Edible Apple

Following up on 9to5Mac’s scoop regarding a revamped and Google-less Maps app in iOS 6, All Things D corroborated the report, with one source in particular intimating that the 3D maps functionality in iOS 6 will “blow your head off”.

To this end, MG Siegler was able to confirm with his own sources that Apple is, in fact, planning to ditch Google for its Maps app, but cautioned that the All Things D report was just  a tad hyperbolic.

Specifically, while the 3D functionality is cool, it’s also not something people are going to use regularly. Think of it like Google Street View — cool, but how often do you actually use it when compared to the regular Google Maps product? (Having said that, I still expect Apple’s 3D maps to be cooler than Google Street View.)

Siegler also touches on the implications of Apple abandoning Google Maps to the extent that Apple may remove APIs into Google Maps from its iOS SDK.

But the side effect of such a switch could seriously harm Google Maps as the de-facto mapping service. Again, because of their very nature, maps are most vital for mobile usage. And if Apple not only pulls iOS out, but takes millions of developers with them, Google Maps could suddenly go from behemoth to vulnerable. (Which makes their decision to start charging large customers all the more dumbfounding — this cannot be a huge source of revenue for Google, no matter the scale.)

Siegler also relays a few other interesting nuggets of information:

• Siri for the iPad may be on the way. Word is that the holdup may be rooted in a UI issue and figuring out just how exactly they want Siri to appear in tablet form
• As expected, iCloud will be heavily baked into iOS 6
• Apple may be close to finishing up the rumored revamp of iTunes they’ve been working on after “several false starts and scrapping of projects.” Part of new and improved iTunes may include something along the lines of a Spotify competitor
• iOS 6 is codenamed Sundance

via TechCrunch