I would assume by allowing developers to use the advanced data mapping functions, and then selling those apps.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Acquired Mapping Company Placebase in July
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I would assume by allowing developers to use the advanced data mapping functions, and then selling those apps.
You know to a certain degree it makes blocking GV makes sense, business-wise at least. That being said I completely disagree with that decision. Even though competition is what drives innovation, I believe that companies should also work with each other, at least in some small things that would ultimately help the customer.
Now, blocking Opera Mini for the iPhone.... that is real and unjustified grade a BS
.Ontopic, I wonder what Apple is planning to do with this and they are even considering blocking Google Maps (or any other Google service). I don't see Apple pulling off something like Google Maps for a while. I mean, Google has an infrastructure built around the concept information harvesting and processing, they've been doing this for 10 years and they are the experts in this area and every day they're getting bigger.
Apple competing against Google is just a terrible move. Both companies could work together providing their customers with really awesome stuff.
Well I'm not saying that Apple shouldn't do this. But if I may continue this line of thought. I would think that their Office application need far more development and work. Numbers sucks and Pages is no where near to what Microsoft has. Sure there are some things I like in their in iWork. But for in the office? No way. Even for home use I think office is much better. I have got this nice powerful iMac at home for some number crunching. But my slower Dell at work is much faster than Numbers. Please improve your iWork and leave mapping out the world to Google. Microsoft is far worse to be deepending on than Goggle.
What hasn't been discussed (I think)...
is that Google is NOT doing the mapping. The underlying data, the cartography, is provided by NAVTEQ for both companies. They are both dependent on NAVTEQ. HOWEVER, NAVTEQ has no interest in building an OS, browser, or mobile OS.
So, this is providing extensions to that data. In that sense, comparisons to word processing and spreadsheet programs are faulty.
I completely agree with the people who contend that Apple should not be relying on a competitor for significant functionality on which some of their apps depend. No matter what Google's current operating principals are, that situation is not guaranteed to stay the same. It may never change, but it isn't guaranteed.
is that Google is NOT doing the mapping. The underlying data, the cartography, is provided by NAVTEQ for both companies. They are both dependent on NAVTEQ. HOWEVER, NAVTEQ has no interest in building an OS, browser, or mobile OS.
So, this is providing extensions to that data. In that sense, comparisons to word processing and spreadsheet programs are faulty.
I completely agree with the people who contend that Apple should not be relying on a competitor for significant functionality on which some of their apps depend. No matter what Google's current operating principals are, that situation is not guaranteed to stay the same. It may never change, but it isn't guaranteed.
Almost purely an ATT business decision. What's odd though is that ATT sells Blackberrys and they have GV and can use the a-list + gv for unlimited calling just as easily.
No matter, I've almost completely switched over to GV now and lowered my ATT voice plan to the lowest allowed to still keep the a-list feature.
whats that? Microsoft can't come up with their own stuff? they have to buy companies? interesting, but right now google has my business and they are improving all the time. Its not just the maps, its the user experience (Where have i heard that before?) albeit with some advertising, that i prefer their mapping tool
interesting, but right now google has my business and they are improving all the time. Its not just the maps, its the user experience (Where have i heard that before?) albeit with some advertising, that i prefer their mapping tool
My hunch is that Apple wants Placebase's "layered" technology for augmented reality. AR operates based on layers of data sets.
Obviously, but with the App submission structure they have set up they need to have a justifiable reason to block the App beyond, it duplicates core features.
We don't know if it was ATT, I suspect it was. Heres my problem though. Google Voice is still an invite only type of thing. Its on all other major smartphone OS's and networks and without issues or notice.
I won't say no one, but a vast majority of people wouldn't know what Google Voice was without all this ridiculous press about the app rejection. Had it cleared it would have just had 1 story and been over with. Now its getting all this press and bringing more attention to a service that otherwise might just have been overlooked.
What percentage of people using the iPhone would even use GV if it was available...I'm starting to doubt that it would have been very significant had it not gotten all this attention.
I love Apple products, but I'm leaning towards Android and Google who seems to be continuously progressing the way we use the web and web based apps.
I wouldn't be so sure...
