[bmeckel]

I don't think that's their thinking actually. I think they knew it would be near impossible to have a product at launch be as impressive as googles and they're ok with that. However, by deploying in a mandatory setting with such a large user base they can catch up to Google quickly. Who knows though, they may have legitimately overlooked it.

[brudgers]

For years, Google has been sending fleets of specially equipped cars down countless roads in order to help verify their map data. It is impossible to imagine Apple undertaking such a massive and unsexy project as a first mover, nevermind as in an effort which would obviously be copying Google.

What has changed as Apple has scaled is that they are willing to weather a PR storm.

[bmeckel]

I don't think street view is what made google that much better than maps. It's the search that works, and detailed maps, which were around from before street view. But I do think you're partially right on the apple front, but they do stuff that pisses people off all the time, the difference is that it's usually taking out a feature (like Ethernet) that is only beginning to be phased out by the other tech companies. The big difference is that the maps change doesn't just bother geeks, but gets at their main user base, which they're usually pretty careful about.