NEW YORK — With a touch of geek whimsy, Google Maps warns anyone who seeks walking directions to Mordor — the land of evil in “The Lord of the Rings”— to use caution. “One does not simply walk into Mordor,” it says. Apple is finding this week that creating an alternative to Google Maps isn’t a simple walk either.
Apple released an update to its iPhone and iPad operating system Wednesday that replaces Google Maps with Apple’s own application. Early upgraders are reporting that the new maps are less detailed, look weird and misplace landmarks. It’s shaping up to be a rare setback for Apple.
“It’s a complete failure,” said Jeffrey Jorgensen, a user interface designer for a San Francisco startup. “It’s slower, its directions are poorer and its location data doesn’t seem to be accurate. All around, it’s not quite there yet.”
The most-hyped feature of the new app is a “Flyby” mode that shows three-dimensional renderings of buildings and other features. It presents a convincing depiction of the canyons of Manhattan but has a hard time rendering bridges and highway overpasses, which tend to look wobbly or partly collapsed.
