Apple Acquires Indoor Mobile Location Positioning Firm WifiSLAM for $20 Million

[iBug2]

Nailed it, because search was just so fantastic before Google came around, and I sure wish I could go back to the Alta Vista days.

Google started as a search engine, but it's an ad company now. There's nothing wrong with it. There's no money coming from free search without ads after all.

And nobody misses alta vista, but Bing isn't that bad. So the internet wouldn't end if Google search suddenly shut down today. And don't forget that search wasn't so fantastic when Google came around either. Today's Google search is milestones ahead of what it was back then.

 

[Am3r1ca16]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/21/3677790/google-maps-indoor-web-floor-plan

List of Indoor maps.
http://support.google.com/gmm/bin/answer.py?hl=en&topic=1685871&answer=1685827

10,000 floor plans are available and expanding everyday. Do a little research.

----------

This would be Apple's attempt at indoor maps. Then put out a press release saying "There are many other indoor mapping software available while we fix ours".

Image

those this work with the google maps for iOS?

 

[notabadname]

This will allow our Apple iWatch to guide us to any interior location, and eventually cause consumer-aware signage to display custom adds as we pass by.

 

[4TheLoveOfTech]

those this work with the google maps for iOS?

Not that I could find but Apple did take WiFiSlam off of the Google Playstore.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/23/apple-wifislam-indoor-gps-maps/

"Further, a quick Google search confirms that any WiFiSlam-related apps that may have been on Google Play are all but dead links now."

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Not Carnival - WiFi needs power to work....

Zing! Not being hyperbolic: I laughed out loud at that.

 

[64Mario64]

And nobody misses alta vista, but Bing isn't that bad.

5 tabs of Bing gave me a Blue Screen of Death in Windows 7, somehow.

 

[Am3r1ca16]

Not that I could find but Apple did take WiFiSlam off of the Google Playstore.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/23/apple-wifislam-indoor-gps-maps/

"Further, a quick Google search confirms that any WiFiSlam-related apps that may have been on Google Play are all but dead links now."

oh i see. i didn't know anything about this until today. hopefully this is in iOS 7. but i kind of doubt.

 

[charlituna]

Wow, that's impressive! Did you use the "ciy kitty" from shark tank?

I was toliet training my cats way before shark tank. Just takes some patience, some large cheap bowls and some old books.

My friends laugh because there's a sign over my toliet reminding them to put the seat back down or face the wrath of wet cat.

----------

Next stop: Find my car.

Could have some neat uses in public places, but will require some layered privacy controls.

Sure. But that will all be worked out.

I remember an article about some google glass idea about recognizing folks based on their clothes and being able to pick them out of a crowd. Given that the info would only be good for a few hours the notion is kind of a waste but it got me thinking about creating a database of other items that in combo with this positioning idea might allow for the creation of a system that could lead the blind and visually impaired around areas they don't know more safely.

 

[PbLondon]

This is great news and hints that Apple is going in the right direction. Implement this into the core of iOS and make the apps easily location aware.

One of the features I miss in iOS is "smart folders" for apps. With so many apps on the phone, people forget about the apps they have installed and barely use them. Smart folder would act as a passbook for whole apps making them easily accessible when in relevant location. You are in Paris and your travel guide moves onto front page. You are at the sports event and your betting app goes into front. You are in the mall and that particular mall's app goes there... Please![/QUOT

Great idea!!

 

[carmenodie]

Yeah, it seems cool but I hope Apple checked them patents out first.
Because you damn well them freaking patent trolls will be on that a** in a New York minute.

 

[iapplelove]

You haven't got more than $650 in savings?

Yes. It was just something to say to show emphasis on 20 mil not being that much to apple much like pocket change doesn't mean much to me.

Didn't expect some to literally do the math lol

 

[olowott]

Absolutely, Apple acquires a lot of companies for the sole purpose of burying their inventions.

i could sit on the fence on this one but this is the truth

well with new management let see what we gonna get but fo intergration with iOS7 - na!! too late

 

[radiohead14]

Wow you've got some serious Flawgic going on there. You remind me of all the Google trolls on here that get banned all the time for saying silly things and being off topic.

how many times have you posted that same article? yea a bias apple site proves your point. and me a google troll? look at my post history here and tell me i'm not an apple user also. just because i am a fan of all things tech and call it as it is, doesn't make me a troll. now look at all your posts and tell me you aren't blinded. it's silly that you go on this crusade to defend everything apple, when the company doesn't care about your self imposed mission.

