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Apple Expanding R&D Center in Sweden to Work on 'Advanced Mapping Technology'

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Apr 12, 2001
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A new report today from Swedish news service Rapidus (via Tech.eu) claims that Apple has been quietly increasing its presence in Lund, Sweden with a focus on an "advanced mapping technology" that aims to further improve Apple Maps . The company is reportedly working out of a new R&D center in the city said to have launched last November.

ios9mapsnewfeatures.jpg
Now, a report from news agency Rapidus claims Apple has been quietly ramping up its operations in Lund, a city near Malmö in Sweden, where it is apparently working on 'advanced mapping technology'. Reports that Apple had set up a relatively secretive R&D center in Lund first surfaced in November last year, but it's always been unclear what was being worked on over there.
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The news today points toward continued improvements for Apple Maps, which is currently seeing a significant amount of investment from Apple. The company has in recent months expanded its fleet of vans surveying streets around the United States and other countries with a variety of sensors. Apple confirmed over the summer that the data collected from the vehicles will be used to improve Apple Maps in the future, likely with street-level imagery similar to Google's Street View.

Article Link: Apple Expanding R&D Center in Sweden to Work on 'Advanced Mapping Technology'
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/09/15/apple-sweden-advanced-mapping/
This post should satisfy all those "Appe needs to fix map BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE bc a giant company only has 1 team so they can't work on multiple projects at the same time"

Oh wait....complainers shall complain...nvm
 
I am happy to see the continued investment in maps. Still I am curious why Sweden? Seems like a strange place to develop maps, but I guess, whatever.
 
MacRumors said:



A new report today from Swedish news service Rapidus (via Tech.eu) claims that Apple has been quietly increasing its presence in Lund, Sweden with a focus on an "advanced mapping technology" that aims to further improve Apple Maps . The company is reportedly working out of a new R&D center in the city said to have launched last November.

ios9mapsnewfeatures.jpg
The news today points toward continued improvements for Apple Maps, which is currently seeing a significant amount of investment from Apple. The company has in recent months expanded its fleet of vans surveying streets around the United States and other countries with a variety of sensors. Apple confirmed over the summer that the data collected from the vehicles will be used to improve Apple Maps in the future, likely with street-level imagery similar to Google's Street View.

Article Link: Apple Expanding R&D Center in Sweden to Work on 'Advanced Mapping Technology'
Click to expand...
 
lincolntran said:
This post should satisfy all those "Appe needs to fix map BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE bc a giant company only has 1 team so they can't work on multiple projects at the same time"

Oh wait....complainers shall complain...nvm
Click to expand...
I'd use Apple Maps if my address or even my street were on the map. 2 years of reporting the bug/error have got me nowhere.
 
One on the best tech nations that worked hard for what its has. Sweden didn't ask to have to have technology transferred to them at no cost.
 
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A "Streetview from Apple" is what I'm waiting for.

I imagine it will be integrated with FlyOver for a seamless transition between maps and streetview, and that you'll be able to roam freely through the roads as opposed to teleporting from bubble to bubble as is the case with Google's.

It's gonna be so cool! :cool:
 
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2/3 times I use Apple Maps to search for an address I get something so incorrect it's comical. I hope this is what they are working to fix... in Sweden?
 
Cuban Missles said:
I am happy to see the continued investment in maps. Still I am curious why Sweden? Seems like a strange place to develop maps, but I guess, whatever.
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The question should be why not Sweden. Excellent country, with a strong background in Tech and Science.

In particular Lund has an great research University which I imagine makes it a hotbed for talent? Just a guess though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lund_University#Academics

"According to the book, The Flight of the Creative Class, by the U.S. urban studies, Professor Richard Florida of University of Toronto, Sweden is ranked as having the best creativity in Europe for business and is predicted to become a talent magnet for the world's most purposeful workers. The book compiled an index to measure the kind of creativity it claims is most useful to business – talent, technology and tolerance"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Sweden

I'm glad Apple is expanding globally, with this and the R&D Center in Israel. Helps tap into local talent.
 
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Apple Flyover is licensed from SAAB Aerospace who developed it for, well, aerospace and defense (perhaps read as missile targeting) purposes.

Could very well be that Apple has purchased this operation from SAAB, or has hired key players away from it.
 
Go Apple Maps, love the UI and fluidity. :) And while you are at it, can we please have "Avoid Tolls" as an option, or just give us at least one toll-free suggestion when offering the routes?
 
Mavelous said:
Great. every time I use my maps app I'm gonna be led to IKEA
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Every time I looked for a Target near my house, Google Map takes me to a child care center. Google Map has taken me to wrong places in more times than I care to count. Apple Map has improved a lot since launch and I use it most of the time now.


Tapdawg said:
I'd use Apple Maps if my address or even my street were on the map. 2 years of reporting the bug/error have got me nowhere.
Click to expand...

I feel your pain. Other people has better luck with reporting in details like street address, gps location, etc. when sending in the bug.


Jsameds said:
A "Streetview from Apple" is what I'm waiting for.

I imagine it will be integrated with FlyOver for a seamless transition between maps and streetview, and that you'll be able to roam freely through the roads as opposed to teleporting from bubble to bubble as is the case with Google's.

It's gonna be so cool! :cool:
Click to expand...

You know Apple, they try to provide a great experience while Google just throw a bunch of buttons and arrows together and call it a day.
 
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lincolntran said:
I feel your pain. Other people has better luck with reporting in details like street address, gps location, etc. when sending in the bug.
Click to expand...

Trust me - I've tried everything! I've even gone so far as to send them screen shots of Google Maps showing the 20 streets around me that apple maps doesn't have. My guess is they aren't planning on remapping my area anytime soon.

The worst part is having to tell my friends that if they enter my address on Apple Maps, it takes them to someone else's house that lives 7 miles away from me! I've had a few people call me (after not listening) saying someone else lives at my house. /facepalm
 
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