Deceptive slop is now junking up our favorite map apps. Don't be fooled.

The useful part

Apple Maps has come a long way since it replaced Google Maps on iOS in 2012. Detailed roads, precise directions, and a visually pleasing interface are just some of the perks you can expect. Unfortunately, Apple decided that its navigation app needed the worst feature found in Google Maps, and there's no way to turn it off.

How it works

• Roads were missing, directions were inaccurate, and the satellite view showed jagged and misshapen spans of highway.
• 'Mobile ads suck.' However, instead of throwing in the towel, the company spent years improving the mess it made.
• The result was a surprisingly complete navigation system that addressed all previous issues and turned Maps into a reliable road companion that works as you'd expect.
• Google ads show up everywhere — in online searches, webpages, and even in some of its apps, like Google Maps.
• Maps for its own app on iOS 6 (yes, 6, which launched in 2012), it was a complete mess.

What to take from it

Ditching Google for its own map service was one of the worst decisions executed under Tim Cook's new leadership. In fact, once the bugs were stomped out, Apple Maps became a cleaner and prettier alternative to Google Maps, just as Apple envisioned. Although Google is known for many things, its core business is all about ads.