Apple iPhone has the best mobile phone on the planet (closely followed by Samsung Galaxy S3) yet the latest version is one real estate agents should very seriously consider not buying, why? Apple seems to be making the same mistakes of the late 1990’s and going to war with Google. In the 1990’s Apple executives were obsessed with Microsoft and made a series of amateur decisions by dumping integration with anything Microsoft. It wasn’t until Steve Jobs return that Apple got back on track and quickly got into bed with Microsoft Steve Jobs and Microsoft’s Bill Gates immediately doing a deal that saved Apple from extinction.
Today Apple is fixated on Google. The latest version dumps Google Maps for perhaps the worst consumer mapping release we have seen. It is actually so bad that could have severe ramifications for Apple. Not only that, they have now gone one step further and removed by default Google’s YouTube Service (you need to download this separately as an App now). There is also no Google+ integration. It is so bad there are websites now popping up from new iPhone users lambasting the mapping application!
Apple is famous for being obsessed with creating their systems and software to precise user needs, but with this release they have lost their focus doing a data deal with Tom Tom for maps and overlaying their own code and design.
So for real estate agents, my suggestion is to keep your iPhone 4 at least until they sort this mess out or consider the amazing new Samsung Galaxy S3. If using Google Maps is what you do regularly on your device, you will be wise wise to wait or abandon ship!
16 Comments
James
I think you may have your version numbers mixed up peter, I think you’re saying stick with the iPhone 4S and don’t get the 5.
J.
Peter Ricci
True, silly me writing a post at 3am!
Nick
Yep its the iPhone 5 and iOS 6.
Aaron
Wow this is off the mark… If by iPhone 6 you mean iPhone 5 running iOS 6 then the maps you have a point but the rest of the operating system and device is incredible, and I can’t see how google+ integration is relevant to anyone unless you’re mainly targeting google employees…
Some would say not including apps by default gives consumers choice, something apple is usually flamed for NOT giving.
Apple moved away from google maps not to go to war, but because of the immense licensing costs 100 million users were racking up on their behalf.
Why not look at the positives for agents, an AMAZING camera with video stabilisation built in so agents can take incredible photos and videos of their properties with integration directly to Facebook, twitter, or email built right in. (Literally three taps to upload a video)
How about the improved coverage, longer battery life, larger screen, improved email client (VIP your star clients so you never miss an email), and the rest of the 199 new features that aren’t the new maps app…
Have you actually used ios6?
Peter Ricci
ooops, yes sorry corrected it now 🙂
Now, agents use maps for just about everything in real estate and on their mobile phone and yes, I have used it and have one and it is pathetic.
The maps on iphone catastrophe for real estate agents dwarfs all the great new updates. And it was not the price at all (in negotiations Apple would have had to pay very little), it is all about the war between the two of them and Apple’s obsession with Google.
As for mail, hardly any real estate professional uses Apple’s native mail . Yes again it it an awesome phone, but maps aaahggg!
Aaron
So Peter, what do they use for mail on iPhone?
I should let you know guys, I use and develop for both platforms (I have iPhone + Samsung Galaxy S3) (and Windows 8) on a daily basis, so I’m probably in a reasonably good position to compare notes.
Remember when Google maps used to be as bad? You watch how quickly Apple corrects this.
A point I will make, is that if maps is the “killer app” for real estate agents, they should really be going for NEITHER iPhone, nor any Android devices, they should be queuing up for the new Nokia devices once released properly with Windows 8. Nokia has the best mapping data, and offline accessibility.
Offline maps is a biggie, especially in country areas where cell coverage leaves both iPhone and Android users a little lost…
Nick
I found Ovi maps a little so so on my N900. Quite good yes (vector rather than bitmap) but the points of interest weren’t as good and sometimes navigation gave me a ‘server not accessible’ error.
Google Map’s offline maps seem good. I used them on a driving trip up to Brisbane a few months ago.
My N900 didn’t have offline maps at all so you’ll have to fill me in with what they do differently.
Peter Ricci
GOOGLE+ is in its infancy but come back to me in 18 months and you will know why i say this. Fastest growing social network ever, photo integration, events, hangouts, youtube integration and soon Google Glasses
For personal Facebook will reign for business Google+ will be the go to social network!
Nick
Aaron yes the new iPhone can do all that. But so can most other phones.
Only takes me 1 tap to share a video I recorded with to Facebook btw. 3 taps seems a little excessive.
And the new Maps app was to go to war actually. Yes paying Google costs a lot, however making your own maps costs an awful lot more.
Nick
I’d disagree that the iPhone 5 is better than the S3. Name a spec and the S3 does it better.
(Yeah ok I’m a happy S3 owner)
It will be interesting to see the long term fall out from the new maps.
It seems they only bothered to pay attention to the US when making them and they’ve neglected every other country including the UK and Australia.
There are already quite a number of jokes going around about it. Not a good sign.
Peter Ricci
Dont think the USA doesn’t have issues with maps as well. Yes the Samsung S3 is pretty amazing!
Robert Simeon
I am using iOS4 and downloaded iOS6 and it wiped You Tube and all my other Apps too. Plus, it then wiped all my music so I would not recommend downloading iOS6 until all the bugs have been fixed.
I’m sure the late Steve Jobs would never have allowed this release under his watch until all the bugs had been identified and corrected. Thankfully my iPhone and iPad are always backed up so I did not lose any data. There are a lot of Apple users who have lost all their data thanks to the iOS6 download – given they had not backed up. A costly mistake!
Siyami
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Robert Simeon
Apple must have corrected the bugs from last Friday – I just downloaded 1OS6 on my iPad and not a single bug with no errant file wiping!
Anthony Keeling
I Agree with Peter as he said Samsung S3 is pretty amazing! Not only amazing the value of the product is cheaper one unlike apple. Samsung S3 can also helps Real Estate Agents mapping.
Peter Daverdson
I’m lost to the relevance of a mobile OS version to real estate agents.