Google maps' data is provided by TeleAtlas, which is owned by TomTom. Navteq is the market leader and a subsidiary of Nokia. So, in a nutshell Google's money goes to TomTom's and Apple's to Nokia's piggy bank.
Good point. GV would probably have slid by for most people. Personally, I have been a GV user for a long time prior to the ATT a-list because of all of the advanced calling features it offers. Now, with my GV # on the a-list I also make most of my calls w/o using any minutes.
I wouldn't be so sure...
Google maps' data is provided by TeleAtlas, which is owned by TomTom. Navteq is the market leader and a subsidiary of Nokia. So, in a nutshell Google's money goes to TomTom's and Apple's to Nokia's piggy bank.
Thanks for the info. I sit corrected.
Just Received from Policy Map
[FONT="]Well, there is quite a buzz in the tech world. Speculation that Apple acquired our contractor Placebase and its underlying mapping technology, Pushpin, is clearly the talk of the day.[/FONT]
[FONT="]A number of the articles, including this one in GigaOm, reference our www.policymap.com site as we are the most substantial application ever built using this unique mapping platform. And, thats cool. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Just so you know, PolicyMap was not acquired by Apple. We are here at The Reinvestment Fund, along with a team of developers based in Los Angeles, working to make accurate, relevant and timely data about places around the country more accessible to our users.[/FONT]
[FONT="]We have all the tools we need to keep developing PolicyMap on this sophisticated mapping platform and will continue to bring new data and features to the application on an ongoing basis. You tell us what data you want and what additional mapping capacities you need and we bring them to you.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next week we will be unveiling the PolicyMap widget which will allow you to embed a fully interactive widget on your own website. Widgets are customizable instances of PolicyMap maps with dynamic features such as the ability to zoom into or pan across a map, click on an area to view the underlying data or toggle between additional data layers and points of data. Choose from among our thousands of datasets and bring them right to your visitors in sophisticated, interactive maps![/FONT]
[FONT="]Stay tuned![/FONT]
[FONT="]The PolicyMap Team[/FONT]
[FONT="]PolicyMap News [/FONT]
[FONT="]A number of the articles, including this one in GigaOm, reference our www.policymap.com site as we are the most substantial application ever built using this unique mapping platform. And, thats cool. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Just so you know, PolicyMap was not acquired by Apple. We are here at The Reinvestment Fund, along with a team of developers based in Los Angeles, working to make accurate, relevant and timely data about places around the country more accessible to our users.[/FONT]
[FONT="]We have all the tools we need to keep developing PolicyMap on this sophisticated mapping platform and will continue to bring new data and features to the application on an ongoing basis. You tell us what data you want and what additional mapping capacities you need and we bring them to you.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next week we will be unveiling the PolicyMap widget which will allow you to embed a fully interactive widget on your own website. Widgets are customizable instances of PolicyMap maps with dynamic features such as the ability to zoom into or pan across a map, click on an area to view the underlying data or toggle between additional data layers and points of data. Choose from among our thousands of datasets and bring them right to your visitors in sophisticated, interactive maps![/FONT]
[FONT="]Stay tuned![/FONT]
[FONT="]The PolicyMap Team[/FONT]
[FONT="]Forward this message to a friend | www.policymap.com[/FONT]
The "Maps" app on the iPhone is an Apple application, using Google Maps APIs.
Other than Navteq being wholly owned by Nokia who do, no.
I suspect this has more to do with Google's licence with Navteq. Apple are just cutting out the middle man (Google) so that the data from Navteq is their own to do with as they please and the terms of use aren't dictated by Google. Earlier it was mentioned that turn by turn directions aren't allowed with Google tile data. I'd suggest that is because of the licence Google have with Navteq, not because it's technically impossible since all Nokia phones that have GPS have turn by turn directions built in using Navteq data. On Nokia phones it is a subscription service but generally cheaper than a TomTom.
Edit: Substitute TeleAtlas for Google's data provider. I wasn't aware they'd switched either. The argument still stands though - Apple get to cut out the middleman.
The point was quite clear actually. Apple does not yet have a map application. Once they do - they will be able to say that both Google Maps and Mapquest duplicate functionality already on the iPod and they could decide to pull them (or prevent updates) from the app store.