Apple acquires online mapping company Poly9 - report
Apple has purchased a Web-based mapping company from Quebec, Canada, that creates interactive 3D software for use in a browser, according to a new report.
French-Canadian news site cyberpresse.ca reported Wednesday (via Google Translate) that Poly9 has been purchased by Apple, and a majority of the company's employees were moved to California. Poly9's official website is no longer available.
Among its products is Poly9 Globe, described as a "cross-browser, cross-platform 3D globe which does not require any download." The interactive software allows users to spin a three-dimensional rendering of the Earth, while providing real-time statistics on the user's virtual location, including altitude.
The total application, which includes high-resolution imagery for U.S. metropolitan areas, is just 303kb. It is now listed as discontinued on the official website, though the interactive demo remains. It can also be seen in action on a number of other websites, including Skype and Surveys.com.
The report claims that Poly9 was purchased "recently" by Apple, though official confirmation has not been given. It was said that the Cupertino, Calif., company asked Poly9 employees to not discuss the matter.
Poly9 still has an office in Quebec, but the report said that it was closed a few weeks ago. The Canadian company has worked with numerous clients in the past, including Apple, as well as Microsoft, Yahoo, MSNBC and NORAD.
If true, the purchase of Poly9 would be the second mapping related acquisition for Apple. Last year, it was revealed that the company had purchased Placebase, a Google Maps competitor.
Some have speculated that the acquisition of Placebase, along with the growing rivalry with search giant Google, is a sign that Apple plans to create its own mapping software for use on mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad. Currently, Apple partners with Google for its Maps application.
Evidence that Apple could pursue its own Maps application came last November, when a company job listing sought to hire someone to help take the iPhone's Maps application "to the next level." It said that the company intended to "rethink how users use Maps and change the way people find things. We want to do this in a seamless, highly interactive and enjoyable way. We've only just started."
French-Canadian news site cyberpresse.ca reported Wednesday (via Google Translate) that Poly9 has been purchased by Apple, and a majority of the company's employees were moved to California. Poly9's official website is no longer available.
Among its products is Poly9 Globe, described as a "cross-browser, cross-platform 3D globe which does not require any download." The interactive software allows users to spin a three-dimensional rendering of the Earth, while providing real-time statistics on the user's virtual location, including altitude.
The total application, which includes high-resolution imagery for U.S. metropolitan areas, is just 303kb. It is now listed as discontinued on the official website, though the interactive demo remains. It can also be seen in action on a number of other websites, including Skype and Surveys.com.
The report claims that Poly9 was purchased "recently" by Apple, though official confirmation has not been given. It was said that the Cupertino, Calif., company asked Poly9 employees to not discuss the matter.
Poly9 still has an office in Quebec, but the report said that it was closed a few weeks ago. The Canadian company has worked with numerous clients in the past, including Apple, as well as Microsoft, Yahoo, MSNBC and NORAD.
If true, the purchase of Poly9 would be the second mapping related acquisition for Apple. Last year, it was revealed that the company had purchased Placebase, a Google Maps competitor.
Some have speculated that the acquisition of Placebase, along with the growing rivalry with search giant Google, is a sign that Apple plans to create its own mapping software for use on mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad. Currently, Apple partners with Google for its Maps application.
Evidence that Apple could pursue its own Maps application came last November, when a company job listing sought to hire someone to help take the iPhone's Maps application "to the next level." It said that the company intended to "rethink how users use Maps and change the way people find things. We want to do this in a seamless, highly interactive and enjoyable way. We've only just started."
Comments
As a matter of fact, many developers are already rewriting Flash-based software (sites, etc.) into other technologies (such as HTML5) at this very moment.
Now Apple needs to solve the "last mile" problem... that of street level views as currently offered by Google.
Apple was either buying the expertise for a problem they had not yet solved, or patents.
Now Apple needs to solve the "last mile" problem... that of street level views as currently offered by Google.