 

[gluckett]

zing! Not being hyperbolic: I laughed out loud at that.

 

[BruceEBonus]

What is point, WTF Islam?

What is point?

 

[yoganandaz]

I'd like to see this technology used for finding products in big box stores.

Siri, where's the Natural Food located or a "specific product"?
Siri provides a map of the store and specific directions option.

Stores could come up with ways for people to tour the stores. Coupons, Easter egg hunts, etc..

Siri, I'm looking for pants, and a dress shirt. Show me some options and their locations.

So many options...

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I'd like to see this technology used for finding products in big box stores.

Siri, where's the Natural Food located or a "specific product"?
Siri provides a map of the store and specific directions option.

Stores could come up with ways for people to tour the stores. Coupons, Easter egg hunts, etc..

Siri, I'm looking for pants, and a dress shirt. Show me some options and their locations.

So many options...

I tried pitching this idea to my local grocery store chain about 2 years ago. They didn't want to pay me to develop it. Granted, I probably picked the wrong store for such a high tech idea... they chain has over 70 stores and is about 40 years old but has no official website.

 

[lolkthxbai]

eh? I haven't seen any innovation from Apple for MANY MANY years! A fancy case (that scratches or reduces the mobile signal without a bumper!) isnt innovation, innovation is where a prduct does innovative things like Samsungs eye tracking software, or windows mobile 8 reading out texts and letting you reply back without even touching the phone! Apples only concerns other the past 6 or so years have been to make things thinner (at the loss of functionality (iMac!!)) and embroil themselves in legal wranglings. Meanwhile, the likes of Google have been buying companies and putting new offerings into building great new products with bigger screens, NFC, smart software, wireless charging, improved OS ... Etc etc. now that's what I call innovation!

Innovation doesn't always equate to greatness.
I could develop a new way to make pancakes but unless its an improvement of past methods somehow it's not really going anywhere.

 

[JAT]

You'll never have privacy again

Pfft. I can always tell the single people.

Try having kids to give you some perspective on privacy.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Apple has bought a lot of companies themselves too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mergers_and_acquisitions_by_Apple

But nowhere near as many as Google.

Huh, looks like Next bought Apple for negative $400 million in 1997.

 

[lwapps]

I was toliet training my cats way before shark tank. Just takes some patience, some large cheap bowls and some old books.

My friends laugh because there's a sign over my toliet reminding them to put the seat back down or face the wrath of wet cat.

----------



Sure. But that will all be worked out.

I remember an article about some google glass idea about recognizing folks based on their clothes and being able to pick them out of a crowd. Given that the info would only be good for a few hours the notion is kind of a waste but it got me thinking about creating a database of other items that in combo with this positioning idea might allow for the creation of a system that could lead the blind and visually impaired around areas they don't know more safely.

It really wouldn't surprise me if Google created a database to index every persons face in the world. They're already doing it with books.

 

[GregAndonian]

Apple acquires a lot of companies for the sole purpose of burying their inventions.

*COUGH* Shake *COUGH*


(No, not really- but looking back from right now, that's what it almost seems like...)

 

[RatHat]

Some benefits that I can see from this are:

• Finding a particular store in a shopping centre
• Finding your way out of a shopping centre
• Locating a stolen device

Will it work internationally though, and what about the wife watching your every move?

 

[jonnysods]

It's about time Apple start using it's cash for something worthwhile. There are all sorts of companies like this Apple could be buying for the technology and expertise.

Google's almost entire business is made up of purchases of other companies and they rarely do anything innovative themselves. Other than search, it's mostly been about buying up other people's companies and claiming it for themselves.. Youtube, Android, Applied Semantics (Adsense and Adwords), Picasa, DoubleClick, GrandCentral, Motorola, Admob, Picnik, SageTV, Sparrow, etc.

The list goes on and on...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mergers_and_acquisitions_by_Google

In fact, Google has been acquiring on average more than one company a week since 2010!


Apple themselves are far more innovative than a company like Google who just buys up other companies but they need to understand they can't do everything alone. There are hundreds of little small companies that come up with interesting new ideas and takes on things. Getting access to the brilliant people in them is probably more important than anything else.

Bro, most of Apples innovations are past purchases of personal and tech from other companies. Siri for instance.

 

[iChrist]

Could we see it integrated in iOS7 or is that too much to hope?

It will be the 'big new feature' on the iphone 6S.


.