iPod Minis: Maps Apology and News, Apple Web Radio Delayed

Maps continues to the biggest story in the world of the iOS this week. Here's the latest:

• Apple CEO Tim Cook apologized to customers for the failures of the new Apple Maps app and suggested some other apps they could use while Apple improves its app.
• After testing both Google and Apple Maps apps, Consumer Reports concludes that "Google provides a better overall package, but we feel that both provide a good solution for standard software."
• In the rich-getting-richer department, Google has updated the Google Maps web interface to include Street View.

In non-Maps news:

• T-Mobile and MetroPCS  plan to merge. The companies are currently the 4th and 5th largest U.S. carriers, respectively, and their merger wouldn't change that; they'd still be fourth, with Sprint in third place. Neither company offers the iPhone currently, but it's expected that T-Mobile will do so eventually and the larger customer base could help. T-Mobile previously planned, and failed, to be acquired by AT&T.
• Apple has been reported to be developing a Pandora-style Internet radio service that would drive users back to iTunes for purchases. A new report says that while the service is close, licensing negotiations with Sony are holding it up.
• The iPhone 5 isn't even available worldwide yet, but that doesn't mean we can't start talking about the iPhone 6 (or, more probably, the iPhone 5S). Apple is reported to be working with Australian company Microlatch on a fingerprint reader technology that will work with NFC for the next-gen iPhone.
• Disclaimer that this is self-reporting, but: Apple says 97% of the 800,000 workers it tracks in its Chinese supply chain--including those working at Foxconn--work the 60-hour work weeks legally standard in that country; i.e., only 3% are forced to work excessive hours.