Google Announces New 3D Features for Google Earth, Is "Committed to Offering" Google Maps on 'All Platforms'

[growlf]

A Siri that comes out of Beta is a killer for Google. Why? Apple's not going to put ads in it, just search and commands.

I'm not saying that Siri is a google killer. But a product that delivers the results without delivering ad revenue to Google (LIKE Siri), is exactly what IS a Google killer.

Google is an advertising/marketing company. I don't like the idea that one company controls what the majority of the world thinks the "right" answer to any particular problem is. That's a tremendous amount of power in the hands of a company that takes money to promote products and services. It's downright creepy, and I can't really understand how people think otherwise. It's the Facebook generation, I guess.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Apple's had over 3 years to get Mapping done right. I expect a pretty polished product.

Just sayin.

 

[Mr. Gates]

Yawn, sorry Google - you've outlived your usefulness about five years ago.

Come iOS6, we'll finally be free of your terrible products.

Yawn, sorry Flizy - your fanatical hate of good technology in favor of Apple ass kissing is so five months ago.

Come on dude, be free of your terrible attitude toward technology and embrace the fact that not only Apple makes cool stuff.

It's a sad little bubble you live in

 

[SPUY767]

This is going to make flight simulators rock.

 

[maclancer]

I really want to see Apple with their own mapping technology but I don't believe that they will beat Google. Apple does not have cars running around the country or airplanes to take pics or video. Apple does not have the infrastructure or the wish to do what google do.

 

[OtherJesus]

I have used Google street view a handful of times in my desktop, otherwise I only use maps on my iPhone and normally I just use the "list" view, the view that uses no graphics, just lists the directions.

I understand some folks may get super excited about Google maps and their airplanes, etc., but if Apple maps can get me from point A to point B, then I personally won't miss Google maps on iOS. Not even a little bit.

Besides, as far as I can tell, Google hasn't done crap to improve iOS maps in several years.
Ya snooze, ya looze

 

[nick_elt]

Google is in panic mode, and this ad hoc presentation with no product availability date show it. They're basically saying "Hey, we used to be important in maps." What's worse is that Apple will probably move completely away from Google in the next few years. Maps is just the beginning; Google search will be obsoleted when Siri and semantic voice search comes to its full potential.

You must be trolling right???? Or are you just delusional? I own a mac and an iphone but two things google does well is maps and search engine. No other search engine comes remotely close. And no I def dont want to talk out loud to my phone for every search.

 

[mbh]

... Apple does not have cars running around the country or airplanes to take pics or video. ...

Do you know that for a fact? Apple's going to have to get their mapping data from somewhere. They may have been collecting data for the past few years, since they started buying mapping companies. It's not exactly something they'd advertise.

 

[NorEaster]

I'm not saying that Siri is a google killer. But a product that delivers the results without delivering ad revenue to Google (LIKE Siri), is exactly what IS a Google killer.

Google is an advertising/marketing company. I don't like the idea that one company controls what the majority of the world thinks the "right" answer to any particular problem is. That's a tremendous amount of power in the hands of a company that takes money to promote products and services. It's downright creepy, and I can't really understand how people think otherwise. It's the Facebook generation, I guess.

What?!?!? Are you freakin' kidding me? What makes you think Apple+Siri is any better? Apple controls the answers that Siri provides to you...you know that right? And don't forget that a) Apple created iAds to provide targeted ads to you and b) Apple has reserved the right to store and use whatever you tell Siri (and that usage allows them to provide this data to their partners).

 

[supertonic]

You can do this right now with Nokia Maps 3D on FF & Chrome:

http://maps3d.svc.nokia.com/

 

[Thex1138]

"In relation to Apple as a competitor, Schmidt calls Siri a “significant development” and that its effectiveness as a search tool somewhat blindsided Google. “Google has many strong competitors and we sometimes fail to anticipate the competitive threat posed by new methods of accessing information.""

Exactly!
Siri is search without Google ads for a third of the mobile market.
iMaps is a third of the mobile location telemetry gone!
Not to mention the traffic feature in iPhone maps being less reliable due to loss of telemetry from mobile devices.
If iOS 6 rolls out Siri/iMaps even to iPhone 4's/4S/5, iPad 2/3, iPod Touch 5+ then the location telemetry and search ad's displayed sent back to Google will be cut significantly.

 

[iMikeT]

Perfect example of being reactive vs proactive about your IP.

 

[b166er]

I do. I don't know about you but for me I understand things better in 3d. When I look at maps or direction, I don't just look at left and right turn, I want to see the whole area as in real life. So 3d map help me alot.

