Apple sends the Highlands back to the dark ages with black-and-white maps

20 September 2012: Highlanders getting their hands on the iPhone 5 on Friday may feel like Apple has thrown them back to the dark ages, at least when it comes to the company's new Maps app.

Previous iPhones have used Google's mapping app, which had good satellite coverage of the Highlands. But with the release of Apple's latest smartphone, and version six of the operating system for older handsets, Google's offering is dropped in favour of Apple's own product. The app boasts some impressive features such as spoken turn-by-turn navigation and 3D views of selected cities.

But for people in some parts of the Highlands, Apple's Maps app provides such a poor user experience that major towns and cities are even shown in black and white.

Inverness, Thurso, Tain, Nairn and Ullapool all have black and white satellite imagery.

Aberdeen is shown in colour, as is Wick, although unfortunately much of Wick was covered by clouds at the time the satellite passed overhead. Dingwall is completely obscured by cloud.

Aviemore and Elgin have only blurry low-resolution satellite views.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the app also has a bias towards US cities. For example, a Scottish user looking for "Shetland" will be taken to Shetland in Arkansas.

Story by
Andrew Smith
NorthScotNews.com
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