I was reading how google's taking it a step further, taking photos of the insides of shops and restaurants in cities so you can actually click on a place and see what it's like inside...
not sure how that would work on the iPhone or iPad.
and I've been waiting a few minutes for the zoom level to load at anything better than half a continent
Bye bye Google Maps.
LOL!
that's one of the funniest things I've ever seen anyone say around here
That site is a pretty good example of how the Flash plug-in drives my 2.33GHz Core2 Duo to 150% or more of CPU utilization.
not sure how that would work on the iPhone or iPad.
and I've been waiting a few minutes for the zoom level to load at anything better than half a continent
Site's not even loading for me. I guess as more people wake up and read the news, they're going to the site and now it's down from too much traffic.
Serious question: Why do people always bring up the cpu utilization of flash in osx? The tone is always geared towards placing all the blame on Adobe, but some of the blame should be placed on Apple as well. 150% utilization is ridiculous when compared to what it is in Windows on a machine with similar (if not exactly the same) hardware... I'll let you know what I see on my work machine if I ever get it to load.
As a matter of fact, many developers are already rewriting Flash-based software (sites, etc.) into other technologies (such as HTML5) at this very moment.
Flash is dead. Every developer worth his salt is busy getting rid of it and coding in HTML5, which is much better.
Serious question: Why do people always bring up the cpu utilization of flash in osx? The tone is always geared towards placing all the blame on Adobe, but some of the blame should be placed on Apple as well. 150% utilization is ridiculous when compared to what it is in Windows on a machine with similar (if not exactly the same) hardware... I'll let you know what I see on my work machine if I ever get it to load.
Serious answer: Adobe puts very little resources/effort into optimizing Flash for Mac OS X. Windows gets almost all the attention. This is why Apple doesn't want to rely on Adobe.
Controlling both hardware and software on their Eco-system has been successful in the past and will continue to be so.
Flash is dead. Every developer worth his salt is busy getting rid of it and coding in HTML5, which is much better.
Thanks for the input. How's that black turtleneck feel today?
To me, this is definitely in line with their philosophy of not depending on any other entity for core services.
Bingo!
Serious answer: Adobe puts very little resources/effort into optimizing Flash for Mac OS X. Windows gets almost all the attention. This is why Apple doesn't want to rely on Adobe.
Ok, now do you have an answer that's truthful? Not the same misinformation being spread over and over?
Lets look at the facts: Adobe writes software for OSX that runs just fine. They are not lacking in experience when it comes to software design. Apple does not work well with others, by Jobs' own admission. So knowing this, which is more plausible: That flash works better in Windows because MS worked with Adobe while Apple refuses, or that Adobe suddenly does not give a crap about OSX even though a LOT of their business comes from OSX users...
hmmm....
Google screwed with the wrong company. Apple will slowly replace Google Maps and later even their search engine with better more up to date products and turn Google into the next MS.
Controlling both hardware and software on their Eco-system has been successful in the past and will continue to be so.
I assume you aren't referring to when Apple faced off against Microsoft in the 80-90's and nearly went bankrupt while Microsoft went on to dominate the PC market and had to literally bail out Apple to avoid regulatory issues.
Google screwed with the wrong company. Apple will slowly replace Google Maps and later even their search engine with better more up to date products and turn Google into the next MS.
Controlling both hardware and software on their Eco-system has been successful in the past and will continue to be so.
Apple will need a search engine when they want to find the closest Starbucks on their maps. They probably already have something in the oven with Siri. I doubt though that they will create a true websearch...
That site is a pretty good example of how the Flash plug-in drives my 2.33GHz Core2 Duo to 150% or more of CPU utilization.
Why do you even bother watching your CPU? If the Flash application is working, just use it. That is like the people watching their cell signal bars. It doesn't matter how few bars you have as long as you can make calls.
I was reading how google's taking it a step further, taking photos of the insides of shops and restaurants in cities so you can actually click on a place and see what it's like inside...
I can just see Google "people" walking into such places, helmet cam and all