Apple is TOO proprietary, IMO. However, it is because of their hardware-specific programming that their products work so well.
That being said, they’re “pulling a Microsoft” by denying the world’s largest online cartographer on their own phones. I understand their reason for doing it: promotion of a competitor’s product, but the simple fact that their own product failed so miserably AND so many people in the world have come to rely on Google maps for wayfinding, it makes more sense for them to just suck it up and drop support for their own dreadful app while standing by their third-party app support model: don’t blame us if it doesn’t work!
I delayed upgrading to the new iOS because of the negative hype on the map application. Finally went ahead with the upgrade. So far, it’s been GREAT. The voice directions when driving are fantastic as a now free inclusion.
These electronic platforms are useless without controlling the Apps and data that run on them. This is corporate warfare -- survival of the fitest. Who has the better hardware or software is often beside the point (though it is a factor).