he Apple/Google divorce continues to come into focus: Apple quietly bought Placebase, a mapping service company, back in July. Apple doesn’t buy companies it’s not going to use. Meaning, Apple’s getting into making their own maps. Peace out, Google.
Seth at ComputerWorld, who put this together, points to a post on GigaOm last year detailing the awesomeness of PlaceBase vs. Google Maps—mainly, customization and tons of ways to layer multiple kinds of data sets onto maps, with an API that makes it easy to layer on those data sets.
So maybe Apple wants these kind of intensive, custom geolocation mapping powers for the iPhone (and other stuff), or maybe Apple just wants to roll its own maps, so it’s not depending on Google for the tiles. Which would actually go along with the same kind of independent streak we’ve seen in other areas from Apple, like designing custom chips for the iPhone (and maybe the Tablet) using its PA Semiacquisition, instead of using the same chips anybody can buy.
If Apple’s got a new Maps app coming that’s totally un-Googley, does that mean we can finally get a real Latitude app, since it won’t confuse us anymore? Even if Google’s tiles stick around in the iPhone Maps app for a while, Apple’s definitely doing something with their new toy.
[CW]
Popularity: 2% [?]
Apple iPad with iOS 4.2, features AirPlay media streaming
Apple announces iOS 4.1
Dual SIM iPhone 4 case
Griffin’s PartyDock for iPhone/iPad
Brabus iBusiness luxury sedan puts an iPad & Magic Mouse
Next-gen iPod touch, nano & shuffle cases
Netflix adds iPhone and iPod touch
Mophie Card Solution for iPhone
The iPhone Dev Team Says No Jailbreak for iOS 4.0.2/3.2.2
8 Responses to “Apple Buys Their Very Own Maps Company (See Ya, Google Maps)”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Google Maps Biking Direction works better on BlackBerry…
Good blog from BlogFlaw.com about Google Maps on the BlackBerry…
…
I found your website on google and verify several of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good work. I just added up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to examining more from you later on!…
…
I found your web site on google and verify a few of the early posts. Continue to keep up the excellent work. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Looking forward to reading far more from you later on!…
…
Many thanks for your excellent post. I’ll take the notes you have written….
…
Cheers for your info. Greatly appreciated….
…
thank you for sharing the info…..
…
This really is definately one on the greatest blogs I have sen in ages on the web. Keep up the good posts….
Purchase mp3 music online…
I take cognizance of, I force not been on this webpage in a protracted time… in spite of that it was another prize to see It is such an important area of study and ignored around so numberless, even professionals. I thank you to help making people more…