This year has been ripe for topical comics – as a mark of honour, celebration, congratulations, sarcasm or support. We were going to lay off the topical strips for a while, but then Apple had to go and release such a universally derided Maps app that we couldn’t really let it go without comment.

Besides, teasing Apple’s iPhone issues has become something of a sport for us.

For anyone not keeping up with the latest technology news, Apple has released their new iPhone 5, and with it a new version of the i-device operating system, iOS 6. One of the biggest changes has been the removal of Google as their mapping provider, apparently in favour of some artwork by a surrealist painter and a collection randomly places labels. Seriously, you only have to check out a few of the entries in this Tumblr blog to see just how bad it is! (And if you’re a Tumblr user, feel free to follow us: TheGreysComic and MonstersInkedComic)

I can fully understand why Apple wanted to produce their own mapping application. With more and more phone apps and services being location-aware, it makes sense for them to have full control over such an increasingly important part of their software stack. A few software updates and in six months time this whole debacle will be history, while leaving them in a much better position to move forward. But it’s still worth teasing them about while we’ve got the chance.

Cette bande dessinée est aussi disponible en français
This comic is also available in French

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↓ Transcript
[A UFO is in orbit around a glowing orangey-red planet]

Captain: …and you're absolutely certain that this is Earth?

[On the ship's bridge]

First Officer: Yes Captain — it says so right here on the Maps app of my new iPhone 5