Apple CEO Tim Cook Apologizes for Maps App Frustration

Even Apple's CEO admits the company is not perfect.

In an open letter published Friday morning, Tim Cook said he was "extremely sorry" for the kinks that need to be worked out with the new Maps app that replaced Google Maps in the updated iOS 6 system.

"We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps," he wrote. "In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up."

With more than 100 million devices using the new Apple Maps, Cook referred users to other map apps while they worked out the technical difficulties. "While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app."

It isn't the first time the CEO has had to "recall" an Apple service. In July 2010, the late Steve Jobs held a press conference to address "Antennagate" when users were experiencing frequently dropped calls when holding their iPhones a certain way, as NBC News points out.

"Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard," Cook says. Just don't expect immediate change overnight.