Apple's move away from Google Maps is high risk

John Gruber, Daring Fireball:

This is a high-pressure switch for Apple. Regressions will not be acceptable. The purported whiz-bang 3D view stuff might be great, but users are going to have pitchforks and torches in hand if practical stuff like driving and walking directions are less accurate than they were with Google’s data. Keep in mind too, that Android phones ship with turn-by-turn navigation.

Astute observation from Gruber about the implications for Apple of their moving away from Google to their own mapping service. At the very least they have to match what Google already offers which is no easy task. And, ideally, they need to push ahead in such a way that leaves Google behind. Big, bold move by Apple.