TORONTO – The highly-criticized Apple Maps application has taken another bad turn.
Police in Australia are urging motorists not to rely on directions provided by Apple’s iOS 6 mapping system after a number of drivers were directed to the middle of the outback, leaving some stranded for up to 24 hours.
The mapping system has been leading travelers, attempting to find the town of Mildura, into the middle of the Murray Sunset National Park where temperatures can reach as high as 46 degrees Celsius.
According to police, Mildura, a suburb of Victoria, is located on Apple’s map as being in the middle of the national park, approximately 70 kilometers away from its real location.
“Police are extremely concerned as there is no water supply within the park and temperatures can reach as high as 46 degrees, making this a potentially life threatening issue,” read a press release from Victoria Police.
“Some of the motorists located by police have been stranded for up to 24 hours without food or water and have walked long distances through dangerous terrain to get phone reception.”
Upon its release in September Apple Maps has been highly criticized due to its poor image quality and bizarre mapping mistakes.
In one of the more glaring mistakes, Apple created an airport out of a park named “Airfield,” a 35-acre farm and formal garden.
Shortly after its release Apple CEO Tim Cook issued an apology saying the company was “extremely sorry” for the frustration its Maps application has caused. Cook recommended that customers use competing maps applications to get around until their application could be fixed.
Victoria police have contacted Apple in relation to the issue and in the meantime urge those travelling in the area to rely on other forms of mapping for directions.
Comments