On September 28th Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, published an open letter apologising to customers for the shortcomings of the company's maps. Mr. Cook even directed users to alternative map apps, writing that they could be downloaded from Apple's App Store and that Google's and Nokia's maps were available as web apps. Apple's mobile maps used to be supplied by its friend-turned-archrival, Google. But this year Apple decided to put maps of its own into iOS 6, rather than be beholden to its foe . The new maps are built into the iPhone, which went on sale on September 21st. The Internet has been teeming with complaints about a lack of detail and a surfeit of errors. And unlike Google's maps, Apple's lack public-transport information. Maps are becoming important strategic terrain. They are more than an aid to getting from A to B. Apps based on location—to summon a taxi, say—need maps inside them. Digital maps can include countless layers of information, plus advertisements from which money can be made. There are thousands of indoor maps, too, of airports, department stores and so forth. Smart phones also act as sensors, reporting their whereabouts, which can be used to improve maps. According to comScore, a data firm, in August 95% of American iPhone owners and 83% of owners of smart phones with Google's Android operating system used a mobile map. Meanwhile, Apple seems to be relying on three things. The first is speedy improvement. (It is reportedly trying to hire ex-Googlers. ) The second is the embedding of useful content. Its new maps have spoken turn-by-turn driving directions, which Google's version for the iPhone did not, as well as reviews from Yelp, a local-listings company that offers pretty full coverage of eateries and bars in America but much less elsewhere. The third is the loyalty of Apple's fans. More than 5million iPhone 5s were sold in the first three days. Although some analysts had expected more, that still beat the previous version, the 4S, by 1 million. Under the late Steve Jobs Apple paid fanatical attention to detail, so it is remarkable that its maps should have come up so short. But polishing its hardware was one thing; the struggle with maps "has been the first really obvious head-butting of the wall," says Carolina Milanesi of Gartner, another research firm. In a market in which brands can fall fast, that is a rare luxury.

单选题 The expression "be beholden to its foe" in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to______.

单选题 Why does mobile map mean so much for tech companies?

单选题 According to the passage, which of the following is not mentioned as one of the things Apple should focus on?

单选题 Carolina Milanesi implies that______.

单选题 Which is the best tide of the passage?