Why can’t Apple work on a nicer reviews implementation? Linking out to crap like yelp is such a B-grade experience. I wish they’d just build their own and use some LLM/sentiment analysis to help filter any spam, but even then, submissions would be tied to Apple IDs and they have a pretty good handle on the legitimacy of devices associated with an account
Spent over a week wandering the backroads and state highways of the American southeast region, and I was amazed at how out-of-date Apple Maps was regarding local businesses. Often I’d see something on my map that had clearly been abandoned for years.
Somehow I doubt ads are going to improve the quality of their data. Very discouraging to see Apple (allegedly) headed down this road.
The single reason I use apple maps instead of google maps is because of the lack of ads. For me, it is really the only competitive advantage offered by apple maps
Perhaps a bit cynical, but it seems that as Microsoft continue to shove ads in absolutely everywhere and track everything they possibly can, Apple are content to be just marginally better rather than actually having meaningfully higher standards. Of course, it's business as usual, but we are boiling the frog for the next generation by tolerating it.
“Gurman warned that the move risks some amount of consumer backlash.”
The frogs don’t have to wait and see if the pot is boiling, they have a pot named Android right next to them for a direct temperature comparison and other Maps apps available. If I lose screen space to ads in my native Apple apps then I’m out. How is the money they are getting from hardware sales and their developer fees not enough? I don’t see how the execs can’t tell how damaging this is to their brand image.
Apple used to be something you accepted because you were filled with rage at Microsoft. Then Apple was something that cost extra money but it had good software and cross device integration. Then Apple’s software quality went down noticeably, but I stuck with them because at least I figured my data was slightly safer on an Apple device. But now if they’re using my data to sell ads they don’t even have a privacy angle. Apple now lags Android flagships in features, costs at least as much, and also sells my data.
How times have changed. It wasn't long ago that Apple was all about promoting privacy and a premium experience, making a clear distinction between themselves and the likes of Meta and Google. Now they are using AI to profile us and deliver ads.
We badly need a good open phone with an open source OS. Choosing a more open phone shouldn't mean having to settle for five year old hardware.
The existing Yelp integration is so bad. Want to see a picture larger, or read more than 10 words of a review it opens Yelp app which usually doesn't work.
I guess no user is going to like that and especially not the current users.
Until now Apple has been relatively decent about prioritizing user experience; and if not that then about respecting privacy. Ads are aligned with neither.
Great, the reason I switched from Google Maps to Apple Maps is going away. I endured all of Apple Maps’ weirdness and how subpar it is to escape those ads. Guess where I’ll probably go, Apple?
Stuff like this (lets wring more money out of our existing stuff even if it erodes the customer experience) smacks of a culture that’s losing a spirit of innovation.
This is the kind of thing some jackass worked out in a spreadsheet and then decided the profit outweighs whatever customer backlash.
Stuff like this is a huge red flag for the future direction of Apple.
Apple has been including ads in it's products for years now. I'm not even talking about App store ads, but ads in the OS by default. This should not be a surprise to anyone.
Let me be clear: ads for Apple products and non Apple products have existed as a part of the default user experience in Apple products. Whether you noticed or not is merely whether you paid attention.
I use it over google maps, even though the navigation is strictly worse, because it feels less seedy. No ads, no RESTAURANTS NEAR YOU when i just want to pick up my kids from school.
Apple does this, they destroy the only differentiator they had.
This will destroy a lot of trust and between Apple and me.
When I buy Apple, I pay a premium price for a premium product.
I would rather you simple charge me more for my product.
The ways ads work, is that the ad revenue shows up in the company’s revenue, and very quickly the company has to increase ad load across every surface to meet earnings expectations. The user experience deteriorates, getting worse each year.
When I buy Apple, it’s based on my expectation that Apple will remain a premium, ad-free experience for the life of the device. When, after my purchase, Apple make the product worse, like with the recent iOS update that rolled back usability, it destroys a lot of trust.
40 comments
[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 57.8 ms ] threadRIP, Steve.
I wonder if there will be fewer ads in countries they know that Apple Maps is worse than Google Maps?
Somehow I doubt ads are going to improve the quality of their data. Very discouraging to see Apple (allegedly) headed down this road.
How long before they outright start selling our data along with all the exact bio-patterns gathered on the millions of Apple Watches out there?
Even if Tim Cook personally believes in privacy, there's no guarantee the next CEO after him will.
This would just be more ads.
The frogs don’t have to wait and see if the pot is boiling, they have a pot named Android right next to them for a direct temperature comparison and other Maps apps available. If I lose screen space to ads in my native Apple apps then I’m out. How is the money they are getting from hardware sales and their developer fees not enough? I don’t see how the execs can’t tell how damaging this is to their brand image.
Apple used to be something you accepted because you were filled with rage at Microsoft. Then Apple was something that cost extra money but it had good software and cross device integration. Then Apple’s software quality went down noticeably, but I stuck with them because at least I figured my data was slightly safer on an Apple device. But now if they’re using my data to sell ads they don’t even have a privacy angle. Apple now lags Android flagships in features, costs at least as much, and also sells my data.
I’m out.
We badly need a good open phone with an open source OS. Choosing a more open phone shouldn't mean having to settle for five year old hardware.
Ahahaha. Endless growth, babyyyy
Apple is not stupid, so I guess their research shows that this is not a common enough sentiment that adding ads will measurably hamper sales.
To someone who loathes ads (like me), this is a tragedy.
Until now Apple has been relatively decent about prioritizing user experience; and if not that then about respecting privacy. Ads are aligned with neither.
This is the kind of thing some jackass worked out in a spreadsheet and then decided the profit outweighs whatever customer backlash.
Stuff like this is a huge red flag for the future direction of Apple.
Apple Further Expanding into Ads, Now Directly Selling Ads in News App (macrumors.com)
4 points by ksec 11 months ago | 1 comment
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34299433
Apple's collection of user data hard to stop says report (appleinsider.com)'
44 points by janandonly on April 11, 2024 1 comment
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40006508
(I’ll simply keep using the superior Google Maps anyway. I’m sure it has has ads but it hasn’t bothered me.)
Let me be clear: ads for Apple products and non Apple products have existed as a part of the default user experience in Apple products. Whether you noticed or not is merely whether you paid attention.
Apple does this, they destroy the only differentiator they had.
When I buy Apple, I pay a premium price for a premium product.
I would rather you simple charge me more for my product.
The ways ads work, is that the ad revenue shows up in the company’s revenue, and very quickly the company has to increase ad load across every surface to meet earnings expectations. The user experience deteriorates, getting worse each year.
When I buy Apple, it’s based on my expectation that Apple will remain a premium, ad-free experience for the life of the device. When, after my purchase, Apple make the product worse, like with the recent iOS update that rolled back usability, it destroys a lot of trust.
I will leave the ecosystem.
This is not in Apple’s long term best interests.
Ok so not only will it be unpleasant it will also be terrible at actually being relevant