Presumably when they update their apps for the new OS, they'll make a minor tweak that tells it to look at whatever the new map API is, and that's it.
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Google to Show Off 'Next Dimension' of Maps on June 6
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Presumably when they update their apps for the new OS, they'll make a minor tweak that tells it to look at whatever the new map API is, and that's it.
I see what you mean, however it may be (and dont quote me on this as I could be 100% wrong) that there is some form of license dictating that Google Maps may, for example only be used as the sole mapping service and cant be used in conjunction with custom map addons. As I said, I could be wrong, but that there seems to be the only logica explanation. Personally I'd stick with Google and basically up the game. Tell them you're adding Bing maps as another maps app, and basically put the rights up for auction, whichever provider offers the better price, gets the maps exclusive, with a conditional contract stating that features X Y and Z must be implemented. It'd be cheaper than getting a whole internal department up to speed and would make sense to use the huge array of data that the 3rd party has.
Sure they can.
They can display little apple icons on the map to show where each and every iPhone/iPad that is turned on is located.
Then you can find your way to the nearest Apple device and ask them for directions.
+1
Or Apple will release hardware which when it doesn't work the right way, they blame it on you not holding the phone correctly. Or they send out a survey regarding the impact of their new campus, but leave out any way to give negative feedback. You're right, they don't react, they act and tell you what to do.
We'll always have maps.google.com available to us on the iPhone. It's obviously not nearly as fluid as the current maps app but I use it sometimes when I can't get the native app to load maps when the mobile site version can no problem.
Google will probably be in part revealing the underlying technology required to support the augmented reality maps in Google Glasses.
So if you borrow a tool from your neighbour to use it, don't you think that in a near future would be a good idea to buy your own?
Honestly, there is no suprise whatsoever to it. Not a question of if but when.
I meant "promise" as in the potential for excellence. But it makes sense even using the other sense of the word, since Apple's Maps revamp is not just a rumor. It's been all but announced in official job postings and in Apple's statement to Congress.
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Depends, in this industry, reusing what is already there is sometimes much cheaper and better in the long run. NIH syndrome creates havoc and inferior solutions all the time. Did Apple really need to replace Google maps ? Could the ressources have been better used elsewhere ? Did Google Maps really need replacing ?
There comes a point when "not invented here" is a good thing. Let Google do the development work on the maps back-end, concentrate on User Experience if that is your forte. Cloud backends just aren't what Apple is good at.
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So where is the big official announcement that Apple is coming out with a maps solution at WWDC ? Really, there is no promise and no reaction. Google is just doing what Google has been doing with maps for quite a few years : working on making them better.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_acquisitions_by_Google#section_1
Yup. Google bought all that!
Hope Apple's maps won't be less good than Google Maps. I love Google Maps and I think it's amazing, without it I would not be able to to anywhere, pretty much. If Apple won't have Street View, that would in itself be a huge suck. Hope they have everything Google has, plus more, if they want.
It's an interesting theory, but I don't believe Apple would buy three mapping companies and invest years of development only to let Google announce the result (and make it available for Android users!)
I probably sound like an 80 year old in front of an XBOX Kinect, but what is the added value and point of google glasses, and what is it supposed to improve upon? Apache Pilot night vision headsets?
The Best Tool is the One at Hand
How can you claim that Google maps has been superior if the Apple Map App has been using Google maps as the backend? I have both on my iPhone and use the Apple app far more often. It opens faster and searching is much more intuitive.
If Apple is going to put their technology behind the mapping data and offer it standard with a phone, then I say that the best tool is the one at hand. I doubt that I will use Google maps any longer to avoid a third party app and I could care less about frivolous features.
How can you claim that Google maps has been superior if the Apple Map App has been using Google maps as the backend? I have both on my iPhone and use the Apple app far more often. It opens faster and searching is much more intuitive.
If Apple is going to put their technology behind the mapping data and offer it standard with a phone, then I say that the best tool is the one at hand. I doubt that I will use Google maps any longer to avoid a third party app and I could care less about frivolous features.
Think Minority Report, well the ad spamming part along with a wireless heads up display of information you can access. Along with a dash of Wikipedia and Star Trek.
...right... because Google wasn't revolutionary in their search capabilities, nor in their desktop maps app, nor in their maps app for the iPhone when it first came out, nor in bringing free email with massive storage to the masses. Google definitely is a follower in this area with no innovation what so ever. What a bunch of phonies!
You must be accustomed to waiting a long time at multiple locations, missing trains, and general lateness. The transit section is the absolute worst part of any mapping program.
Virtual Reality
One idea support the virtual world. Imagine that you would want to navigate New York City to find the closest Starbucks. Perhaps a ghosted image shows you the direction. Imagine staring at a book in the local bookstore, automatically recognized by the glasses, and displays the online competitive price. The list is endless.
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Obviously, you have not tried the Apple mapping application for some time.
One idea support the virtual world. Imagine that you would want to navigate New York City to find the closest Starbucks. Perhaps a ghosted image shows you the direction. Imagine staring at a book in the local bookstore, automatically recognized by the glasses, and displays the online competitive price. The list is endless.
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Obviously, you have not tried the Apple mapping application for some time.
Once Apple releases their own map app, I wonder how many Apple fanatics on this forum will proclaim it's the best thing since sliced bread and will fail to mention that Google was actually the original innovator in this case? Will any of them care to claim (or own up to claiming) that Apple is copying Google?
The Map App is already Apple's own. They only use Google Maps as a backend. The front end is made by Apple, and has been left to bit rot by Apple.
No, because by that logic, almost every technological innovation could be considered reactive: there were mobile phones before the iPhone, there were word processors before Microsoft Word, there were search engines before Google.
The difference is that Apple focuses on an area that needs rethinking, and then they go about designing the best solution they can come up with.
"Reactive" companies, in the sense I'm describing, see that another company is working on something innovative, and start working on a similar project themselves!