Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Moving to In-House Mapping Service with 3D Views in iOS 6?

This is indeed good news!

As for the possible quality of the package, I'm not one to prejudge something that hasn't been released. So I simply remain hopeful. Further knowing this will be an initial release I don't expect perfection right out the door.

For Apple I believe this is something they feel they have to have control over. Frankly I think they are right as they can provide services to developers and developers will know that those services will be around for awhile. Simply by replacing Google maps Apple has an opportunity to do the UI right too.

By the way I suspect that Apple will stay away from turn by turn forever. Why? Because of liability, if somebody drives into the ocean it is a certainty that someone will find a way to sue them. Unless of course they could get legislation passed worldwide that relieves them of any liability when some idiot drives off a cliff or whatever.
 
rnizlek said:
My fear would be losing Google Transit directions. So helpful when I arrive in an unfamiliar city and I need to get somewhere.
Click to expand...

It will be replaced with turn-by-turn directions to the nearest Apple Store.

----------
wizard said:
As for the possible quality of the package, I'm not one to prejudge something that hasn't been released. So I simply remain hopeful. Further knowing this will be an initial release I don't expect perfection right out the door.

For Apple I believe this is something they feel they have to have control over. Frankly I think they are right as they can provide services to developers and developers will know that those services will be around for awhile. Simply by replacing Google maps Apple has an opportunity to do the UI right too.

By the way I suspect that Apple will stay away from turn by turn forever. Why? Because of liability, if somebody drives into the ocean it is a certainty that someone will find a way to sue them. Unless of course they could get legislation passed worldwide that relieves them of any liability when some idiot drives off a cliff or whatever.
Click to expand...

If that were a real concern, there would be no turn-by-turn GPS units. You agree to the terms of service. It's pretty clearly spelled out when you try to use it the first time.

The problem here is that Google's maps data is updating literally constantly. If I write a review of a restaurant, it shows up on the Android maps of anyone who happens along it, almost instantly. The maps themselves are constantly updated.
 
wizard said:
...By the way I suspect that Apple will stay away from turn by turn forever. Why? Because of liability, if somebody drives into the ocean it is a certainty that someone will find a way to sue them. Unless of course they could get legislation passed worldwide that relieves them of any liability when some idiot drives off a cliff or whatever.
Click to expand...

Is this a problem for makers of GPS units now? It is vastly safer to navigate with voice directions than to squint at little screens instead of the road. It is more likely Apple would be sued for the latter.
 
As long as maps and directions are comparable to what is there now, then I'm fine with this.

I just hope they add some new features as the maps app has been pretty much one of the most stagnant built in apps (That people actually use).

On the plus side, if they switch to their own solution, Google will probably still try to push out a GMaps app using their own technology. In that case Google can upgrade the app on their own. Assuming it wouldn't be considered 'duplicate functionality'...
 
mdelvecchio said:
uh, why? the GPS apps for iOS do this perfectly (MotionX Drive, Garmin). listen to music, mutes for directions. MotionX even has music controls.

really, what have you been waiting for all these years?

----------



i know im a broken record, but you do realize there are excellent third-party iOS turn-by-turn GPS apps, right?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion--I didn't know about Motion X Drive. I'll try that immediately.

However, I also like the idea of getting rid of all traces of Google on my phone.
 
imthenachoman said:
Really? All that money and they are working on 3D? 3D is a gimmick. I want to see voice guided GPS. Is that too much to ask?
Click to expand...

I agree, but it's the sort of gimmick Apple will want to implement so they can go "Look what the iPhone does!".

If Google maps go completely, surely we'll be left with no streetview. I've never heard of anyone other than Google archiving so much footage of the world's streets and roads.
 
iMaven said:
Cool. The new 3D perspective looks nice and it will be good as long as it's accurate. I'm concerned about data usage on a tiered data plan and the time it will take to render the images.
Click to expand...

"Cool", and "looks nice" is OK, but what valuable information is the example providing other than there are a lot of buildings nearby? I would want a view from my perspective and from where I am, not from some birdie that might be flying overhead.
 
imthenachoman said:
Really? All that money and they are working on 3D? 3D is a gimmick. I want to see voice guided GPS. Is that too much to ask?
Click to expand...

