Mike Dobson’s blog this week on the Apple Map’s launch has become the gold standard for solid technical analysis of the issues there.  It’s great to see so many folks picking up on it (here, here, and here among many others) and Mike getting some exposure for his expertise.  Truly could not have happened to a more deserving guy.  Mike doesn’t write often but when he does, it is always worth reading.

But it’s one thing to be wise in retrospect, much harder to anticipate problems. That’s why it is worth re-reading (or reading for the first time) Mike’s comments on problems he anticipated for Apple when they announced Apple Maps at WWDC in June. They are dead on.

Second guessing is easy and not always appreciated.  Forecasting accurately is what separates the pundits.  Nice job, Mike

Management genius Peter Drucker wisely observed that 90% of the disagreements in life arise from a failure to agree on what the disagreement is about.  I’ve been reminded of that comment this week in the aftermath of the problematic launch of Apple Maps.  A certain segment of the argument for and against Apple’s decision to launch goes like this:

Side 1:  Apple Maps are a major step back!  They shouldn’t have put them out!  Steve sure wouldn’t have!!!

Side 2: You don’t get it, Mush-for-Brains.  Apple had to build their own map to get away from The Great Evil!

Are so it goes, back and forth for a few dozen comments appended to the initiating blog. Continue reading Let’s Agree on What We Disagree About →

Man, tough welcome to the mapping world for the newly launched Apple Maps.  There’s been a ton of commentary from all quarters, some insightful, some less so.  I debated chiming in, partly because so much has already been said and partly because I have several friends on the Apple Geo Team.  They’re smart, dedicated people and I suspect that today was pretty brutal over there. I didn’t want to pile on. Continue reading Hi Apple. Welcome to the Mapping World. How was your first day? →