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

[Oletros]

TomTom has a hard time staying relevant these days, so they might as well adapt, or otherwise perish. If I'm not mistaken, Navigon is part of Garmin, which as far as I know is still making a profit (contrary to TomTom, I should add), but fell almost 50% in 2011. In other words: they might not have much choice...

I can't believe that people can say that other companies have to ditch their technologies.

Do you really are saying that TomTom have to switch their maps to Apple ones? Really?

And Microsoft changing their backend in their Live app to Mobileme

 

[garybUK]

Navteq is owned by Nokia

Any proof of Google holding back on iOS?

I was probably a bit premature with the Google hold back statement, seems the map app is Apples....


But the Google Routes for UK SUCK!!! from MAnchester -> Glasgow, it tells me to go via Dublin!!!!!!!!!

Nokia's maps are so far ahead it's unbelievable, they do have a very extensive POI database and can search online. they also offer multiple routes..... this was a update they did before I switched from the N8 -> iPhone 4S.

I don't see why Apple didn't just buy someone like Navigon or TomTom and just in-house the already refined app's

----------

Google and Nokia/NAVTEQ use different technologies.

Nokia Maps manages to fit countries into megabytes, will Google manage to do that? They seem to have a different tiling system.

As for Google using third parties, they used NAVTEQ, till Nokia bought them, then they switched to Tele Atlas, noow they've started creating their own maps.

Seems they still use a bit of both, if you plot a route it still says at the bottom Copyright Google , Tele Atlas.

 

[Relativistic]

I still have a hard time understanding the business case for this.

It must cost a fortune to effectively map the world from airborne platform in 3D, just so people can access it on google maps and google can sell a few ads? There must be another income stream in this somewhere that google isn't telling us about.

Sponsored placings. Imagine driving by a store that adsense has selected based on your interests which will appear on the map. It could also become more like Yelp. By advancing the maps and making them better they will ensure complete dominance on the market.

 

[Oletros]

I was probably a bit premature with the Google hold back statement, seems the map app is Apples....


But the Google Routes for UK SUCK!!! from MAnchester -> Glasgow, it tells me to go via Dublin!!!!!!!!!

Nokia's maps are so far ahead it's unbelievable, they do have a very extensive POI database and can search online. they also offer multiple routes..... this was a update they did before I switched from the N8 -> iPhone 4S.

I don't see why Apple didn't just buy someone like Navigon or TomTom and just in-house the already refined app's

----------



Seems they still use a bit of both, if you plot a route it still says at the bottom Copyright Google , Tele Atlas.

Nokia Drive on WP7 doesn't have multiple routes.

Google Maps offers multiple routes and you have done something really weird because the route from Glasgow to Manchester is 215 mi through M6

 

[Bezetos]

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.

That's an exaggeration.

It is not true that a third of mobile phone users have an iPhone 4S. Not even a third of the mobile market is owned by Apple. Moreover Apple owns less then a third of the smartphone market (around 20%, that's a fifth), and assuming that a quater of that market is iPhone4S handsets that gives you 5% of the smartphone market (if we include iPhone4 models here that should increase to 10%, however I don't think Apple will introduce Siri to iPhone4). Apple is still selling a lot of iPhone4 models (and even the 3G ones) and not everyone has upgraded to the latest model.

 

[arcite]

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.

I have to agree, even the presentation looks like they just dressed up a corner of the Google basement to do a quick powerpoint. Oh well. Bring on WWDC!!!

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I don't think Apple wants to be in the Map business but Google Map on the iOS is way behind and Google is putting plenty of effort into Android which makes them a competitor to Apple in some areas. I am impressed with some of the things latest version of Android can do with maps and interactive, I still rather have my iPhone but Apple has to think of the future when a Google Phone will be as good or better than what Apple is selling at least at the UI level.

I am all for Apple going their way and developing something worth calling a Map app. The question will be if they make it compatible to the point we can use it just like we use tom tom or other similar products today.

As pointed out before the map app on iOS sucks because it was Apple's job. I am will to bet Google's hand were tied in the fact they were not allowed to make a map app for iOS ad long as Apple was using their data.

Maps on iOS sacking is 100% Apple's fault

 

[basjhj]

I can't believe that people can say that other companies have to ditch their technologies.

Do you really are saying that TomTom have to switch their maps to Apple ones? Really?

And Microsoft changing their backend in their Live app to Mobileme

I'm not saying that they (read: TomTom or Navigon) should ditch their technologies. I'm merely arguing that MARKET FORCES may leave them no other choice but to adapt. Especially if it reverses to/increases profits.

 

[Oletros]

I'm not saying that they (read: TomTom or Navigon) should ditch their technologies. I'm merely arguing that MARKET FORCES may leave them no other choice but to adapt. Especially if it reverses to/increases profits.

But to adapt to what.

