Google Moving Closer to Submitting Maps App for iOS as Eddy Cue Works to Improve Apple's Maps

The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is continuing to make progress on a standalone mapping application for iOS, working toward submitting the app for inclusion in the App Store after Apple switched from Google to its own in-house Maps app in iOS 6.
Google has distributed a test version of its new mapping app that will work on Apple's iPhones and iPads to some individuals outside the company, said a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Google has been putting the finishing touches on the app before submitting it for approval to the Apple iTunes store, this person said, though it is unclear exactly when that will happen.

Unlike Google's Maps app that was included with iOS 5 and earlier, the upcoming version will indeed include free turn-by-turn navigation as has been available on Google Maps for Android and which Apple provides in its Maps app.

The report also notes that Apple is continuing to work hard on improving its Maps app, with Eddy Cue taking a very hands-on approach with regular team meetings since he took charge of Maps and Siri late last month.

Google's Maps app for iOS has been spotted in alpha testing, but some Google employees are reportedly pessimistic about its chances for acceptance in the App Store. But given the plethora of existing mapping apps and Apple's promotion of the web version of Google Maps as alternative to Apple's maps while it works to improve its own service, there may be little reason for Apple to reject Google's submission.

Apple Again Tops U.S. Retail Chains in Sales at $6000 per Square Foot

Fortune points to a new report from research firm Retail Sails, which once again ranks Apple as the U.S. retail store chain with the highest sales per square foot. Apple's sales productivity is calculated at over $6000 per square foot, more than double that of second-place Tiffany & Co.

Apple also topped the list last year, with this year's 7.5% growth in sales per square foot ranking second among the top five companies to lululemon's 11.8% growth. Apple's retail store sales growth has, however, slowed considerably from Retail Sails' 2011 estimate of 49.1% growth as Apple has in some cases been transitioning to larger store sizes and expanded iPhone and iPad distribution has siphoned some demand from Apple's own retail stores.

Apple Seeds Second iOS 6.1 Beta to Developers

Apple today released the second beta of iOS 6.1 to developers. The beta has a build number of 10B5105c, versus 10B5095f for the first beta of iOS 6.1


As with the first beta, Apple mentions a number of changes from iOS 6.0.1, including several related to how developers can integrate Apple's new mapping service in their apps, as well as an improvement to how boarding passes are handled in Passbook, and a few minor changes to Safari.

Apple also released a beta of the Apple TV software, as well as Xcode 4.6 Developer Preview 2. Registered developers can download the betas via Apple's Developer page.