Apple fixing Maps app with help of retail store staff

By Salvador Rodriguez

Oct. 6, 2012 12 AM PT

Following up on Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook’s apology for the under-performing Maps app, the Cupertino, Calif., tech giant has reportedly been tapping its retail store staff to help improve the software.

Earlier this week, MacRumors reported that Apple had enlisted employees at select Apple stores to help the company identify inaccuracies within the app, which was rolled out with Apple’s new iOS 6 mobile operating system.

At one of the participating stores, a team of 10 employees has been put to the task, according to MacRumors. The team’s job was to manually identify issues with the app and submit them to Apple.

And already the Maps app has started to show signs of improvement.

MacRumors on Friday pointed out that more locations are now in 3-D in the app’s Flyover feature, including the Statue of Liberty, which The Times has verified. Previously, the New York City landmark was missing from Flyover mode.

Meanwhile, 9 to 5 Mac reports that other locations in Maps are also getting more accurate information. According to users, one town in the United Kingdom has had its location corrected and in New Zealand smaller issues like the locations of a highway exit have also been fixed.

That’s good news for Apple, which has been under fire for replacing Google Maps with the new Maps app two weeks ago.