stop on the app until it met the standard that Apple customers deserve.

The reaction in the technology community is that this is indeed a humble apology, with All Things D comparing it to the press conference Steve Jobs was forced to call following complaints about the antenna on the iPhone 4. What has also taken many by surprise is that Apple has actually suggested using Google as a valid alternative while it tries to improve its own maps.