Google Maps surges to the top spot on Apple App Store's free app list in just 7 hours

posted by Victor H.

Dec 13, 2012, 9:29 AM

Google Maps surges to the top spot on Apple App Store's free app list in just 7 hours

Google Maps for iPhone has just become the most popular free application on the App Store, merely 7 hours after it launched on Apple’s catalog. The free Google Maps has gotten a brilliant 4.5 out of 5 five stars rating, and being adopted so quickly by iPhone users is also telling.

We have just wrapped up our in-depth comparison of Google Maps vs Apple Maps, and we have found plenty of good reasons to switch to Google’s application right away.

Google Maps has outranked Apple’s own '12 Days of Christmas' promo app, and even apps like 'Angry Birds: Star Wars.'

If we had to narrow it down to the most important features, Google’s application stands out with its great gesture-based interface, public transit directions, Street View and of course a much better developed backend of points of interest and places.

Google has also brought an SDK with Maps, so that developers can integrate it with their own applications.

Download Google Maps for iPhone

source: The Next Web

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37 Comments

37. DJPaZ

Posts: 1; Member since: Dec 14, 2012

I'm from Sri Lanka, and it says Google Maps is not available in Sri Lankan App Store.. We have roads and places too you know! Anyone else getting this problem?

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 1:00 PM 0

36. rabih_z

Posts: 45; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

still its not available in Lebanon :(

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 7:03 AM 0

35. Phonecall01 unregistered

Hey Apple!!! Though you could do it better.... Now you look stupid.

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 2:22 AM 2

34. good2great

Posts: 1042; Member since: Feb 22, 2012

The major part of why people hated the iPhone is now irrelevant thanks to Google for solving this problem... It's now cool to have an iPhone again. What if apple did this on purpose to force google to create an updated google maps in the first place? HMMMMM????

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 2:17 AM 0

31. taz89

Posts: 2014; Member since: May 03, 2011

just shows how much google was missed by ios users

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 5:58 PM 2

30. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

Well this was a no brainer....lol. This should be a lesson to Apple.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 5:04 PM 0

27. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

You know it is bad for APPLE with their awesome 'maps' when as soon as Google releases theirs on iOS - it goes to the top. People want reliable not just because it is from APPLE. The 'just because it is APPLE' marketing and development for APPLE is not working any longer.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 1:41 PM 0

29. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Apple should learn something from this experience and apply the lesson to a revamp of iOS. The UI is just so... 2007. I wonder how the iOS community would respond to a new (and truly improved) UI? Based on the response to gMaps, I suspect it would be at the top of the download list, too.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 2:15 PM 0

26. Twisted247

Posts: 282; Member since: Oct 12, 2012

LMAO "Apple works just fine if not better" - Apple user in denial The stats don't lie number 1 in 7hours hahahahahaha Apple boys if you wanted the Google and Android Greatness so badly all you had to do was ask

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 1:32 PM 5

25. miladkhahil

Posts: 26; Member since: Dec 08, 2008

Again this not about winning or failing for neither Apple nor Google ... It's about us consumer..... Thank you Google for that beautiful Google Map App...that application is better in terms of design compared to the Android build, which has been adding features over time by way of cluttering menus with new items. already the much-expected software has surged to become the top free iPhone app on the App Store. This just goes to illustrate that competition is a good thing and how eager people have been to have that native mapping experience from Google on their iPhones... :-)

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 1:07 PM 2

23. AlexC

Posts: 7; Member since: Nov 19, 2012

A hard hit right a home haha. Ouch

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 12:21 PM 0

21. McLTE

Posts: 922; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

I only have one thing to say.. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.. gasp.. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 11:28 AM 2

20. shamataa

Posts: 257; Member since: Dec 07, 2011

LOL and not a huge surprise. Apple was so dumb to make its own map app in the first place and further more to ditch it now they are paying the price. Just to show you how Apple is no longer a good company with good ideas and falling short on apps.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 11:27 AM 2

18. jaytai0106

Posts: 1888; Member since: Mar 30, 2011

Apply should just take the Google Map back as its default Map App

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 11:03 AM 3

17. israinwet

Posts: 47; Member since: Nov 29, 2012

_lol_

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 10:47 AM 0

15. kindlefireowner

Posts: 504; Member since: Dec 05, 2011

Is Apple the first company to make a mistake on a product. No. If I was Tim Cook, I would have made a deal with TomTom and gave free downloads of TomTom's app. That would have smooth everything out on the spot.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 10:17 AM 1

14. ZayZay

Posts: 571; Member since: Feb 26, 2011

What? Nose surgery wasn't the most useful popular thing on iOS?

