Even long-time pundits who typically applaud Apple's moves noted the problems.

"The maps experience in iOS 6 is a downgrade," acknowledged John Gruber, who writes the .

"The biggest drawback I found is the new Maps app," said Walt Mossberg, an influential columnist for the Wall Street Journal, in his on Thursday.

"Even the biggest of Apple's supporters have said that Maps aren't up to par. That says everything," said Moorhead.

Both Moorhead and Gaspar linked the subpar app baked into iOS 6 -- the mobile operating system that powers the iPhone 5, which started selling today -- with the feud between Apple and Google.