Apple Inc. (AAPL) has fired the manager responsible for its troubled mapping software, seeking to win back the trust of users disappointed after the program debuted in September, according to people familiar with the move.
Richard Williamson, who oversaw the mapping team, was pushed out by Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information wasn’t yet public. Cue, who took over last month as part of a management shakeup, is seeking advice from outside mapping-technology experts and prodding digital maps providerTomTom NV (TOM2) to fix landmark and navigation data it shares with Apple.
Given the public reaction to Apple’s in-house Maps app, we can’t say we’re entirely surprised by this announcement, though we sort of expected Williamson to be shown the door weeks ago if it was going to happen. The decision was apparently made by new Senior Vice President Eddy Cue following last month’s Apple executive shuffle. Of course, many people probably think the entire situation is being blown out of proportion. What say you, dear reader?E
Pricing and Storage Options: Not too many surprises here either. Here’s the full pricing information for all three models of the new iPhone 5. As expected, pre-orders begin on September 14, and device s will begin shipping on September 21 in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. (Photo via Engadget) source
Check out our continuing iPhone 5 event coverage here
Siri Gets An Update: Looks like Siri will be getting another update in iOS 6. Apple’s virtual assistant will now be able to help iPhone 5 owners reserve tables at a restaurant, find more-detailed sports results, and even recommend movies for you based on critics’ ratings. (Photos via Engadget) source
Check out our continuing iPhone 5 event coverage here
What’s Another Name For Thunderbolt? Lightning, of course. The aptly-named new 9-pin connector cable will charge the iPhone 5, and Apple also plans to release an adapter to allow use of the iPhone 5 with older, 30-pin devices. (Photos via The Verge) source
Check out our continuing iPhone 5 event coverage here
New HD Videos: Apple has included 720p video with this iteration of Facetime, and upgraded image stabilization to 1080p videos recorded with the device. The iPhone 5 will also have three built-in microphones, which should definitely help those who use the phone to regularly record audio. (Photos via The Verge) source
Check out our continuing iPhone 5 event coverage here
Mobile Photography: It looks like there isn’t much difference between the cameras packed into the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5. Apple is touting a new lens cover, made of sapphire crystal, that is 25 percent smaller than the iPhone 4S camera’s lens cover. The company also believes the iPhone 5’s new A6 chip will also help deliver higher-quality shots than ever before. (Photo via The Verge) source
Check out our continuing iPhone 5 event coverage here
Antenna Upgrades: Looks like the screen isn’t the only upgrade being packed inside the new iPhone 5. Cupertino added HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, and LTE antennas to their newest smartphone. The iPhone 5 will also receive an upgraded Wi-Fi modem, for faster browsing speeds at home. (Photos via The Verge) source
Check out our continuing iPhone 5 event coverage here
No Man Left Behind: Even though the new iPhone 5 features a larger screen than its predecessors, it will still run all of the App Stores old apps. If they aren’t redesigned to take advantage of the new screen, no sweat, the iPhone 5 will center the image, and place a black border on either side. (Photo via The Verge) source
Check out our continuing iPhone 5 event coverage here
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We’re less than 30 minutes away from the start of Apple’s big event in San Francisco, where CEO Tim Cook is expected to announce the iPhone 5 release date and pricing information. We’ll be live-blogging the whole event, so be sure to keep an eye on our coverage as the day progresses. (Photo via Engadget)
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