If you're accusing Apple of copying iOS 5's Maps app for iOS 6's Maps app, you're accusing Apple of copying itself. Google provided the backend data and map tiles for Maps prior to iOS 6, but Apple wrote the app itself.
Are you insinuating that apple designed the look for google maps on the iphone? google maps existed long before it was on the iphone, through google.com. The iPhone map looks just like the home browser version. The style looks the same on an android, blackberry and iPhone. Apple ripped off google maps plain an simple, but I agree with the original poster, there is nothing wrong with that, and it just shows how full of BS apple really is.
> And it clearly demonstrates the utter bullshitness that is there fight against Samsung
The only thing it demonstrates is that you have no idea what you're taking about. The app "functionality" is "being a map" something Google has never patented. The UI elements are Apples, as they designed and built the iOS Maps app.
The only thing here that's a slavish copy is your comment. Reminds me strongly of the comments of a million other uninformed idiots that barely understand the concept they are trying to deride, yet insist it is hypocritical.
Yeah, it's the worst hypocrisy to use assets you designed and a concept that can't be patented in a new app. I heard Apple has a calendar app too? Is that also a slavish copy of Google Calendar?
Apple didn't sue everyone who made a phone FFS. They sued Samsung, a company that genuinely did rip them off and try as hard as they can to present Android and their devices as much closer to the iPhone than anything else.
Apple isn't doing a single thing that's similar with Maps. They're just making a Maps app. Google doesn't own the concept of mobile mapping.
This patent war is ridiculous, and even more ridiculous that so many people are now convinced that apple is merited with their claims. Patent laws have turned into a scary world for creative design, no one is safe. Here's a great article giving some insight into why maybe apple isn't so innocent after all;
I stand corrected... Totally thought maps was a google app!
Regardless, apple are still massive hypocrites for all of the many other features they rip off from android etc while being shocked and outraged that someone might do that to them.
The hypocrisy here is just mind blowing.. And it clearly demonstrates the utter bullshitness that is there fight against Samsung