Apple's iOS 8 was supposed to bring big changes and improvements to the Maps app —including public transit data, more reliable data, better POI data and more. Many were surprised at WWDC when little to no changes were announced for the Maps application aside from vectro-based maps in China. A source familiar with the situation claims that the lack of improvements was due to the departure of many developers, poor management, and ‘internal politics' that ultimately caused project to suffer.
Many developers left the company, no map improvements planned for iOS 8 release were finished in time. Mostly it was failure of project managers and engineering project managers, tasks were very badly planned, developers had to switch multiple times from project to project.
Another source corroborated much of what was said by the first tipster.
I would say that planning, project management and internal politics issues were a much more significant contributor to the failure to complete projects than developers leaving the group.
There is still a chance that Apple could introduce the enhanced mapping features in iOS 8.1, or perhaps even in a later iOS 8.0 Beta. The company's many hires in the mapping area shows its serious about improving its product, but only time will tell when that will be.
Apple introduced its Maps application with the release of iOS 6. It was met with a lot of criticism over lack of mapping data and POI locations and even caused Apple CEO Tim Cook to issue an open letter regarding the application.
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Many developers left the company, no map improvements planned for iOS 8 release were finished in time. Mostly it was failure of project managers and engineering project managers, tasks were very badly planned, developers had to switch multiple times from project to project.
Another source corroborated much of what was said by the first tipster.
I would say that planning, project management and internal politics issues were a much more significant contributor to the failure to complete projects than developers leaving the group.
There is still a chance that Apple could introduce the enhanced mapping features in iOS 8.1, or perhaps even in a later iOS 8.0 Beta. The company's many hires in the mapping area shows its serious about improving its product, but only time will tell when that will be.
Apple introduced its Maps application with the release of iOS 6. It was met with a lot of criticism over lack of mapping data and POI locations and even caused Apple CEO Tim Cook to issue an open letter regarding the application.
Read More