Thank you someone for bringing this up. I can't believe how many actual reviews (not just meme's poking fun at iOS6 maps) have missed this crucial point. This isn't about Apple trying to somehow hurt Google by rolling its own maps app, this is about Google not giving Apple full access to their maps.
The issue is nobody knows the truth here. I think the more plausible scenario is that Google wanted something that Apple refused to give (e.g., advertising revenue, user data, etc), making it not so clear cut as "It's XX's fault!"
Claim months ago was Google refused to license turn by turn. Reviews of Andriod 4 devices were extolling that feature. Apple needed it, had to build it. And it's frankly not that bad. I find it better than Google's, but notably worse than Navigon. Suspect most normals will be serendipitously surprised by the driving directions.
In recent weeks, I've seen the further claim Google was willing to license turn by turn but insisting on user location data for Latitude.
There was an article on here yesterday that they'd submitted it to the store. I'm not following this too closely other than listening to folks at work bitch about it. (And on HN.)
