Apple-Leased Vans Gathering Maps Info for Shift to In-House Mapping Database

[dusk007]

Here is a detailed report on the state of mobile advertising.
http://operamediaworks.com/innovation-and-insights/state-of-mobile-advertising

iOS makes more money per user probably because the kind of users that buy Apple apperantly click more often on ads shown to them and the biggest chunk is the US in which Apple is disproportionately prominent compared to the rest of the world, in which iOS is little more than the other category.
But 75% is Phantasyland.

 

[Sageworkz]

Competition is a good thing

For the past several months, Apple-leased Dodge Caravans with equipment-laden roofs have been spotted [url="https://www.macrumors.com/2015/02/04/mysterious-apple-car/"]driving around the United States. While early speculation suggested the vans could be Apple's first attempt at...

It's good to see that Apple will soon be a real alternative to Google Maps. It will keep both services improving.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

So much for the rumor this was an Apple Car prototype ...

I don't think this news debunks the Apple Car rumor at all though. There's also no reason why some of what they have stuffed in those vans might not be for Apple Car stuff as well.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

Competition is a good thing


It's good to see that Apple will soon be a real alternative to Google Maps. It will keep both services improving.

I think Apple finally figured out that in order to have a really good maps solution, there's just no way around good data other than to go out and get it on its own. I'm glad they're finally doing stuff like this. It's something worth doing if you have a hundreds of billions in the bank.

 

[Gasu E.]

Wow. Apple stealing more ideas from Google. Who would have thought...

Wow, just as you "stole" that comment from the last guy who wrote that.

 

[JayInNJ]

As far as I know, whenever a non-map app wants to display you a location or directions (eg, when you receive an address in an e-mail, when a transit app wants to give you directions to the next train station), they direct you automatically to the built-in Apple map app. Of course any individual app can decide to send the request to Google Maps (after checking that it is installed) but I don't know any app that does so except for Google's own iOS apps.

That is there difference between iOS and Android. In Android you can set and change the default behaviors for different file types or actions, such as default mail, browser, map, keyboard, text messaging, etc.

 

[arulkaruppannan]

They would call it as?

 

[MozMan68]

I've never had an issue with Apple Maps since it's launch, but have found that Google Maps does seem best for POI.

At the end of the day though, I default to Waze.

I understand Apple's desire for control, but it also has one of the most devoted user bases in the world. I can't believe it doesn't combine the best of what it currently does (design) and combine it with the best of Waze (user created maps that are the most up to date).

They could easily hire 100-200 regional Apple Maps managers that oversee user created content to make sure the most accurate information is uploaded immediately to Apple Maps. It doesn't mean they have to go as far as having folks interact while driving (marking stopped vehicles, police, etc.), but it is such a pleasure using Waze where I live and having the proper road closures and updated streets go live INSTANTLY. This combined with some sort of "Hey Siri...police spotted" or "Hey Siri...traffic" type of feature added at some point would easily make it the go to maps app.

Personally, I think it is worth the risk to Apple to trust its fan base to help them get up to date sooner rather than later.

 

[onepremiere]

Aliso Viejo, Ca

 

[840quadra]

Wow, just as you "stole" that comment from the last guy who wrote that.

What that person (and many more People) forgot, is that there had been other mapping services long before google got into the game.

 

[irobot2003]

I've never had an issue with Apple Maps since it's launch, but have found that Google Maps does seem best for POI.

At the end of the day though, I default to Waze.

I understand Apple's desire for control, but it also has one of the most devoted user bases in the world. I can't believe it doesn't combine the best of what it currently does (design) and combine it with the best of Waze (user created maps that are the most up to date).

They could easily hire 100-200 regional Apple Maps managers that oversee user created content to make sure the most accurate information is uploaded immediately to Apple Maps. It doesn't mean they have to go as far as having folks interact while driving (marking stopped vehicles, police, etc.), but it is such a pleasure using Waze where I live and having the proper road closures and updated streets go live INSTANTLY. This combined with some sort of "Hey Siri...police spotted" or "Hey Siri...traffic" type of feature added at some point would easily make it the go to maps app.

Personally, I think it is worth the risk to Apple to trust its fan base to help them get up to date sooner rather than later.

 

[irobot2003]

I haven't had much trouble with either Apple or Google Maps... over a 6 month period in northern and southern California, I alternated between the two, and had one bad error for each. Google maps tried to direct me to a non-existent street, and Apple maps directed me to a parking lot that was near but unconnected to a business. Google had better traffic and POI, although for the latter Apple seems to be catching up. And of course Google has street view. Apple maps seemed to have better route selection in the absence of traffic. I now primarily use Apple maps because I prefer the UI, but check Google maps before I commute... and use Google maps for street view.

I've seen one of the Apple Dodge vans in No. California... it was silver, as are all of the Apple buses.

I wonder if the vans are color coded by region...

 

[kdarling]

It's good to see that Apple will soon be a real alternative to Google Maps. It will keep both services improving.