In real life we are not soaring above the map and looking down from a 45 degree angle. Well, not most of us.

Call me old fashioned, but I think a map should look like a map. The less clutter and distraction the more likely I am to find what I need and how to get there. Then again I still use actual maps (remember the kind that came on paper?) from time to time so maybe I'm jaded from so many terrible experiences with a GPS.

Honestly if someone, anyone, created a GPS, be it an app or a stand alone unit, that actually worked, updated easily, didn't intentionally make you go crazy routes and waste gas, I would rejoice. The idea of GPS in your car/on your phone has been around a while now and no one has gotten it right yet. Don't get me wrong, there are some cool programs, but none of them do it all well.

 

[bwillwall]

If Apple's maps aren't as good as Google's are from the start I bet they will be the best within a few years. I for one am excited that Apple wants to stop relying on Google and other companies as much now that they have the financial ability and size to do so. In fact, hopefully Apple makes a search engine so that can be the default on Safari.

 

[AbyssImpact]

I can't wait for Apple's iMaps.

 

[KnightWRX]

If Apple's maps aren't as good as Google's are from the start I bet they will be the best within a few years.

Or Apple will abandon them in a few years, letting them suffer bit rot like other projects they've tackled and not had widespread success with.

 

[JCCL]

Good luck getting Google Maps approved for the iOS App Store.

Apple can and will change the rules.

That would hurt apple way more than it would hurt google

 

[gotluck]

I have used Google street view a handful of times in my desktop, otherwise I only use maps on my iPhone and normally I just use the "list" view, the view that uses no graphics, just lists the directions.

I understand some folks may get super excited about Google maps and their airplanes, etc., but if Apple maps can get me from point A to point B, then I personally won't miss Google maps on iOS. Not even a little bit.

Besides, as far as I can tell, Google hasn't done crap to improve iOS maps in several years.
Ya snooze, ya looze

Blame Apple, they maintain the app...

 

[cvaldes]

I really want to see Apple with their own mapping technology but I don't believe that they will beat Google. Apple does not have cars running around the country or airplanes to take pics or video. Apple does not have the infrastructure or the wish to do what google do.

We don't know that.

Just the other day, I saw an unmarked vehicle equipped with a device that could have been a street view camera. This was in Mountain View, California which is Google's hometown and not far from Cupertino.

Historically, Google has identified their street view cars with signage or a custom paint job. This car was unmarked and unremarkable except for the unusual spinning device on the hood.

Apple is far more likely to do this stealthily than Google.

 

[twoodcc]

competition is a good thing. if apple uses a different mapping solution, and i can still choose to use google, that's more choice for me. sounds good

 

[Rodimus Prime]

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[/COLOR]

A Siri that comes out of Beta is a killer for Google. Why? Apple's not going to put ads in it, just search and commands.

Siri is a beta in name only. The 2nd Apple start advertising it as a feature on the phone it was no longer a true beta product. It is beta in name only. They just use the "beta" tag as an excuse.

 

[kdarling]

You can do this right now with Nokia Maps 3D on FF & Chrome:

Bing Maps has also had a Birds Eye view for years, which came from cameras on airplanes. Its main downside is that a lot of it was from one angle and it gets weird when you rotate

 

[tdream]

I don't expect Apple to best one of Google's core strengths.

 

[kalsta]

And now Apple is getting seriously into maps, look for a really fierce competition and for everyone to up their games in mapping, navigation and discovery, Apple, Google, Nokia/Microsoft.

competition is a good thing. if apple uses a different mapping solution, and i can still choose to use google, that's more choice for me. sounds good

And now we have two fleets of aeroplanes mapping the same cities, polluting the same Earth, and delivering a product that's going to look much the same after all the dust settles. Heaven help us if Microsoft decides they want to roll out their own version too.

Yeah okay, competition is good for consumer choice… but sometimes you have to question whether the benefits are worth the costs. Everything comes at a price… to someone. Google was doing a good job with maps and making it a free service, so I question the need for Apple to go this path. In some ways though, Google forced Apple's hand by competing head on with Apple in the mobile computing arena. The relationship is complex. I just find it a bit sad that this is the way it tends to go… Huge mega-companies trying to own and dominate every market, rather than focusing on what they do best and partnering with others. I mean, now we have Facebook talking about producing a phone for heaven's sake! Where will it stop?

 

[genovelle]

I think google STILL IS important in maps. What do you use when you're looking up an address on your desktop or laptop? Bing? Mapquest? or Google Maps? I venture to guess it's Google Maps.

Your signature speaks volumes of your maturity by the way.

Did he push your Google button?