As you may have all heard by now, Apple’s iOS 6 Maps app has created quite a stir over the past few weeks. Apple’s new Maps app has a list of shortcomings such as: lack of detail within maps, wrong directions, distorted images, public transportation routes not working, and more. Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook issued an official apology for the company’s half-baked Maps app. Cook wrote that the mobile mapping product “fell short” of the quality he said the company is committed to delivering. “We are extremely sorry for the frustration this had caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better,” he conceded in a letter to users, posted by Apple last Friday morning. Tim promised users that Apple is working to better Maps and suggested a handful of third-party apps that users could turn to in the meantime.
Since I have been an Apple “fan boy” ever since the iPhone 3g was released back in 2008, I went through the recommended Map Apps listed within the App Store and tested them for myself. There are thirteen total Map apps that Apple featured within the App Store. Naturally I did not download all of them, but here are my top five recommendations of alternative apps that can be used in the meantime.
5. Bing
Bing’s iOS app allows you to search for a variety of web content including: videos, deals, movies and news, as well as get directions! What I found convenient about the Bing app is the ability to input destinations using your voice. You get transit, walking, and driving directions, but there is no spoken navigation which deducts points for me. The Bing maps feature works well, but can be improved. A smart move for Bing at the current time would be to develop an app dedicated to GPS only.
App Rating: 3/5 
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4. MotionX GPS Drive
The MotionX GPS Drive app is a competent turn-by-turn navigator, with an interface that sets it apart from dedicated GPS devices. MotionX’s voice guidance announces turns, but it’s not true text-to-speech. What I do like is MotionX’s fresh approach to the user interface, which includes a wheel menu with icons for points-of-interest search, which is a clean “go to” list, and a compass. Other features that you would probably appreciate are integration with iPhone address book (navigate to address) and phone integration (place a call directly from search results). The app sells for just $2.99, with an optional $2.99/month or $24.99 per year fee to enable voice guidance.
App Rating: 3/5
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3. Magellan RoadMate
I had a hard time choosing between Magellan RoadMate and TomTom for iPhone, but I was impressed with the interface and styling of the Magellan app. The app ran very smoothly, featured crisp fonts, and clearly designated information around the map view itself. Magellan’s usual lane assistance view is in full effect and almost identical to the feature that is standard on their GPS models. The app worked well while I was on the phone, and you can also play music in the background while running the app. If you do not have a GPS built into your vehicle, and are interested in using your iPhone as your primary GPS, the Magellan RoadMate app is an excellent choice for you!
App Rating: 4/5 
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2. MapQuest
I must say that I was impressed with all of the features and capabilities of the MapQuest app. MapQuest was user-friendly and did not skimp users when it came to jam-packing features into the app. Some of the features included within the MapQuest app are: voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions, updated gas prices, live traffic cameras, walking/driving directions, customizable avatars, landscape view, and more! The one con to the MapQuest app are the small ad banners at the top of the maps screen which are easy to click by accident, which will open the ad, causing your navigation to be interrupted. MapQuest is reliable, and should definitely be a considered if you are looking for a solution to Apple’s Maps app.
App Rating: 4/5
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1. Waze
My all time favorite GPS app for months now has been Waze. Waze is a fun, community-based GPS traffic and navigation app. By using Waze you have the ability to join forces with drivers in your area, easily report what’s happening on the road and get turn-by-turn navigation that automatically re-routes you when road conditions change. Waze is fun to use because it is a next generation GPS app where users can interact with one another. It is possible to collect points, report traffic, a red light camera, or even a hidden cop. While some may disagree with me, since Waze still requires some updates and tweaks, I am still a huge fan! I have recommended Waze to a handful of friends and family members after my first week of using it, and I am still a faithful user today.
App Rating: 5/5 
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Google is said to be working on a new maps app for iOS 6. The company could submit the app to Apple for approval into the iTunes App Store by the end of this year, according to several anonymous sources who spoke to the New York Times.
What do you think of Apple Maps?