Apple Maps would be a real alternative if it was also available via the web, and via web services.

Think of all the sites and apps which use Google or Bing Maps as the background for their information mashups.

Having a desktop version is also a great way to get user feedback on location details, which really helped Google in the early days, and still does today (even with the occasional idiotic cartoon map figure added, found and deleted).

 

[mwalter]

I saw this one near DePaul in Chicago last Saturday

 

[ChazSch]

Hopefully, they won't be using Apple Maps for navigation.

what it says is that apple has been buying their map data...so for everyone who blames Apple, you housed blame who they buy their data from. It would be IMPOSSIBLE for Apple to check every quadrant for missing and wrong info....UNTIL they gather their own data. I applaud them for taking this on. Its like trying to play catch up to Google maps...

 

[powers74]

And keep expanding the coverage. Street View is the only game in town, most places. I'm lucky that I have Flyover in my city.

Yeah that must be nice. Honestly, I thought they would be further along with flyover cities by now, but I remember reading somewhere they are having red tape issues getting the permits & things like that. Perhaps DriveByTM is partially motivated by not being able to get Flyover rolled out as ubiquitously as they wanted. I can't wait, I bet the combo of FLyover & DriveBy is going to be killer!

 

[Keerock]

Give Apple a break.

Google's main function for many years has been searching and maps.
Of course they're better at it. That's all they do "well".

I think best practice is to use the best tool rather than be loyal for loyalty's sake. But I agree we should be patient and give Apple a chance when their tools work better. I keep trying to give them a chance but there are just too any issues when using Apple Maps regularly. Google is not alway right either but I find their features vastly better and accuracy miles ahead.

Also, it certainly isn't all Google does well. No reason to go into the hundreds of things that they do here.

I'm a huge Apple fan BTW.

 

[numlock]

Apple Maps would be a real alternative if it was also available via the web, and via web services.

Think of all the sites and apps which use Google or Bing Maps as the background for their information mashups.

Having a desktop version is also a great way to get user feedback on location details, which really helped Google in the early days, and still does today (even with the occasional idiotic cartoon map figure added, found and deleted).

that certainly is true but they are still lacking (as usual) with their international support. why use one maps app for this city/country and another for the next?

 

[powers74]

I've noticed that Apple Maps has gotten better. Sometimes it doesn't find a place, especially if that place went out of business or recently moved locations which can happen quite a bit in a city.

Beyond that, they fix and alert you of the fix very quickly now. Within 5 business days or less. Pretty cool

 

[macduke]

Beyond that, they fix and alert you of the fix very quickly now. Within 5 business days or less. Pretty cool

I tried doing that some when they first came out with it, but it just didn't seem like the changes were being made or like they really cared. I'll have to try it out again now. I'd actually alert them if I knew they were doing something about it as I don't like to waste my time if I can help it! There are probably a lot of other people like me who gave up trying as well.

 

[MozMan68]

That's the problem though...the launch was fraught with so many issues that Apple will need to have a major upgrade available before they do any sort of public announcement around Maps.

They will continue to improve without saying anything. Only when it has reached an acceptable level of function will they announce a new feature like their version of street view. If not, they will have the same aholes who are still on here constantly posting about how it wanted them to turn into the neighbor's driveway 20 feet away instead of their own.

A perfect example is actually listed earlier in this thread where someone mentions that they couldn't even get the ocean names correct. That was true...on the first day of the beta release....3 months before it was publicly released....and people still use it as an example to make Maps seem way worse than it was.

It was bad for some...but not THAT bad.

 

[Killa Aaron]

Caught them in Chicago today.

 

[manu chao]

That is there difference between iOS and Android. In Android you can set and change the default behaviors for different file types or actions, such as default mail, browser, map, keyboard, text messaging, etc.

You can set the default keyboard in iOS by now.

 

[gnasher729]

what it says is that apple has been buying their map data...so for everyone who blames Apple, you housed blame who they buy their data from. It would be IMPOSSIBLE for Apple to check every quadrant for missing and wrong info....UNTIL they gather their own data. I applaud them for taking this on. Its like trying to play catch up to Google maps...

What I find interesting is that some people seem to believe that the drivers would need a map. it's quite the opposite, really. I would say that the driver should be able to start anywhere and just drive, the co-pilot takes note where the driver could turn off, computer keeps track of all turns that haven't been examined and makes them turn around until each single possible way has been examined.

There had been reports in the past of GPS putting drivers into dangerous situations (like a road into the desert getting worse and worse and worse), so the app that the co-pilot uses would have an "I'm afraid" button ;-) which makes the driver turn around.

 

[numlock]

what it says is that apple has been buying their map data...so for everyone who blames Apple, you housed blame who they buy their data from. It would be IMPOSSIBLE for Apple to check every quadrant for missing and wrong info....UNTIL they gather their own data. I applaud them for taking this on. Its like trying to play catch up to Google maps...

no you should blame the party you are buying from. its of none of my concern who the wholesaler is.