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Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

techcrunch.com

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Re: Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

#51

Post by skeletonjelly »

taligent wrote: post #39
mercuryrising wrote: post #24

I'm confused - can someone explain to me the benefit of Apple developing it's own mapping software? Apple is not full of PhD's studying problems for the sake of it, they are a collection of people creating products that push their bar higher and higher. They make commissions from digital goods being purchased on their devices. This is why I'm confused. They don't have computer science PhD's to throw at challenging pr…

Because maps are a core use case of a smartphone hence Apple needs a good implementation.

That's not a strong argument for them. They could just stick with Google Maps

Re: Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

#52

Post by skeletonjelly »

sneak wrote: post #43
josephagoss wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is completely on the mark, think about it, Apple have massively damaged their reputation through this. Perhaps they could have removed a default map app for now and speed through Google's map app, as they have made one. and wait till a few months to release their own version, then for next year make it default.

> Apple have massively damaged their reputation through this. No, they haven't. Stop it. It's one app, and Google Maps is still browser-accessible. Seriously, just stop.

"It's just a phone". A phone that is Apple's flagship product. An app that's a core use case.

Re: Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

#53

Post by nicholassmith »

skeletonjelly wrote: post #51
taligent wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because maps are a core use case of a smartphone hence Apple needs a good implementation.

That's not a strong argument for them. They could just stick with Google Maps

Well, as no one knows why they didn't sign a new licensing agreement with Google the only thing we know is that they couldn't stick with Google Maps, for better or worse.

Re: Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

#54

Post by nicholassmith »

Interestingly, which was glossed over and pretty much ignored on TC, it sounds like Apple has been ramping this up for a while. If people were enquiring about jobs based off the rumours that Apple was working on a mapping application then you're going back a few years really, at least two.

Once again though, we know nothing about the situation past rampant speculation, maybe Apple has had senior analysts and engineers in for a week or for years, who knows. It's easy to read a lot into recruitment postings.

Re: Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

#55

Post by sukuriant »

sneak wrote: post #43
josephagoss wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is completely on the mark, think about it, Apple have massively damaged their reputation through this. Perhaps they could have removed a default map app for now and speed through Google's map app, as they have made one. and wait till a few months to release their own version, then for next year make it default.

> Apple have massively damaged their reputation through this. No, they haven't. Stop it. It's one app, and Google Maps is still browser-accessible. Seriously, just stop.

Because technical users telling their non-technical family members "Whatever you do, do not upgrade your version of iOS to the newest version. Your map app will be completely wrong."

And "Print Google Maps instructions before you go on any trip, iOS Maps is broken"

Isn't damaging?

I don't know. The last thing I would do on my phone if I weren't a technical user is go to the Google Maps website when my default "Maps" app isn't working. If this was a consistent problem for me, for every or nearly every address I checked (I mean really, Berlin in Antarctica?), I would just say that Apple Maps sucks and refuse to use it and share this unpleasant situation with my friends and co-workers and other iPhone users that happened to mention they would just punch it in to their Maps program. That's just me, though.

Re: Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

#56

Post by royalsurfing »

taligent wrote: post #36
protomyth wrote: post #15

Apple bought three mapping companies: C3 Technologies, Poly9, and PlaceBase before this. I wonder what the heck happened on the data side.

Apple chose not to license from third parties. That is what happened. Here in Australia Google licenses map and POI data from Whereis/YellowPages. Apple doesn't and it shows.

Where did you get that information from? Apple is licensing stuff from third parties: http://gspa21.ls.apple.com/html/attribution.html

Re: Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

#57

Post by BitMastro »

taligent wrote: post #37
ziadbc wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the way Google implemented gathering street view data, I wouldn't be surprised if Google has more map data in the USA than all the other map companies combined.

It's hilarious how many people fell for Google's PR efforts. Street View is great for finding faults in existing data but the fact is that it is the same old mapping/directory companies that do most of the work.

Wrong: Since 2009, at least in US, TeleAtlas was replaced by data from Google Street View. http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/12/google-replaces-tele-...

Business listing comes from "information from our web search results, data submitted directly by local business owners, and third-party sources such as publicly available Yellow Pages directories" https://support.google.com/maps/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answ...

It's hilarious how quick you can accuse someone without even having some sources to back it up.

Re: Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

#58

Post by josephagoss »

sneak wrote: post #43
josephagoss wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is completely on the mark, think about it, Apple have massively damaged their reputation through this. Perhaps they could have removed a default map app for now and speed through Google's map app, as they have made one. and wait till a few months to release their own version, then for next year make it default.

> Apple have massively damaged their reputation through this. No, they haven't. Stop it. It's one app, and Google Maps is still browser-accessible. Seriously, just stop.

Its just one app that everyone I meet talks about, I am surrounded by non-tech people from all walks of life, no bubble here. Apple has become a bit of a embarrassment.

In fact one friend felt bad about upgrading his iPhone because his provider offered a upgrade on his contract. He said it didn't cost too much so doesn't matter. These are normal people who think iPhone is becoming a joke.

This is because of a sub-par launch that was over anticipated and a complete mockery of the richest public company in the world because of this single app. A app widely used by millions for transportation times and searching for places.

Re: Source: Apple Aggressively Recruiting Ex-Google Maps Staff To Build Out iOS Maps

#59

Post by Evbn »

sneak wrote: post #43
josephagoss wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is completely on the mark, think about it, Apple have massively damaged their reputation through this. Perhaps they could have removed a default map app for now and speed through Google's map app, as they have made one. and wait till a few months to release their own version, then for next year make it default.

> Apple have massively damaged their reputation through this. No, they haven't. Stop it. It's one app, and Google Maps is still browser-accessible. Seriously, just stop.

Navigation doesn't work in the browser.
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