Apple Actively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Employees

[MacRumors]

TechCrunch reports that Apple is aggressively pursuing former and current Google Maps employees as part of its effort to build out its own Mapping solution.

My source -- a contractor who worked on Google Maps as part of a massive undertaking to integrate Street View and newly licensed third-party data to improve European coverage, as well as develop the platform's turn-by-turn navigation -- says that when attention turned to indoor mapping, things started to become less interesting and a lot of staff began looking around for other opportunities.

Apple's own Mapping solution launched as part of iOS 6 just last week. The launch was marred by significant criticism of the quality of the data in many parts of the world. Apple has posted a number of job listings for Maps-related jobs over the past few weeks. Given Google's history and resources placed into their own mapping solution, it's no surprise that many qualified candidates may have worked on Google's product as well.

Early rumors had suggested that Google has already submitted their own Maps application to the iOS app store, but that seems to have been debunked by The Loop's Jim Dalrymple. It still seems that Google may be working on their own iOS app this time, but TechCrunch's prediction of a "before Christmas" target may be a more realistic timeframe.

Article Link: Apple Actively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Employees

 

[Caliber26]

They better give them access to water fountains and meal vouchers, too.

 

[gmanist1000]

They'll need em

 

[Man9z0r]

I hope those guys come equipped with a Google car!

 

[gpat]

It will take more than hiring Google's leftovers to get the job done. Why even bother instead of adopting the far superior Google maps?

 

[dbyway]

Am I the only one that hasn't had a problem with Maps so far? I'm guessing yes.

 

[Pock]

Am I the only one that hasn't had a problem with Maps so far? I'm guessing yes.

Same for me. In fact, I actually quite like it.

 

[ZacNicholson]

thank god!!!!

 

[iPhoneApple]

Apple is going to need thousands of workers to get near Google Maps quality. At least they are trying though.

 

[KdParker]

Of course those employees would be targeted. Not alot of people with those skills.

 

[TVreporter]

I'm guessing the search for employees is going to take a long time if they are relying on Apple's maps to find them.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I was talking to my Grandad today, in a busy shopping centre. He looked at me wistfully: "You know, son," he whispered: "When I was a lad, all this were fields."

Sure enough, I checked Apple maps, and he was right!

 

[iBreatheApple]

This is great new but it's going to be a while before Apple maps can be compared to Google's.

 

[Rm.237]

I was wondering how soon it was gonna take for this to be a thread. Was actually talking about it earlier today when I used the turn by turn for the first time. Things need to get better quick.

 

[Kenso]

There is a street built 2 years ago around my house and Maps shows it as an open field. There was no problem finding it before iOS 6. And this is in the US.

 

[tito2020]

Seems they better get this right if not google can sue em for copy right infrigment.

 

[c14nhl]

It's the integration between Maps and other apps that's totally ruining my experience. I can live with some things not being there at the moment. It's the fact that I can no longer ask Siri to set a reminder when I get home, because Siri doesn't understand my home address due to the information it's being provided by Maps. If I set the reminder through the Reminders app, I get it fine when I arrived at the destination selected.

 

[Uln4321]

Same for me. In fact, I actually quite like it.

Same! This problem is so overhyped and I LOVE the new maps!

 

[Exotic-Car Man]

Google has 7,100 people working on Maps alone. Apple needs to do some major catching-up.

 

[dergoog]

Maps works fine for me. However Waze is still the best free navigation app. And its turn by turn on the iphone 4.

 

[Ajones330]

So far so good with me and the maps. I was worried but I haven't had an issue yet and I was really hard on Apple before I tried it out. It will only improve and that seems to be pretty promising for what it is now.

 

[SandboxGeneral]

Being several years behind the power curve, Apple is going to need all the help they can get to catch up.

 

[dugbee]

Not sure how more staff can fix lack of data. Unless one of the contractors happened to walk out of google with a magic many-petabyte USB drive.

 

[Samuriajackon]

So far so good with me and the maps. I was worried but I haven't had an issue yet and I was really hard on Apple before I tried it out. It will only improve and that seems to be pretty promising for what it is now.

I'm with you, other then some newer roads that are being worked on and some stores that just popped up over night i have not a single problem with the new app...

 

[Renzatic]

Shouldn't they have...you know...done this before they released the app? I know I'm not the CEO of a fortune 50 company, so I can't make a call from experience here, but it seems wiser to make your product as complete as possible before you release it, instead of giving it to everyone half assed then rushing to make it good after pissing everyone off.

I know. I know. There's a reason why I'm posting on Macrumors instead of being a billionaire. No one's going "Renzatic wouldn't have let this happen", or claiming I'm rolling in my grave whenever someone does something stupid. But...I dunno...it just seems like a better idea to me.