Archived GIS Snippets
Published in 2013
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Apple Gobbled Up a Location Data Startup to Cure Its Map Monster
by eric limer
It had a rough start, but Apple Maps has come a long way from what it was at launch. And the push isn't over. Apple just picked up a little startup called "Locationary" that specializes in hyperlocal results; you can bet that'll trickle down into Apple Maps soon.
Locationary's special talent is rounding up crowdsourced data from users to maintain an active, up-to-date listing of the local business in any given area. It's a sort of Wikipedian approach to keeping local listings current, so that you don't wind up navigating to a store that hasn't existed in years, or at least can prevent it from happening to others if it happens to you. continued…
first published week of: 07/22/2013
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Apple introduces new Search API in Map Kit
by anupam saxena
Apple has introduced a new search API that allows developers to offer map-based addresses (location) and points of interest (POI) through Apple's maps servers, within their own apps. The API is available through Apple's Map Kit Framework. This essentially means that developers will be able to build local search apps around Apple's maps.
Apple joins the league of Google which offers a similar Google Places API to developers. Other notable players offering similar APIs are OpenStreetMaps and Foursquare. Before iOS 6, Google maps were the default set of maps for the iOS platform, so developers could easily integrate the Google Places API in their apps for returning location and point-of-interest search results. It's noteworthy that Google's Places API can only be used in conjunction with Google's Map tiles. This changed after iOS 6 when Apple introduced its own maps and developers could no longer use the Google Places API, and had to rely on other providers. continued…
first published week of: 02/04/2013
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Apple looking to beef up Maps team with ‘Ground Truth’ managers
by cody lee
When Apple released iOS 6 last year, it replaced the long-running Google Maps app with its own in-house mapping software. And, as most of you know, it took a lot of criticism over the move due to its inaccurate map data, missing features and other issues.
It was so bad, in fact, that Tim Cook wrote an open letter to iOS users, promising Apple would work non-stop to make it better. And it has been. It’s already made several improvements to the app, and is in the middle of a big hiring push for its Maps team…
Just last month we spotted over 10 job listings on Apple’s website that called for iOS software engineers that would be working on the Maps app. And today, several more Maps listings have surfaced (at least 7), this time calling for ‘Maps Ground Truth’ managers.
What’s Ground Truth? Well a quick Wikipedia search tells us that it’s a term used in remote sensing, for collecting data on location and comparing it remote data like satellite imagery. So essentially, it’s just confirming that the stuff shown on satellite really exists.
Here’s the description from one of the listings:
The Maps team is searching for a manager for the team responsible for regional map quality and ground truth in the U.S.. Each of our regional teams is responsible for the quality of our maps in their region. This team’s responsibilities include:
-Testing new releases of map code and data around the U.S.
-Collecting ground truth data to allow for analysis of the impact of potential map code or data changes relative to known truth. continued…
first published week of: 04/01/2013
Permanent URLApple Maps a hit - and Google loses
by robin harris for storage bitsComscore's latest US marketshare numbers tell the story. In the US, according to the UK Guardian newspaper:
. . .Google has gone from having at least 31m users on the iPhone in April 2012 - and perhaps as many as 35m in September 2012, based on a model using a sliding scale of maps ownership - to around 6.3m who are using it monthly. . .
That is as many as 29 million people who've left Google Maps behind in the US alone - and its probably similar outside the US.
There are two important takeaways.
First, Apple's initial problems with Maps hasn't kept it from becoming the standard iPhone map app. Second, this hurts Google because they are increasingly selling location-based ads. Losing the affluent iPhone audience diminishes their selling proposition and costs them real money.
The Storage Bits take Launch fiascos are nothing new in tech - Obama take note - and it was worse for Apple because of their reputation for quality. But they've recovered.
Google's smart move to limit turn-by-turn navigation to the Android platform - stiffing iOS - boomeranged, hurting their core ad business. continued…
first published week of: 11/18/2013
Permanent URLapple poised to surpass Google in indoor location-based services
by chantal todeThe iPhone 5CLocation-based services is shaping up to be a significant portion of the mobile industry going forward. While Apple has traditionally not been very strong here, the company is quietly making gains and could even surpass Google in one quickly growing area: indoor location.
Apple Maps was considered a major misstep after its launch last year was met with numerous customer complaints. Fast forward a year, and Apple Maps has gained 35 million users but, even more importantly, the company has introduced iBeacon and acquired WiFiSLAM, pointing to a major focus on indoor location.
“Google has interior mapping technology already built into Google Maps – that’s a place where they are still ahead of Apple, but I think that lead may not last long especially since Apple seems to have a plan about where they want to go, and it’s less obvious on the Google side what their plans is,” said Carl Howe, vice president of research at Yankee Group, Boston. continued…
first published week of: 12/02/2013
Permanent URLApple, Google, Facebook, and OpenStreetMap: The top 5 changes to expect from maps in 2013
by marcus thielking, cofounder of skobblerFrom Apple unveiling and then apologizing for Apple Maps, to the emergence of the collaborative and crowdsourced OpenStreetMap, for those fascinated by digital mapping technologies, 2012 was a critical point in time. And with location-based services powered by map data expected to reach 1.4 billion users by 2014, you can bet the innovation and competition we witnessed will continue in 2013. So, what’s next? Here are the top five moments I expect we’ll see in the digital maps space in 2013: continued…
first published week of: 02/25/2013