You want mathematicians and modelers working on voice features?

Maybe I should ask my art school friend to create some fancy new tools, that will help me fix other people's computers and speed up my workflow. :D

Glassed Silver:mac
 
The 3D mode does not come enabled by default, but users simply need to click a 3D button that is conveniently and visibly stored in the app.
Click to expand...

That's usually a good place to put it.
 
One can only hope...

Google Maps seems to only get worse over time, not better. It's still very inaccurate in many major cities, and the annoying ads (i.e. "sponsored results") are getting more prevalent. I understand where they're coming from (gotta meet earnings goals) and that I'm not the end customer (the advertiser is), but that doesn't make me want to use it...
 
I hope Apple and/or Google will keep Google Maps alive in the AppStore once they've replaced it.
wizard said:
By the way I suspect that Apple will stay away from turn by turn forever. Why? Because of liability, if somebody drives into the ocean it is a certainty that someone will find a way to sue them. Unless of course they could get legislation passed worldwide that relieves them of any liability when some idiot drives off a cliff or whatever.
Click to expand...
This is stupid and makes zero sense.
 
I'm not generally a conspiracy theorist, but on several occasions, I have gotten incorrect addresses from google maps, whilst a friend on an Android device standing right next to me searching for the exact same thing has gotten the correct location. Wouldn't surprise me for google to occasionally futz with maps results on an iPhone to make people think that iPhones were somehow less reliable than Android phones.
 
TC03 said:
I hope Apple and/or Google will keep Google Maps alive in the AppStore once they've replaced it.This is stupid and makes zero sense.
Click to expand...

Like that bus driver who followed his gps off the side of a bridge in Atlanta?
 
SPUY767 said:
Like that bus driver who followed his gps off the side of a bridge in Atlanta?
Click to expand...
Yes that's stupid, but to think Apple would omit a feature just because in some rare cases it might be dangerous makes no sense at all.

----------
SPUY767 said:
I'm not generally a conspiracy theorist, but on several occasions, I have gotten incorrect addresses from google maps, whilst a friend on an Android device standing right next to me searching for the exact same thing has gotten the correct location. Wouldn't surprise me for google to occasionally futz with maps results on an iPhone to make people think that iPhones were somehow less reliable than Android phones.
Click to expand...
This makes no sense at all since Google 'sells' reliable data. It's in their best interest to be as reliable as possible, no matter what device you're on.
 
This whole removal of Google features from Apple products makes me think of this video:
War - Why Can't We Be Friends

I know iOS and Android compete directly these days, but I love Apple's software/hardware design and Google's services, so it's very hard to simply choose one or the other.
 
Reactions are more negative than I would have thought...

People like Google maps. I travel for work so I'm in different cities all the time and I use the maps app a lot! Google maps is right more than its wrong for sure, and I don't usually complain about it (although I do at times), but I'm almost always a fan when Apple takes over more of the user experience. We live in this walled garden for a reason. No worries though, as I am sure Google has been preparing for this and has a stand alone app that is just about ready to go as soon as Apple throughs the switch.

Lot of dogging on the 3D maps here, but no one has mentioned their benefit once a user gets out of their car. Getting around down towns in major cities just got a lot easier. I read that the mapping company Apple bought (the one that does the 3D) allows for maps inside of buildings as well. Large buildings in your bigger cities are no joke, with hundreds of occupants and extensive amenities they are more like complexes than just buildings. I imagine there will be all kinds of 3rd party implementations as well, like virtual tour guides and virtual augmentation (I think thats what its called). I don't see 3D maps replacing turn by turn directions (which Apple would have to be stupid not to include in an updated maps app), but it can only add to the experience.

Maps outside of the US is another big complaint. Who wants to guess at how long its going to be before we are all saying, "I sure hope they include the US in the rollout and its not just Asia again!". As more than half of their revenue comes from outside of the US I can't see how they could leave out the international community. Its possible we'll see a staggered roll out, but an exclusion altogether would be big mistake.

