Apple Maps errors fail to mar worldwide iPhone 5 launch

On the day the latest iPhone was released in stores around the world, and eager tech fans lined up in masses to get their hands on the new gadget, there was growing frustration at errors in Apple’s new “Apple Maps” application.

The app is Apple’s rival to Google Maps, which is not available on Apple’s iOS 6 app library, but users have today said that the new app compares unfavourably with its predecessor.

Amongst some of the more humorous pictures pouring on to the internet of problems with the app include the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon being labelled as a hospital, Sweden’s second largest city Gothenberg disappearing, and the Norwegian town of Leknes being located in the Norwegian sea.

Users in Asia were surprised to see two sets of the disputed islands known by Japan as the Senkaku and by China as the Diaoyu. Some joked that this was Apple’s effort at providing a diplomatic solution to Japan and China, both of which claim the islands.

Looks like Apple has created 2 Senkaku Islands, one for the Chinese & another for the Japanese. Lets appoint Tim Cook as UN Secretary

— HSKâ?¢ (@hd_sk) September 21, 2012

In response to the technical glitches, iPhone 5 users have been uiploading their images to a Tumblr page called The Amazing iOS 6 Maps.

However, problems with the app were not limited to a few glitches. Users expressed concerns about missing information, errors and a lack of features that could be found on Google Maps.

Apple said that, because the app is Cloud-based, it would get better as it was used more. Spokeswoman Trudy Muller said: “We are continuously improving it, and as Maps is a cloud-based solution, the more people use it, the better it will get.

“We’re also working with developers to integrate some of the amazing transit apps in the App Store into iOS Maps.

“We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better.”

Record sales

Despite the negative comments around Apple Maps, sales of the iPhone 5 itself have been huge as it was launched in Europe, Asia and Australia.

In London around 1,300 people (pictured, left) queued at the Apple store to buy the latest model – nearly double the amount for the previous phone.

Sellers of the phone in country’s including Japan and Australia reported that they had sold out of stock. In the UK, Vodafone said that pre-order sales for the phone were 50 per cent higher than for Apple’s iPhone 4S, which was launched last year.