Google’s Jeff Huber has just announced via Google+ that Google Maps for iOS was downloaded over 10 million times in under 48 hours from its release last week. That accounts for roughly 2.5% of iOS devices sold.
“We’re excited for the positive reception of Google Maps for iPhone around the world,” writes Huber. “Congratulations to the Maps Team on the recognition for the passion and hard work they poured into it, for this release and over the last 7+ years.”
Huber also touts the ‘shake to feedback’ feature of the Google Maps app, something that Google uses internally to report bugs. Just give the app a shake while it’s open to submit mapping data feedback.
On December 13th, within 7 hours of its launch, Google Maps for iOS became the top free app on the App Store. It garnered a 4.5 star rating on the UK app store as well, indicating that people are indeed happy with it. Google even told the NYT’s David Pogue that it was even better than the version for Android.
The popularity of Google Maps owes much to both the quality of Google’s mapping prowess and the royal screwup of Apple’s Maps app for iOS. Users frustrated with the poor point-of-interest data application in Apple’s offerings have flocked to the Maps app from Google. I’ve used the app extensively on a several hundred mile road trip last week and found it to be ok, if not incredible. Still, a well-designed and beautiful first effort from Google.
H/t Louis Gray, Image Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
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