Apple Maps vs Google

but every application that wants to open maps is required to to use the apple map application, so google is locked out of the ecosystem. this is what bugs people, not releasing early and improving.

Apple also squandered maps ... until they didn't.

I think Apple believes that their map app will eventually become as good as Google's.Also, by doing this, Apple denies Google the information about what locations Apple's users are looking for and makes this available to only Apple.

Apple used tomtom's map, now what? Please, it's not that naive.

Apple should still have a user facing "maps.apple.com" though

At the time Apple Maps came out, Google Maps on iOS was limited to bitmap tiles and had no turn by turn directions, whereas Google Maps on Android had both dynamic vector based maps and turn by turn directions.Apple Maps forced Google to improve Google Maps on iOS.Apple Maps data was definitely substandard when it was released, but it has improved considerably since then. I vastly prefer it to Google Maps, especially for turn by turn directions when I'm driving.

"there is nothing really comparable to Google Maps out there"How exactly? The previous app used Google Maps API and was completely lackluster. The only good thing using their API is their own Android app.Now, what are Apple's options again?Contribute to the cash flow of a company detaining the monopoly on mapping data when they can backstab you at any moment? That sounds like the stupidest strategic decision ever. Better get a true partnership.I'm amazed how HN crowd is vocal against

AFAIK it was Apple that held back features from Google Maps. The previous Maps app was written by them (using Google's data).

Google maps are definitely bad. I think maybe Apple, as underdog in this space, has more motivation to curate the data better.

Can't really compare to Apple releasing Maps though. They released maps because they had to, it isn't a feature neither a selling point. The contract with Google expired and the original Maps had to be phased out, also the YouTube app, and they had to come up with something. The app itself was superior, had good usability and cool features, but mapping data is largely a monopoly and you can't really compete without owning Navitec/Atlas/whatever.