Apple confirms pedestrian-level Maps data collection, initially limited to California

AppleInsider

Apple has confirmed plans to conduct more on-foot data collection for Apple Maps, going beyond the first efforts in San Francisco.

Between Nov. 26 and Dec. 23, Apple's pedestrian recon team will be operating in the California counties of Alameda, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz, the company said on its website. So far the company hasn't announced plans beyond the state.

The first members of the team were spotted in San Francisco this October, carrying oversized backpacks with many of the same cameras and sensors found on Maps vehicles. Apple is presumably hoping to improve pedestrian and/or cycling directions, since Apple Maps often assumes people have to travel the same paths as cars.

On a broader scale the collection should be used to build out Apple's first-party mapping data. Plans to migrate to first-party maps were announced last June, and could help solve problems caused by the current dependence on a mish-mash of sources.

The iOS Maps app began its life using data from Google Maps, but Apple decided to jettison Google content with 2012's iOS 6. This led to havoc in the short term as the service was saddled with missing or inaccurate data, sometimes putting lives at risk.

philboogie

Rolling out features at this rate, we'll see a workable Apple Maps app....sometime next century.

mjtomlin

philboogie said:

Rolling out features at this rate, we'll see a workable Apple Maps app....sometime next century.

Yeah. What gives? Google snapped their fingers and had 100% accurate data covering the entire Earth from day one. /s

People seem to forget that Google has been “mapping” for 15 years now. At the 6 year point, Google Maps wasn’t any better than Apple’s maps is today. In fact, I remember many instances where Google Maps was WAY OFF on some sites, and that was after 10 years into it.

Apple has come a long way, and a lot faster than Google did in the same time frame. The difference between then and now, is that people expect more.

rayz2016

mjtomlin said:

philboogie said:

Rolling out features at this rate, we'll see a workable Apple Maps app....sometime next century.

Yeah. What gives? Google snapped their fingers and had 100% accurate data covering the entire Earth from day one. /s

People seem to forget that Google has been “mapping” for 15 years now. At the 6 year point, Google Maps wasn’t any better than Apple’s maps is today. In fact, I remember many instances where Google Maps was WAY OFF on some sites, and that was after 10 years into it.

Apple has come a long way, and a lot faster than Google did in the same time frame. The difference between then and now, is that people expect more.

Have to agree. I've got car, walking and mass transit on Apple Maps where I live. I use it even if I know where I'm going so I can avoid the traffic jams.

curtis hannah

I can’t imagine this not being used in a street view equivalent feature. They may have it separate like google, or they’ll just let zoom in flyover mode go down to street level.

entropys

mjtomlin said:

philboogie said:

Rolling out features at this rate, we'll see a workable Apple Maps app....sometime next century.

Yeah. What gives? Google snapped their fingers and had 100% accurate data covering the entire Earth from day one. /s

People seem to forget that Google has been “mapping” for 15 years now. At the 6 year point, Google Maps wasn’t any better than Apple’s maps is today. In fact, I remember many instances where Google Maps was WAY OFF on some sites, and that was after 10 years into it.

Apple has come a long way, and a lot faster than Google did in the same time frame. The difference between then and now, is that people expect more.

Google was orders of magnitude more agressive globally rolling out features like street view. It all happened in most significant smartphone countries on the globe in about a year, certainly three years. Here is a time lapse coverage map (note China still absent!) The point is, Apple can’t afford to take as long to develop anything.  It’s has to do it better, faster, or go home.

edited November 2018

wonderwoman

Let's just say that Apple Maps is pedestrian-level at best!

entropys

Why does this poor guy have to look like a ghostbuster?  

That backpack looks well past due for a good Ive-ing.
Thinner!
Lighter!
Aluminium!
Pretentious!

cropr

mjtomlin said:

Apple has come a long way, and a lot faster than Google did in the same time frame. The difference between then and now, is that people expect more.

