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(Image source: San Francisco Chronicle)
BY JASMINE BAILEY
Police in Australia
are warning people against using Apple’s Maps. This — after the app gave directions
that left people mistakenly stranded in the middle of the desert — miles away from civilization.
KTRK explains that instead of the map leading drivers to the town of Mildura…
“Apple’s mapping program is sending motorist into the middle of a national park
where there’s no cell phone service, no water and no gas stations.”
Murray Sunset National Park is more than 43 miles from Mildura. Police say they’ve
received at least six calls to rescue drivers —one was stranded for up to 24 hours without
food or water. The Victoria police department released a statement saying…
“Mildura
Police are urging motorists to be careful when relying on the mapping system on the
Apple i-phones operating on the iOS 6 system… Police are extremely concerned as …temperatures
can reach as high as [115º], making this a potentially life threatening issue. Police
have contacted Apple in relation to the issue and hope the matter is rectified promptly…”
A
writer for CNet notes…
In September Apple opted to dump Google Maps from iOS 6, forcing
users to switch to Apple's unreliable app— angering users, prompting an apology from
Apple’s CEO and resulting in the firing of Scott Forstall, who was once in charge
of iOS—the company’s mobile operating system.
And a writer for the Atlantic
Wire points out— maybe the map’s slip-ups were funny at first, with the distortion of
bridges and highways. But it’s not funny when people’s lives are in danger.
“It's
pretty next level when the app is sending people out into the middle of a Mad Max sequel
without water and probably at risk of a gruesome kangaroo attack. Apple might want to think
about fixing this glitch. And firing more people certainly won’t get it done.”
According
to ABC News “Google Maps is still available on iPhone through its web browser while users
wait for an official Google Maps app, which is being prepared for certification on Apple's
App Store.” Hopefully the defective Apple map doesn’t lead anyone to their death before
then.