Apple Maps leaves motorists stranded

Written By Unknown on Senin, 10 Desember 2012 | 20.01

David Zacher is in the desert, 70kmfrom Mildura. Picture: Glenn Milne Source: Herald Sun

Apple's latest map tool lists Mildura in a national park about 70km from its actual location. Source: Supplied

POLICE are warning motorists not to rely on Apple's new mapping system on its popular iPhones after a number of motorists were directed into life-threatening situations.

iPhone users who have upgraded to the system's new iOS 6 operating system are at risk of ending up off the beaten track, police have warned.

The alert follows revelations that the mapping system lists Mildura in the middle of the Murray Sunset National Park, about 70km away from the actual location of Mildura.

Local police have been called to assist distressed motorists who have become stranded within the Murray-Sunset National Park after following directions on their Apple iPhone.

Police are extremely concerned as there is no water supply within the park and temperatures can reach as high as 46 degrees, putting lives at risk.

Inspector Simon Clemence said it took one man 24-hours to make contact with the outside world after following the application's directions.

"One guy got far enough in to lose phone coverage and he was stuck there and he got bogged and he had to walk out and it took him 24-hours to get to a point where he had phone coverage and then we came and rescued him," he said. "This is a direct result of this map application."

Police have confirmed five vehicles have become stranded in the park, with many more people presumed to have become lost but found there way back to civilisation.

"We know there are others because we set up a breath testing station on the road there recently and we had a woman who said every left hand turn up the Mallee Highway her application was trying to send her straight into the dirt," Insp Clemence said. "This is just the tip of the iceberg."

David Zacher in the real Mildura. Picture: Glenn Milne Source: Herald Sun

Insp Clemence said the error could be a recipe for disaster as temperatures soared over the summer.

"This is Victoria's biggest National Park. It's over 5000sq km and it's all sandy tracks. This is 4WD terrain with big, deep sand bogs and sand drifts and these people are driving in there with their family truckster and getting stuck," Insp Clemence said. "Once you get about 10-15kms in there is no phone coverage at all … If someone got stuck out there on a 46 degree day then they're in real trouble out there. That's pretty nasty country out there. There's not much shade and a lot of hot sand and no water at all."

Insp Clemence said people should not rely solely on technology to get them to their location.

"Sometimes GPSs make mistakes and sometimes you end up where you shouldn't be," he said.

"It should have been reasonably obvious to most people that things weren't what they should be. If you're driving from a capital city to a major rural town you would think there would be bitumen under your feet all the way and I think a lot of people realise that and come out, but some people just rely on the technology so my advice is you can't put your faith in technology. If it doesn't look right, if it doesn't smell right, it's probably not right."

Police have contacted Apple in relation to the issue and hope the matter is rectified promptly to ensure the safety of motorists travelling to Mildura.

Anyone travelling to Mildura or other locations within Victoria should rely on other forms of mapping until this matter is rectified, police warned.

In September, Apple chief executive Tim Cook offered customers a rare apology for the quality of the company's new mapping application, acknowledging the fierce level of criticism from users of the software.

In a letter posted on Apple's website, Mr Cook suggested customers use competitors' maps software — including the web version from rival Google — until Apple could improve its own mapping software. He didn't say when or how that would take place.


Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Apple Maps leaves motorists stranded

Dengan url

http://duniasikasik.blogspot.com/2012/12/apple-maps-leaves-motorists-stranded.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Apple Maps leaves motorists stranded

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Apple Maps leaves motorists stranded

sebagai sumbernya

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar

techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger