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Hence this quote:

> How about iOS? Google Maps for iOS 1.0, released late 2012, still works just fine. [And] That was [just] the first version of Google Maps ever released as a standalone app after Apple ditched Google’s map solution on iOS

On re-reading, I finally get it: it's Google Maps 1.0, not iOS 1.0.

Yep, and it was great. It was Google Maps without as much of the Google ad spam.

I wouldn't really call it great... it didn't do turn-by-turn directions or provide any way of reconciling what turn is next based on your location. It was for "planning purposes only" and you'd have to hit this arrow button repeatedly to show you each turn in a route.

It wasn't a built in Google Maps app. It was written by Apple backed by Google's API. Just like today Apple Maps driving directions are still backed by third parties.