…continued from Google Maps: iOS Better Than Android?…

In any case, iPhone users (including myself) are happy to have Google Maps back on our phones after losing the app when iOS 6 came out. And the Apple Maps users who got lost in Australia are reeeeeeally happy to have Google Maps back.

The only ones not too happy about Google Maps’ release for iOS 6 are the people at Apple. With their own maps program roundly criticized by everyone and their dog, Apple definitely took a jab to the chin.

And unfortunately for Apple, it seems there was also a straight overhand to the chin following the jab. Upon its release, Google Maps for iOS 6 has jumped up the charts to become the most downloaded app on the iPhone marketplace. Ouch.

“People around the world have been asking for Google Maps on iPhone,” wrote Daniel Graf, Director of Google Maps for Mobile, on Google’s blog. “Starting today, we’re pleased to announce that Google Maps is here—rolling out across the world in the Apple App Store.”

Oh, people have been asking for it, all right. Graf takes a subtle dig there at Apple’s epic fail with Apple Maps. And he wasn’t joking about people asking for it—Apple Maps flew off the shelves (figuratively speaking) when it was released Thursday.

According to the Guardian, it only took a few hours for Google Maps to reach most-downloaded status for free apps in Apple’s App Store. Listen to how the newspaper describes it…

The long-awaited app launched in the early hours of Thursday morning, finally bringing relief to the millions of iPhone users forced to rely on Apple’s own much-maligned mapping system.

Yeah, that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for Apple Maps right there. Meanwhile, Google Maps has received ringing endorsements from reviewers. It seems the app is better than ever.

I’m glad I could finally download it.