iOS 6 Maps
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 11, 2012 2:39 PM EST- Posted in
- Trade Shows
- Apple
- iOS
- WWDC 2012
- iOS 6
Apple has built its own Maps service into iOS 6. Apple did all of the cartography for the maps and the app now supports turn by turn navigation. Siri integration is present as well. All transitions are extremely smooth, the app overall looks very well built.
Apple integrated Yelp reviews for local businesses into its new Maps application. Apple's Flyover integrates high resolution 3D imagery with the new Maps application, similar to what Google and Microsoft have done with their own mapping services.
Gallery: iOS 6 Maps
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Souka - Monday, June 11, 2012 - link
Will you need a 4s for this to be even usable? Probably....Knowing Apple..it'll "run" on a 4s...but a iphone 5 will be recommended....
bensulli - Monday, June 11, 2012 - link
They didn't mention offline support for maps/turn-by-turn. Considering Google's recent announcement I think they would've made a point of mentioning it if the feature was there. While Apple's own map product looks great, lacking the offline navigation functionality coming soon to Google's maps puts it a step behind - exactly as Google expected, it would seem.Can't wait to see both products' 3D maps side-by-side!
SydneyBlue120d - Monday, June 11, 2012 - link
When no direct Apple mapping is availble who is providing the maps? Same old Tele Atlas by TomTom as Google Maps? TnxUpSpin - Monday, June 11, 2012 - link
According to older reports they're using OpenStreetMapmelgross - Monday, June 11, 2012 - link
Estimates are that Apple paid Google about $100 million for the use of their maps in 2011. I imagine that if that was calculated on the number of iOS devices sold, it would have been a lot more this year.Even with the purchase of three mapping companies, it's going to cost Apple a lot less to do this themselves going forward.
name99 - Monday, June 11, 2012 - link
That's not even the most important point.Google's ToS for Maps kept restricting what Apple can do, even as competitors and Android maps are not so restricted.
Obvious examples are
- Apple could not provide turn-by-turn instructions
- Apple could do very limited caching of data
SetiroN - Tuesday, June 12, 2012 - link
$100 million over 4 quarters is pocket change for apple.Having control over maps has much more meaning than such a minor amount of money: think service integration, advertising, additional services...
Impulses - Monday, June 11, 2012 - link
Wonder how far they'll go to continue severing ties with Google, and whether it really helps them significantly.Impulses - Monday, June 11, 2012 - link
At the end of the day all Apple software is still a vehicle to sell premium hardware at good profit margins... Not sure how getting heavily invested in something like this helps them in the long run.Bateluer - Monday, June 11, 2012 - link
Apple invented the Map, after all. Amiright?