Be serious.  Apple is announcing Transit directions in Apple Maps per city,  Google has done it per country.  Six years after the launch of Apple Maps the coverage for Transit is around 100 cities, absolutely peanuts. Apple has been a snail, catching up with Google in 2134.

jbdragon

Apple has really been lagging.  Google Maps didn't get as good as it did overnight,  but it happened pretty quickly.  Apple does things slow.   They shouldn't gas one or 2 people doing a few city in California and that's it.  There should be hundreds of people with packs all over the world.  At Apples pace, by the time the data us released, its outdated.   I've seen Apples Map car around here a couple weeks ago.  I've seen Googles Map car a few times.

Google roles things out quickly and Apple takes their, extra slow time.  Google Maps my not be in China because Google is not in China.  But i could guess that as soon as Google makes a comeback with its search,  theyll be out in force in a lot of cars mapping china in no time.  People with packs on going to all the tourists sights.  Where will be Apple?  Still doing nothing as they're still in California!!!

ascii

Yes, good idea, they should prioritise tourist attractions for the walking directions.

latko

curtis hannah said:

I can’t imagine this not being used in a street view equivalent feature. They may have it separate like google, or they’ll just let zoom in flyover mode go down to street level.

The man seems to be looking (lost his way ?) downward at some device. Chances are it be GMaps.

forgot username

Begging the question, why didn’t Apple stay with Google in the first place?

spamsandwich

philboogie said:

Rolling out features at this rate, we'll see a workable Apple Maps app....sometime next century.

Especially since all of the footwork is being done by ONE GUY.

beowulfschmidt

mjtomlin said:

philboogie said:

Rolling out features at this rate, we'll see a workable Apple Maps app....sometime next century.

Yeah. What gives? Google snapped their fingers and had 100% accurate data covering the entire Earth from day one. /s

People seem to forget that Google has been “mapping” for 15 years now. At the 6 year point, Google Maps wasn’t any better than Apple’s maps is today. In fact, I remember many instances where Google Maps was WAY OFF on some sites, and that was after 10 years into it.

Apple has come a long way, and a lot faster than Google did in the same time frame. The difference between then and now, is that people expect more.

Yes, Apple has come a long way, but they have one handicap that Google didn't have, i.e. an existing, mature product against which they compete.  As you say, people have expectations now that they didn't then, and Apple's mapping solution does not yet measure up to Google's in some respects.

strangedays

entropys said:

mjtomlin said:

philboogie said:

Rolling out features at this rate, we'll see a workable Apple Maps app....sometime next century.

Yeah. What gives? Google snapped their fingers and had 100% accurate data covering the entire Earth from day one. /s

People seem to forget that Google has been “mapping” for 15 years now. At the 6 year point, Google Maps wasn’t any better than Apple’s maps is today. In fact, I remember many instances where Google Maps was WAY OFF on some sites, and that was after 10 years into it.

Apple has come a long way, and a lot faster than Google did in the same time frame. The difference between then and now, is that people expect more.

Google was orders of magnitude more agressive globally rolling out features like street view. It all happened in most significant smartphone countries on the globe in about a year, certainly three years. Here is a time lapse coverage map (note China still absent!) The point is, Apple can’t afford to take as long to develop anything.  It’s has to do it better, faster, or go home.

Wait, but why? It’s alread the #1 map app on iOS, why do they have to “go home” if they don’t improve it as quickly as Google, a software services ad company? Does Google have to “go home” for not making as good hardware as Apple? No gPad, go home? No gMac desktop, go home?

strangedays

entropys said:

Why does this poor guy have to look like a ghostbuster?  

That backpack looks well past due for a good Ive-ing.
Thinner!
Lighter!
Aluminium!
Pretentious!

Only a troll asserts that Apple gear is “pretentious”. That’s a ridiculously stupid idea IRL, as Apple hardware is the best designed in the sectors, and routinely aped by their competitors. 

strangedays

forgot username said:

Begging the question, why didn’t Apple stay with Google in the first place?

Learn your history, it was well covered at the time. Google wanted access to Apple user data and wouldn’t turn over vector tiles or turn-by-turn directions unless Apple sold our data to them. Guess what Apple said?

applesnoranges

I live in San Jose. Can someone point me towards where to apply for the walking mapping job 🙂