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Comment by Steko | Hacker News Reader

I don't use nav apps daily like many do but it seems to be a given that most heavy users will move to Google Maps as their permanent solution. This can only bring more and more focus onto iOS's most glaring weakness: the lack of contracts/intents/services. If the next version of iOS doesn't have it I think you will see jailbreaking go mainstream.

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Jailbreaking will never go mainstream. It has never been easy and/or safe enough for that. Just like how a small percentage of Android users root their phones.

However "remote controllers" in iOS 6 are definitely the precursor to the Android intents. It will be interesting to see if they make it into iOS 7 as a public API.

"Jailbreaking will never go mainstream"

My understanding is that it's already mainstream for carriers to jailbreak phones for customers in many countries.

Really? I think you mean unlocking. Carriers are usually content producers and jailbreaking is mostly done for piracy reasons so I'd be surprised if carriers are onboard.

Maybe I meant "that guy at the phone shop". My understanding is that jailbroken phones are widespread in, e.g. China.

Permanent solution? That's hard to say. No one should expect Apple to rest on their laurels for Maps though - they can't afford to admit defeat. They must continue to strive to make their Maps app as-good-as or even better than Google Maps. It'll be interesting to see what Apple does next.

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