Apple Maps Vehicles Collecting 'Look Around' Imagery in Several More Countries

[MacRumors]

Apple Maps vehicles rigged with LiDAR equipment are collecting street-level imagery and data in several more countries and regions this summer, including Austria, Switzerland, and Hong Kong, according to a list of locations maintained on Apple's website. The vehicles have also returned to Belgium to survey additional regions after focusing on the Brussels area last year.

Apple Maps vehicle in Vienna, Austria. Photo submitted by Alexander Schilowsky.​

Apple will use the data collected to improve its Maps app and expand its Look Around feature, which is currently limited to parts of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Japan. Introduced in iOS 13, Look Around is similar to Google's Street View, providing 3D street-level imagery that can be zoomed and panned.

Where available, Look Around can be accessed by tapping the binoculars icon in the top-right corner of the Maps app. Look Around also appears in the search results for a supported city, below the Flyover and Directions buttons.

Apple Maps vehicles began surveying efforts in 2015, collecting data in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, Germany, Hungary, Singapore, Israel, and select other countries and territories.

On its website, Apple says it is committed to protecting the public's privacy while conducting surveys. For example, Apple blurs out faces and license plates in street-level imagery made available through Look Around.

Article Link: Apple Maps Vehicles Collecting 'Look Around' Imagery in Several More Countries

 

[dapa0s]

Lol instantly recognised Vienna in the picture.

Great!

 

[Morgenland]

What an enormous effort Apple is daring to make here. I'm thrilled. In 10 years, we will know quite naturally how these image worlds are adapted to changes. And how your city and my small village will also be included.. One can eagerly discuss the most likely update scenarios (your  Car /  Glasses).
Now the world is being resurveyed in an unprecedented topography. Kudos to those responsible for and working on this huge project. Hardly any of us MR readers could put this into the world.

And now the critics may start, I'm out.

 

[mrtnhndl]

Apple Maps vehicle in Upper Austria, 2021-07-24

 

[mikey918]

That’s nice, but can they PLEASE try and focus on data collection outside the same metro areas? Those of us in the suburbs sure would love to be included for once.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Bring it to Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

[NMBob]

Gee, how do you get that job?

 

[AppliedMicro]

Went to my small local grocery store over lunchtime today, here in Switzerland (and it‘s a rather quiet and boring small neighbourhood I live in, I should say). Lo and behold, an Apple Maps car crossed my way today.

Hope this is going to be good.

 

[jgreg728]

Alright but can we get NJ Look Around already?

 

[Ribitsch]

Yaay Austria, finally 👌🏻🙌🏻👍🏻

 

[XXPP]

I saw apple maps imagery collection car in my city in Poland month ago.

 

[satpalram]

 

[nwcs]

At this rate they’ll be finished in another 60 years but most of them will be decades out of date. They simply need more vehicles or whatever out there doing this to accelerate the pace.

 

[nlosborne]

I think Apple should stop wasting their efforts to develop their own Maps. Google Maps in many ways is superior, because they collaborate together with Google Search and Google Images. If I search for something in Google Search it immediately allows me to use directions and navigation. I have to take more than one step to access directions in Apple Maps. And I like accessing photos directly from Maps instead of being directed to Yelp every time I use Apple Maps!

 

[hagar]

I think Apple should stop wasting their efforts to develop their own Maps. Google Maps in many ways is superior, because they collaborate together with Google Search and Google Images. If I search for something in Google Search it immediately allows me to use directions and navigation. I have to take more than one step to access directions in Apple Maps. And I like accessing photos directly from Maps instead of being directed to Yelp every time I use Apple Maps!

I do wonder why no one released a Safari extension yet to detour google search location addresses to Apple Maps instead of Google Maps. The extra manual step to copy/paste addresses from Google Search to Apple Maps is simply not worth it.

 

[r0cki]

Gee, how do you get that job?

You apply to it, like a regular job.

At this rate they’ll be finished in another 60 years but most of them will be decades out of date. They simply need more vehicles or whatever out there doing this to accelerate the pace.

If only you could imagine the logistics behind a project like this.

 

[nwcs]

You apply to it, like a regular job.

If only you could imagine the logistics behind a project like this.

I can quite easily having been a developer for many years now. It doesn’t change my opinion of install time of iOS.

 

[DocMultimedia]

I've never seen one in Charlottesville, VA. But I have seen Google cars zip down my street every so often. I can always see the last time via Google maps and the weeds/trees in my yard.

 

[osmar.rodriguez]

Apple will use the data collected to improve its Maps app and expand its Look Around feature, which is currently limited to parts of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Japan.

Well, Look Around is also available across Spain and Portugal.

 

[DeepIn2U]

View attachment 1811092
Apple Maps vehicle in Upper Austria, 2021-07-24

Finally understand now why Apple is making their own car

 

[Saitama45]

Bring it to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Do they not?? That’s surprising, Look Around is pretty common in the Portland Metro area, most residential communities as well.

 

[Generik777]

That’s nice, but can they PLEASE try and focus on data collection outside the same metro areas? Those of us in the suburbs sure would love to be included for once.

This is the main reason I still use google maps. I know almost every single feature that comes to Apple Maps is only going to be available in very few select major cities. Google maps on the other hand has every feature available in my city, and they are updated often to keep current. Gonna take Apple a long time to catch up to google maps usefulness until that changes.

 

[SurferPup]

View attachment 1811092
Apple Maps vehicle in Upper Austria, 2021-07-24

Fantastic photo. Thank you 😊 - I wondered what the  Maps survey car looked like.

 

[MozMan68]

Bring it to Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was one of the first cities added back in June 2019.

 

[Klae17]

They make billions of dollars and have one car to do the entire world.