Agreed. I don't need 3D drawn maps. Street view is all that matters, and turn-by-turn GPS would be a great way to compete with Android phones that have this feature without buying 3rd party GPS programs.
Turn by turn GPS is baked into some Windows Phones as Nokia Drive and works really well.
With Apple’s easy-to-understand interface, an iOS AirDrop feature could make sharing between Macs and iOS devices and between iOS devices (or dare we say to Android devices?) beyond simple. (thanks 9to5)
<span style="font-family:Georgia, Times, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;">With Apple’s easy-to-understand interface, an iOS AirDrop feature could make sharing between Macs and iOS devices and between iOS devices (or dare we say to Android devices?) beyond simple.</span>
(thanks 9to5)
Have you used AirDrop? While it's simple to use it's not natural feeling and I suspect many users aren't going to understand how it works much like many "technical" people still don't understand how Dropbox works*.
It's a nice, secure way to share files between two devices over WiFi when both users are on the AirDrop window/app but I have found it to be so slow that just logging into the shared local network to copy and then have the other user retrieve from the share was considerably faster. For that reason I've failed to use it outside of general testing.
Of course, things could have gotten better since its debut but it still uses a unique way of using the WiFI cards to created a secure ad-hoc tunnel to another device that it seems to find via Bonjour when both choose to access this mode. This would seem to be a great way to move files between devices but I can't help but wonder: 1) Does the WiFi chips in iDevices have this ability; 2) Is it secure in that it can't be used by rogue apps to access the AirDrop APIs it shouldn't or send data it shouldn't; 3) Is it still so slow that sending via iMessages, SMS/MMS, email, photo sharing, or iCloud sharing wouldn't be a more effective method customers are likely to understand more fully; 4) While users on a Mac are more likely to send various data files around outside of apps is Apple ready or willing to alter that to allow out of app transfer of data on iOS?
* Even this week I joined a shared folder on Dropbox where "technical" people decided to delete the files from their system once they were finished with them instead of just deleting the share folder itself to leave the share.
3D is so-so? Really?? Apple bought C3, a mapping company a little while ago, and that's what's going into the new Maps. Actually, it will BE the new Maps. Stunning Bird's Eye views and extremely accurate.
3D is so-so? Really?? Apple bought C3, a mapping company a little while ago, and that's what's going into the new Maps. Actually, it will BE the new Maps. Stunning Bird's Eye views and extremely accurate.
It will probably be very impressive and worth a demo because of the visual natural of 3D and Apple wanting to show off how smoothly they can render 3D maps on their handheld device but I can't imagine it being the reason that Apple will switch from Google Maps to their own mapping backend.
Jobs has stated many, many times that they will partner with companies that do a better job than they do which is why we've had Google Maps as the backend for so many years. He was even asked in 2010, I think, at All Things D why they were still using Google for Maps when they had so much tension with them over Android. For Apple to switch to their own backend tells me that they likely have a maps solution that is better than what Google offers for the most common use factor, not just a flashy feature.
One thing I'm concerned about is the loss of Street View. I don't use it often but when I do I want it to work well. Now the 3D mapping company they bought can mimic some of Street View but not if you're talking about large building in narrow streets. it's physically impossible to get the appropriate angles needed. So will Apple license only Street View from Google? Will they not include it all? Do they have their own vehicles that have been mapping countries from the road? Regarding that last one, Google has very obvious cars on the road painted with Google colours with huge balls affixed to the top. If Apple choose to do it they could use a truck or van that is naturally higher off the ground and have more tech inside if they want to then use the C3 tech to do street level 3D (and perhaps even crunch data in a way that will remove people and other cars from the rendering even before it gets uploaded to Apple). While I doubt this is the case since it would be a brilliantly kept secret I do think it fits nicely into Apple's philosophy.
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by bill42
Agreed. I don't need 3D drawn maps. Street view is all that matters, and turn-by-turn GPS would be a great way to compete with Android phones that have this feature without buying 3rd party GPS programs.
Turn by turn GPS is baked into some Windows Phones as Nokia Drive and works really well.
ooohhh...
How about Airdrop for iOS6?
With Apple’s easy-to-understand interface, an iOS AirDrop feature could make sharing between Macs and iOS devices and between iOS devices (or dare we say to Android devices?) beyond simple. (thanks 9to5)
Have you used AirDrop? While it's simple to use it's not natural feeling and I suspect many users aren't going to understand how it works much like many "technical" people still don't understand how Dropbox works*.
It's a nice, secure way to share files between two devices over WiFi when both users are on the AirDrop window/app but I have found it to be so slow that just logging into the shared local network to copy and then have the other user retrieve from the share was considerably faster. For that reason I've failed to use it outside of general testing.
Of course, things could have gotten better since its debut but it still uses a unique way of using the WiFI cards to created a secure ad-hoc tunnel to another device that it seems to find via Bonjour when both choose to access this mode. This would seem to be a great way to move files between devices but I can't help but wonder: 1) Does the WiFi chips in iDevices have this ability; 2) Is it secure in that it can't be used by rogue apps to access the AirDrop APIs it shouldn't or send data it shouldn't; 3) Is it still so slow that sending via iMessages, SMS/MMS, email, photo sharing, or iCloud sharing wouldn't be a more effective method customers are likely to understand more fully; 4) While users on a Mac are more likely to send various data files around outside of apps is Apple ready or willing to alter that to allow out of app transfer of data on iOS?
* Even this week I joined a shared folder on Dropbox where "technical" people decided to delete the files from their system once they were finished with them instead of just deleting the share folder itself to leave the share.
3D is so-so? Really?? Apple bought C3, a mapping company a little while ago, and that's what's going into the new Maps. Actually, it will BE the new Maps. Stunning Bird's Eye views and extremely accurate.
http://www.slashgear.com/apple-acquires-c3-technologies-for-next-generation-3d-mapping-29191834/
It will probably be very impressive and worth a demo because of the visual natural of 3D and Apple wanting to show off how smoothly they can render 3D maps on their handheld device but I can't imagine it being the reason that Apple will switch from Google Maps to their own mapping backend.
Jobs has stated many, many times that they will partner with companies that do a better job than they do which is why we've had Google Maps as the backend for so many years. He was even asked in 2010, I think, at All Things D why they were still using Google for Maps when they had so much tension with them over Android. For Apple to switch to their own backend tells me that they likely have a maps solution that is better than what Google offers for the most common use factor, not just a flashy feature.
One thing I'm concerned about is the loss of Street View. I don't use it often but when I do I want it to work well. Now the 3D mapping company they bought can mimic some of Street View but not if you're talking about large building in narrow streets. it's physically impossible to get the appropriate angles needed. So will Apple license only Street View from Google? Will they not include it all? Do they have their own vehicles that have been mapping countries from the road? Regarding that last one, Google has very obvious cars on the road painted with Google colours with huge balls affixed to the top. If Apple choose to do it they could use a truck or van that is naturally higher off the ground and have more tech inside if they want to then use the C3 tech to do street level 3D (and perhaps even crunch data in a way that will remove people and other cars from the rendering even before it gets uploaded to Apple). While I doubt this is the case since it would be a brilliantly kept secret I do think it fits nicely into Apple's philosophy.