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Apple Acquires Web Mapping Firm Poly9

I think that, in light of the iPad/iPhone 4 launches, an Apple maps program (hopefully not confusingly called iMAP), could seriously challenge Google especially with augmented reality.

The question is, could Apple launch a product quickly enough that could generate some decent market share, especially as Google is bound to be focusing on the next generation of Google Maps?
 
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This can only mean good things! Nothing wrong with this purchase.

If it leads to free navigation for iOS users then good! :D
 
alent1234 said:
apple would just use Bing Maps which are better than Google maps anyway
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Yes - get out of bed with Google and hop into bed with Microsoft. Sounds like a great idea.

Apple is looking to cut its reliance on other companies, looking for greater control over their own destiny. That's what is behind the blocking of Flash on the iPhone, that's what is behind their rollout of iAds, that's why they offered Bing as an alternative to Google on mobile Safari, and that's what's behind this.
 
spazzcat said:
On my computer, yes, but on my iPhone its pretty much useless.
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Not sure about this. Used Google Maps just the other day when there was an incident on the train. Was given a choice of "get off at this station or wait here another 45 minutes - 1 hour". Opened Maps.app, quickly found the nearest tube (a 15 minute walk away) and headed off, checking maps every now and then to check I was walking the right route. Lots of time saved and not late to meet mates at the pub.

I also find myself just searching for business names near my current location quite a bit - very useful. Still, I guess everyone's needs are different. I'd hope that any replacement for Google Maps would be just as functional as the current app.

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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^ This. Bing Maps and MapQuest don't even come close, IMO.
 
Something I would really like is a map app where if you're at a zoo, a forest preserve, amusement park, or some place that offers you maps, have you use your iPhone/iPad, download site specific maps. That way, if you're at say a zoo or something and want to see the bears, it'll access your gps location & the that of the bears so you can find your way. Plus, click on different areas to get more info like when the next dolphin show is or at a museum, talk about different pieces of art. Just being able to know where you are and how to get to where you want would be great, especially if you have a terrible sense of direction like me. :p
 
wow, so people from Quebec think OTHER people from Quebec are really smart.

this is a huge surprise.
 
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.
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This man has got it right.

While creating a UI for a map app is probably not that difficult (not for apple at least), the back-end containing all of the maps and images is another story. If Apple want to make their own MAP app, they would still need to partner with someone to license their maps. Google has a lot of their own map data so they only partially rely on outside sources (at least in the US). Apple would also loose some of the Google's eyecandy like Street View.
 
I'm confused

From a few threads surrounding Google's IO announcements, I learned that companies who bought other companies as a way to develop products were doing something bad. I can't wait for those same MR members to jump in here and rip Apple over this ...
 
:rolleyes:

IF Bing maps had transit i would use that over google maps. If you haven't played with Bing Maps i think people would be impressed.
 
Voytech said:
Apple want to make their own MAP app, they would still need to partner with someone to license their maps.
....

Apple would also loose some of the Google's eyecandy like Street View.
Click to expand...

Apple has already purchased the (next) leading map company (Placebase)...

and one of their main features is all the EXTRA eyecandy / overlays / views they have integrated into their map system.

so... looks like you're not spending enough time on macrumors. :p
 
I love it. I really like that Apple wants to offer Google styled services for us. This could turn out to be a very good thing for everyone. I don't like that Google has most of the control lately.

Lets see what happens. Anyone know what the plans for LaLa were/are?
 
Eye4Desyn said:
+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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<SARCASM>
Yeah, I hate it when people give me free web-based tools that don't meet my high standards. I pay top-dollar for those free tools and I want my money's worth. Shame on MapQuest for providing that service, they should never have bothered and just waited for Google to release Maps two years later.
</SARCASM>

Seriously, there was a time when MapQuest was the coolest tool on the web (before Google Maps even existed). To bash something that was given to you for free and then hope that it dies seems a little malicious. Furthermore, when Google Maps gets the location wrong or cannot identify and/or parse a valid established address, then MapQuest can be a life saver.

To quote Steve Jobs in his exchange with Ryan Tate: "By the way, what have you done that's so great? Do you create anything or just criticize others work and belittle their motivations?"
 
spazzcat said:
On my computer, yes, but on my iPhone its pretty much useless.
Click to expand...

You need to connect your iPhone to WiFi or 3G to make the Maps app work. Simply turn off "Airplane" mode and you should be good. Then you can stop trying to fit your computer in your pocket or on the dash of your car.
 
BC2009 said:
<SARCASM>
Yeah, I hate it when people give me free web-based tools that don't meet my high standards. I pay top-dollar for those free tools and I want my money's worth. Shame on MapQuest for providing that service, they should never have bothered and just waited for Google to release Maps two years later.
</SARCASM>
Click to expand...

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.
 
Step 1: Shut it down.

I was always really amazed by poly9's globe. It's basically google earth in your browser, which you can do without downloading anything because it's in flash.

So, as of this morning, it's been taken down. The idea that Apple is buying up lala and poly9 to bolster their skillsets are one thing, another possibility is that they are buying up some of the best flash developers and just paying them to not produce anything. I'll always miss Lala
 
You just have to know that Apple iMaps will be 10x more genius then the fluff called Google Maps. :apple:
 
Hey, the more I think about it, the cooler and cooler it sounds to have actually been able to use Poly9 before Apple bought it out..

I think it would have been a valuable asset to my web site for a little cool thing to show like shipping prices or something of the like because as some of you probably know, Poly9 gave there globe away and it was open, where it could be adapted to a variety of different uses.

Plus, as far as I know, it uses JS, not Flash, which is all the better for compatibility.

Does anyone know of an equivalent of Poly9 that hasn't been discontinued or bought out?
 
alent1234 said:
apple would just use Bing Maps which are better than Google maps anyway
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You think? Just try for instance zip 84647 and look at Bing Maps. Compare Bing and Google imagery. Great if this was 1988 or you love black and white photos. There are many areas like that where Google maps and particularly Google Earth are much better.
 
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