Apple already begins fixing iOS 6, offers apology

While iOS 6 offers many updates and improvements for the iPhone and iPad, it came with a slew of headaches and frustrations that Apple has already begun to fix. According to Apple Insider, the company has been quick to address user concerns and patch some GUI design changes iOS 6 introduced that weren't quite up to par.

One of the major application design errors iOS 6 introduced was an issue with VoiceOver. A popular app for accessibility, VoiceOver reads text on the device's screen to users, but with the update it stopped including ratings in the AppStore, iTunes Store and iBookstore. However, this has already been corrected.

Keeping user satisfaction high with any design update is a crucial aspect of mobile application development, and by jumping on such a major issue quickly, Apple has shown how much it values its customers, an important lesson that any app developer should remember.

In another move that similarly demonstrates Apple's attention to user experience and satisfaction, CEO Tim Cook recently released a formal apology to users frustrated by the new Maps app. According to Apple Insider, Cook proclaimed that Apple is focusing hard on improving the app and correcting bugs and glitches that are causing major frustrations.

The app has received a great deal of criticism since it replaced the Google Maps app with iOS 6. Among the glitches are incorrect GPS positioning and poor routing information. Shortly after these critics began to appear, Apple issued a letter informing users that it was working to correct issues, but Cook's more recent apology shows Apple's attention to its customers and attempts to correct the negative feedback the Maps app is generating.

"At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers," Cook wrote. "With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better."

Ultimately the success of Apple's Maps will depend on its success in recreating the popular functions that Google's app provided, from high-quality routing information to Street View, and getting users excited about the app once again.