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Apple Acquires Web Mapping Firm Poly9

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Apr 12, 2001
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MacDailyNews points to a report [Google translation] from French language newspaper Le Soleil in Quebec City, Canada claiming that Apple has acquired Web mapping firm Poly9.
In recent years, especially, Poly9 has given birth to programming interfaces (APIs) for several large clients such as Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo, MSNBC and NORAD. Poly9 based in part on the base maps of Google Earth, Google Maps, MapQuest, of Platial, Urban Mapping and many others to give birth to its applications.
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The report notes that neither Apple nor Poly9 would comment on the acquisition but that the majority of the small company's employees have already moved to Cupertino to join Apple's team. When contacted by the paper, Poly9 employees indicated that they were unable to speak on the acquisition due to confidentiality agreements. Poly9's website has also been blanked.
Nevertheless, observers of the computing scene contacted Tuesday by The Sun were not surprised to learn of the transaction. "Apple has made a very good move by acquiring these agile Web ninjas", said the magazine editor-Media.com's Baliza Luc Vaillancourt.

According to him, Poly9 employees were recognized in the industry first for their talents and creativity without limits. "These guys are virtuosos who can work on projects of very high flying in the Web universe. Apple has put its hand on Quebec's high-quality brains," he added.
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Just a year ago, Apple acquired Placebase, another online mapping company. An Apple job posting from last November looking for someone to to take the iPhone Maps application "to the next level" sparked further interest in the possibility of Apple looking to roll out its own mapping solution for iOS in order to reduce its reliance on Google.

Article Link: Apple Acquires Web Mapping Firm Poly9
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/14/apple-acquires-web-mapping-firm-poly9/
Google Maps is good, no doubt about that, but I can't wait to see what an Apple oriented mapping solution is. I'm hoping it's better although you can never tell till it's done.
 
According to him, Poly9 employees were recognized in the industry first for their talents and creativity without limits. "These guys are virtuosos who can work on projects of very high flying in the Web universe. Apple has put its hand on Quebec's high-quality brains," he added.
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That reads like an over-the-top press release. Does this guy work for Poly9? :)
 
"I'd like to submit this mapping app to the App Store, please."
"Well, I don think he'd be to keen. He's already got one. I fart in your general direction! I wave my private parts and you! Now go away before I'm forced to taunt you a second time."
 
NORAD, cool!

Now my iPhone can control the ICBM to attack iPhone competitors! Hopefully they are small tactical nukes that take out individual Android sales centers only.
 
This is good Apple is being proactive rather than reactive. Things have the potential to get uglier with Google competition. I love Google maps on the iPhone so that is definitely a strong hand for Google.
 
The reason the current Maps app is so behind isn't because Apple is lagging. It's because they don't release things until they feel are completely finished.

Google have said they'd add turn-by-turn to Apple Maps, but Apple don't want that. Whilst Google adds little things to Maps each Android release (very welcome of course), Apple will have those additions ready in labs, to release all at once. Apple aren't behind; they're just not finished.

That's my theory anyway. The same thing happened with the Mail app. GMail on Android changes slightly each release. Apple did nothing to Mail and then did a massive change in iOS4. That wasn't because Apple was behind and couldn't do universal inbox. They've probably had that there for ages but wanted to add it in as part of a major overhaul.
 
spazzcat said:
On my computer, yes, but on my iPhone its pretty much useless.
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It is ? Because I could swear I used it yesterday to map out an alternate route and get out of traffic... Saved over 45 minutes.

Sounds pretty good for such a useless app. :rolleyes:

darrenbeige said:
The reason the current Maps app is so behind isn't because Apple is lagging. It's because they don't release things until they feel are completely finished.

Google have said they'd add turn-by-turn to Apple Maps, but Apple don't want that. Whilst Google adds little things to Maps each Android release (very welcome of course), Apple will have those additions ready in labs, to release all at once. Apple aren't behind; they're just not finished.

That's my theory anyway. The same thing happened with the Mail app. GMail on Android changes slightly each release. Apple did nothing to Mail and then did a massive change in iOS4. That wasn't because Apple was behind and couldn't do universal inbox. They've probably had that there for ages but wanted to add it in as part of a major overhaul.
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And how is Apple's way as you describe better for the consumer ?
 
Contracts expire eventually..

All agree Google maps are great. And they are deeply integrated into the iOS. Imagine if Google pulled them! Not necessarily for malicious reasons, but over time, it could make more and more sense for Google to back off from providing maps to non-Andriod phones.

I imagine Apple has a contract with Google for map services, and at some point it will expire. It will take a lot of work to replace Google maps and the related services like navigation and geocoding. It may not happen today or next year, but someday. Apple is slowly getting ready.
 
I love Google Maps. No other mapping program has the ability to figure out what I'm searching for the way Google Maps does. You can enter part of an address and it just figures it out. I HATE programs like Mapquest, where you have a separate box for city, state, zip, etc. and if you leave one blank it gives you an error.

By the way, I think a lot of people who complain about Google Maps have trouble reading a "flat" map. I think they want turn-by-turn because they find reading a map somewhat difficult.
 
Lepton said:
Not necessarily for malicious reasons, but over time, it could make more and more sense for Google to back off from providing maps to non-Andriod phones.
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And what for? Google reaches a lot more customers than the Android users.
Why should they back off from them??
 
....these agile Web ninjas", said the magazine editor-Media.com's Baliza Luc Vaillancourt.

According to him, Poly9 employees were recognized in the industry first for their talents and creativity without limits.
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I love the developers but this is exaggeration without limits :)
 
spazzcat said:
On my computer, yes, but on my iPhone its pretty much useless.
Click to expand...

I rely pretty heavily google maps on my phone.. that reliance will go down with my next car with built in nav but when youre in bigger cities, walking directions.. computer cant help much there.

Looking forward to native iOS mapping with apple's flare. (turn-by-turn please)
 
Lepton said:
All agree Google maps are great. And they are deeply integrated into the iOS. Imagine if Google pulled them! Not necessarily for malicious reasons, but over time, it could make more and more sense for Google to back off from providing maps to non-Andriod phones.

I imagine Apple has a contract with Google for map services, and at some point it will expire. It will take a lot of work to replace Google maps and the related services like navigation and geocoding. It may not happen today or next year, but someday. Apple is slowly getting ready.
Click to expand...

apple would just use Bing Maps which are better than Google maps anyway
 
Vertigo50 said:
I love Google Maps. No other mapping program has the ability to figure out what I'm searching for the way Google Maps does. You can enter part of an address and it just figures it out. I HATE programs like Mapquest, where you have a separate box for city, state, zip, etc. and if you leave one blank it gives you an error.
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+1. Free web-based mapping software like MapQuest and its ilk should die. Far too many steps involved...and graphically....it's just an atrocity to look at! Uggghhh :eek:

Google Maps w/TxT or an iOS equivalent with even better/more features FTW! :D
 
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