Last thing. This should make Google very nervous. Huge money for them in iOS as we've all seen lately and I can see a massive one-two punch coming. First Apple drops Google for their maps, and then they hit them where it hurts and drop search. Siri handles all the searching through other means. Couple the lost revenues with the fact that Apple will probably be getting paid for each Android unit sold (see patent wars), and you can see Steve's hand reaching out of the grave and pulling Android back down with him!
 
androiphone said:
this is what I fear, I wouldn't put it past apple to release it with only with full map support in the US and the rest of the world will be stuck with either nother or low quality maps and only have detailed maps in the major cities like London.
Click to expand...

Right, Apple should keep this new technology in the can until it's ready to roll out to cover every square inch of the planet, and not a second sooner.

Same with Siri. They should have held it until it could handle very language and dialect in the world before release. Good Grief!

----------
macrumors12345 said:
Google Maps seems to only get worse over time, not better. It's still very inaccurate in many major cities, and the annoying ads (i.e. "sponsored results") are getting more prevalent. I understand where they're coming from (gotta meet earnings goals) and that I'm not the end customer (the advertiser is), but that doesn't make me want to use it...
Click to expand...

I recently purchased a whole house generater via the web. Now I get an ad for the same generator I bought on most every page I visit through a search. It's enough to make one stop using Google altogether.
 
I just hope it can still access Google Transit (hybrid app thay overlays Google routes on a non-Google map? someting?) because that’s a GREAT tool in cities that have it.
 
Hope as much is covered by this than by Google Maps Street View. After all, I want maps to work literally everywhere, not just in selected locations of touristic interest like the Eiffel tower...
 
I must say that the first time I read this news I was very concerned about Apple replacing one of the most used apps on their iOS devices.

As someone who travels a lot (business), I have to have an app that is reliable and serves me well, especially if I am in a new city/country where I needed a paper guide in the past. Since the very first day I´ve owned my first iPhone I was completely astounded how useful the current Maps app is. It really has served me very well these years. It may not have been perfectly accurate in some places, but it certainly was accurate enough to tell me how to arrive at my target.

What I have learned from using the app is that a simple but elegant and easy to use 2D mode is still the most important aspect of Maps, while a 3D mode certainly has it´s strengths in other areas. If it´s combined well, I can easily picture a future where Google maps is not needed anymore. Also, it seems like Apple also has it´s own replacement for Street View in the works, too.

Here´s an interesting video from C3 Technologie´s former partial owner SAAB, which shows how awesome and accurate their 3D technology really is:

C3 Technologies Rapid 3D mapping

After I have seen this I must say I am extremely impressed.

If the technology even picks up trees and makes them available as objects to the app, the possibilites are endless. Of course, we have to actually see how Apple is going to integrate in into iOS, but if they don´t totally fail us the technology certainly is there to create an even better overall experience.

EDIT: Found another video:
C3 Technologies Demonstrates Photo-Realistic 3D Maps

It looks like they already had the major cities around the world covered in the beginning of 2011.
 
Last edited:
Peace said:
It boils down to whether or not you want one big brother or two. Personally if I'm gonna have a big brother I'd want it to be Apple not google.
Click to expand...

Personally I prefer dealing with a company that supports more than just one device.

Like many others, I like being able to pick up almost anything, from a WebOS device to an iPhone to an Android to a Windows Phone, and simply enter my Google account... and less than a minute later all my contacts, calendars and emails are sync'd up.

JHankwitz said:
I recently purchased a whole house generater via the web. Now I get an ad for the same generator I bought on most every page I visit through a search. It's enough to make one stop using Google altogether.
Click to expand...

That would be a pretty overdramatic move just because of an ad :)

I had a similar experience after searching cars last year. Suddenly I had a lot of car ads. Makes sense, really, except that after I got one, I was no longer in the market. This wastes my time and Google's, because the ads are useless.

So I went to my Google dashboard, found the ad section, and deleted the "automobiles" interest from the ad profile they had built up.

--

Re: Apple and Google. It's interesting how times change. When the iPhone came out, it was really little more than a featurephone because of its lack of third party apps. Its biggest advantage was the included Google Search, Maps and just before sale, YouTube.

Remember D8 in 2010? Jobs repeated several times that Apple was not going into the search business. Of course, they did go into the ad business, which is the whole point of Google providing search :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back