Ah, the OP claimed that Apple would force them to use Apple maps, not their own and that was what I was arguing

 

[Digitalclips]

Does anyone really care about 3D buildings? I really don't see the need/point of it. Not for a standard maps program. I could care less what the building looks like. I can see other uses for this technology, though (flight sims, as others have pointed out).

I couldn't care less what you think really, but I'm glad you could care less about 3D buildings, I agree, they are a huge improvement.

 

[Cod3rror]

I was probably a bit premature with the Google hold back statement, seems the map app is Apples....


But the Google Routes for UK SUCK!!! from MAnchester -> Glasgow, it tells me to go via Dublin!!!!!!!!!

Nokia's maps are so far ahead it's unbelievable, they do have a very extensive POI database and can search online. they also offer multiple routes..... this was a update they did before I switched from the N8 -> iPhone 4S.

I don't see why Apple didn't just buy someone like Navigon or TomTom and just in-house the already refined app's

----------



Seems they still use a bit of both, if you plot a route it still says at the bottom Copyright Google , Tele Atlas.

Yes, they still use Tala Atlas and some other companies for some countries while they are building their maps database. If you hover over England, you'll see that it's only Google now.

Ireland still uses Tele Atlas, that's why the map is outdated.

I actually found out about Google doing their own maps only yesterday while doing some research on Google Maps, till then I thought they strictly used Tele Atlas and that's it.

 

[b166er]

Paper maps are never going to catch on, because in real life we're not looking at roads from above, and the real world is not made of paper.

I don't expect everyone to do their turn-by-turn navigation in full rendered 3D mode. Both Apple and Google's solutions will have options to use more traditional "flat" maps. The 3D options make the maps useful in ways that 2D maps are not, such as getting a good idea what your destination actually looks like. A flat map of a city is very misleading, especially if the city is one as non-flat as San Francisco.

The 3D options make maps more useful to me. If they aren't useful to you, you don't have to use them.

If it annoys you that the maps have an optional feature like photorealistic 3D, that's just a bonus for me.

If they get me there using an efficient route I'll use them. If my signal doesn't crap out because I'm in the mountains I'll use them. By biggest beef with gps right now is that it constantly takes a longer route, gets me lost, or adds in unnecessary steps. No matter how much I play with the settings. That is why I will sometimes use a traditional map and plan ahead.

 

[growlf]

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).

That's an absurd comparison, and if you think it isn't...

Please report back to me where Apple makes its profits. Not off of iAds. I generally don't go for freebie apps, so I can't say I've seen one - probably speaks to its effectiveness. If iAds grew to the point where it was advertising to me everywhere I go, using my browsing history to target ads, etc. Yup, then it's just as evil.

And... Siri, from the privacy policy:

“All of this data is used to help Siri and Dictation understand you better and recognize what you say. It is not linked to other data that Apple may have from your use of other Apple services.”

Here you go:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/ibm-bans-siri-privacy-risk-or-corporate-paranoia-at-its-best/77843

So, yes, if Siri catches on and is used by the majority of the world as an authoritative source of information (note that it currently shows results being branded by Wolfram, Yelp, etc) AND provides NO transparency on how the results are generated, then yup, it's a new Google.

Until then, you're stupid and deluded.

 

[Konrad9]

Lol, Google's not going anywhere. Just like Apple isn't gonna suddenly enter the aviation business and put Boeing out. Apple isn't the world-dominating company some people think they are

Jeebus man, tickets are expensive enough as it is, I don't even want to think how much a ticket would be for an Apple airline.

 

[res08hao]

I look at a lot of Street View photos and there are lots that are unusable-dirty camera glass, night shots, winter snow. etc. And many are way out of date.

 

[fxtech]

Well everyone knew Apple bought C3, who had been developing this for a while, so Google have had since Apple bought C3 to start developing their own version, which is why they only showed a small demo, gave no actual release date. Apple will announce theirs on monday, with a release in the next month, if it's in iOS 6 like everything points to.

Oh? I hadn't realized Apple had announced a release date for iOS 6.

 

[AustinIllini]

Oh? I hadn't realized Apple had announced a release date for iOS 6.

I thought the same thing. iOS 5 came out WAAAYY after WWDC last year.

 

[kdarling]

Please report back to me where Apple makes its profits. Not off of iAds.

Apple makes money from iAds. Not most of their profits, of course, but they started out charging a million dollars minimum per campaign.

I generally don't go for freebie apps, so I can't say I've seen one - probably speaks to its effectiveness. If iAds grew to the point where it was advertising to me everywhere I go, using my browsing history to target ads, etc. Yup, then it's just as evil.

Which brings up the question, what's "evil"? Targeted ads? Collecting info?

iAds uses our iTunes info, along with other info they collect, to sell targeted ads.