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 10:10 AM 0

12. PhoneCritic

Posts: 1382; Member since: Oct 05, 2011

Apple and Tim Cook got eggs all over their faces when Cook made a public apology and essentially admitted Apple made a mistake when it Booted Google maps and try to do it's own mapping app that failed terribly ( cost a Apple exec his Job too). Today also adds more Eggs to Apples and Tim Cook's face again as it shows that Apple users can think and exercise their own opinions and not have Apple always dictate to them what they need and should have. The Apple users have spoken loud and clear and Apple has heard. This is a win for the iPhone users and like it or not a Big win for Google's strategy of being everywhere and on every device.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 9:50 AM 4

8. BadAssAbe

Posts: 509; Member since: Apr 22, 2011

A Google app at the top of Apple Store, A Samsung Top using and admitting using apple product. Whats next, The end of the world?

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 9:42 AM 2

4. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Gee, I wonder why that is (sarcasm)? Any chance that users in iOS-land were unhappy with iMaps? I guess they knew better than Apple what they wanted.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 9:38 AM 4

3. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

Umm people want a great working maps application. Google maps is it. Is this really a surprise to anyone? What surprises me is that it took 7 hours for that to happen. lol

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 9:36 AM 6

6. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

"What surprises me is that it took 7 hours for that to happen," Probably due to a lag in the word getting out, users in the U.S. being tucked into bed for a chunk of the 7 hour lag and whatnot.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 9:42 AM 4

1. Cha7520

Posts: 222; Member since: Oct 31, 2010

LMAO!! APPLE= FAIL

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 9:30 AM 31

2. seesharp88

Posts: 22; Member since: Oct 24, 2012

The top Play store app at the moment is made by GIPNETIX GAMES. Does that mean GOOGLE = FAIL? What it has proved, is that google has had to bring their no.1 android selling point to the iPhone. It has been gobbled up... but by iPhone users. This is as much a win for apple as it is google

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 9:34 AM 7

9. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Hahaha. I think you gave a great example of false equivalence. If Google had dropped GIPNETIX GAMES from JB where previously it had been offered on Android ICS and earlier, your analogy MIGHT be applicable.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 9:47 AM 21

16. diggie

Posts: 4; Member since: Nov 29, 2012

Apple didn't have a choice but to change their Map app. Google wouldn't allow them to use vector based graphics and wouldn't allow them to use turn by turn directions. If google wanted to stay in the first place they should have allowed these changes. But when google restricts what features Apple can use in their app that pulls google data (which is their right to do) you can't blame Apple for looking elsewhere.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 10:39 AM 0

22. iamcc

Posts: 1319; Member since: Oct 07, 2011

Google should have allowed these changes? You mean the changes that Google implemented in the new app? You are an idiot.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 12:21 PM 7

24. diggie

Posts: 4; Member since: Nov 29, 2012

The old app was developed by Apple using Google data and their agreement with Apple prohibited Apple from implementing these features. I'm not saying Google should or shouldn't have allowed it - that was a business choice for them to make - but it was features Apple wanted, Google wouldn't work with them on those features so they went elsewhere to get the data they needed so they could implement those features. If you don't even know the background of the story you're the idiot.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 12:37 PM 1

28. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

this way, the app is all Google ....better off for Google in the long run not having their software integrated with boring old iOS. Because of Google's rep, they can just make the software for the app store and APPLE users will then have a choice ('gasp') of which maps to use - just like Android users do. Obviously, APPLE users prefer Google quite a bit.

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 1:44 PM 3

5. pankajgupta

Posts: 59; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

Apple Maps are fail not Apple. Apple strategy will eventually work out 5-7 years down the line or sooner if they buy some Map companies. We have 3 BIG and MAIN competitors now. 1. Google 2. Nokia 3. Apple

posted on Dec 13, 2012, 9:39 AM 2

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