Apple lists these as some of the targeting available for iAds:

■Demographics
■Application preferences
■Music passions
■Movie, TV and audiobook genre interests
■Location
■Device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch)
■Network (WiFi, 3G)
.
As Apple puts it, "Each ad is shown only to the audience you want to reach, in the apps they love and use the most. Our highly-effective targeting can leverage demographic data, as well as unique interest and preference data that taps into user passions that are relevant for your brand. Whether they are reading the news, playing a game or checking the local weather, your ad will make an impact."

What else should we expect from any company that sells ads? They're going to use our info to sell anonymous ad space. This allows them to claim (correctly) that our private info is kept private. If we then click on a targeted ad and give personal info to the advertiser, that's our choice.

 

[CDCC]

GIS Tools Please!

It's a great time for those of us who love maps!!! Between this and what Apple likely has brewing, the next year or two is in for a giant leap in personal, mobile 3D map technology.

When you look at this stuff, you just get that feeling of, "We DO live in The Future!"

I and other business people are STILL waiting for gis mapping tools to be added to these next generation mapping apps. We have only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to mapping app growth. Currently gis map programs have not gone on mobile platforms yet. The market share will go to the first map app that does powerful things like - data capture, spatial analysis, map/data overlays, address geocoding, modeling, data analysis, projection views, geostatistics, cad tools, and gps tools.

 

[gorjan]

I really hope that Apple Maps are going to be really good, but sadly I'm afraid of a new Ping...

 

[CDCC]

Yes, they still use Tala Atlas and some other companies for some countries while they are building their maps database. If you hover over England, you'll see that it's only Google now.

Ireland still uses Tele Atlas, that's why the map is outdated.

I actually found out about Google doing their own maps only yesterday while doing some research on Google Maps, till then I thought they strictly used Tele Atlas and that's it.

They also used a ton of Navteq data. Google is now having the users update their maps like the Open Source Maps do. These data companies are not going to be around much longer. Anybody can now download open street maps data and use it for FREE. I remember when Navteq wanted to charge my company $10,000 for access to a couple city centerline databases. Gone are the days when gis centerline street data costed an arm and a leg to lease. To many retired people out there are now willing to work for free for Google! They need to wake up.

 

[CDCC]

Loss of ad revenue

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.

Yes, Google could have huge revenue declines since a lot of people use Google Maps for business lookup. This has to be one of Apple's first goals is get a good business address overlay in their map program for lookups. This is a huge revenue generator and part of the Google Monopoly.

There are a ton of layers that Apple could add that would make lookups easier. To start, they could add a colored city polygon layer showing all city polygons. Currently, Google Maps only shows one city border in a city name search. This is totally worthless for business. You need to see cities by color fill. I hope Apple adds this as an on/off feature.

 

[WeegieMac]

That's laughable at best. Here's a test. Ask a human being, perhaps a friend of yours, to do your next search on Google. You then do the very same search yourself. Select the results you like best, then show each other. I guarantee that you will prefer your results. In fact, his results might even be terrible.

Have you ever tried to convey your search intent over the phone to someone sitting at a computer? A real, live human being? It is so incredibly frustrating because the person on the other end of the phone doesn't know every little detail that you'd be looking for or using to qualify a given result. Most human beings 'suck' at the Internet, and even the ones who are capable of efficiently using a search engine can't possibly know every last drop of your search intent because it's not something that we convey with words or search. We can scan results so fast and process so much more information looking at results ourselves. Things like Siri would be equivalent to exlcusively using I'm Feeling Lucky.

Here's why: You know a very exact context of your search and what results will more than likely give you what you want. You know in your head things that you don't make obvious in your search. You know that even though the first results is a reuptable article, you'd rather read a result whose snippet includes the words hands-on or video rather than preview. You don't include those in your search because you ha no idea they existed 5 seconds ago, but now that you see a result snippet that mentions it, you click it. Successful searching relies on a heck of a lot more than just the initial keywords you used.

You know that a certain piece of information came out yesterday, and that any article in result dated 2 days ago couldn't possibly have the information you're looking for.

When I want to see Justin Bieber's latest music video, I want the one that doesn't look like a fan made still image video on YouTube because the original keeps getting taken down, but rather the one that's hosted on some non-YouTube site that is still active.

Siri = I'm Feeling Lucky. If human beings can't even understand your context, how will an iPhone? Searching ultimately comes down to the human being doing the search. That is why we have SERP and don't just get taken to one page or given some random piece of information. There are only so many questions that can yield exact, factual answers. The vast majority of searching is not true/false, yes/no.

I hope you enjoyed typing that rant, cause I just quoted it to tell you I didn't bother reading it.

 

[Renzatic]

I hope you enjoyed typing that rant, cause I just quoted it to tell you I didn't bother reading it.

I guess ignorance really is bliss. Shame, cuz he brings up some good points.

 

[-LikesMac-]

I wonder if Google's going to release a standalone app for iOS...