Patent filing suggests Apple is working on 'Street View' mapping technology

2

Comments

  • Reply 21 of 44
    gazoobeegazoobee Posts: 3,754member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by charlituna View Post


     


    Nope, just send out their fleet of top secret iRobots



     


    I know you're joking, but the data set could be generated faster and much cheaper using drones flying quickly up and down streets in a given city.  Apple could even make their own iOS controlled hovering drones with a feature that lets the user upload to the dataset in the cloud so as to crowdsource the images and create better coverage of rural areas.  


     


    The biggest barrier to this much more efficient way of collecting the data, isn't the technology, but the inevitable outcry from seniors and old-thinkers over "privacy" and the inevitable outlawing of drone flights by the various city-halls for the same reason.  


     


    It's similar to how the Segway scooter *could* have revolutionised sidewalk traffic if it wasn't immediately outlawed from the sidewalks in almost every city in North America within weeks of it's availability being announced.  Leaving a device designed for the sidewalk, to be stuck in the road fighting for a right of way with bicycles, simply because of the short-sighted pig-headedness of local "authorities."  

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 22 of 44
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gazoobee View Post




    Quote:

    Originally Posted by charlituna View Post


     


    Nope, just send out their fleet of top secret iRobots



     


    I know you're joking, but the data set could be generated faster and much cheaper using drones flying quickly up and down streets in a given city.  Apple could even make their own iOS controlled hovering drones with a feature that lets the user upload to the dataset in the cloud so as to crowdsource the images and create better coverage of rural areas.  


     


    The biggest barrier to this much more efficient way of collecting the data, isn't the technology, but the inevitable outcry from seniors and old-thinkers over "privacy" and the inevitable outlawing of drone flights by the various city-halls for the same reason.  


     


    It's similar to how the Segway scooter *could* have revolutionised sidewalk traffic if it wasn't immediately outlawed from the sidewalks in almost every city in North America within weeks of it's availability being announced.  Leaving a device designed for the sidewalk, to be stuck in the road fighting for a right of way with bicycles, simply because of the short-sighted pig-headedness of local "authorities."  



    I think there are certain considerations for public safety as well as municipal liability insurance issues that you fail to take into account with regard to your comments on the Segway which similarly could be applied to the drone situation too. For example in many states and on all federal land, in order to fly a motorized model aircraft, one must obtain a permit and have proof of liability insurance. It is not just a privacy issue, but also a public safety concern.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 23 of 44
    cnocbui wrote: »
    So Apple have this great idea on how to better use a data set they don't have, while Google actually have a data set and ways of using it.  I thing Apple have overlooked one or two minor details, but that's pretty consistent with their whole Maps initiative.

     

    Other companies have map data sets than Google -- and, likely, any of them are more trustworthy than Google!

    Navteq, owned by Nokia, have excellent maps, street view and just acquired a 3D mapping company.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 24 of 44
    jimbo123 wrote: »
    You can't but feel that's its all catchup to Google.

    Right. Because Google never plays catch up to anyone, and they don't need competition /s
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 25 of 44
    gazoobeegazoobee Posts: 3,754member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mstone View Post


    I think there are certain considerations for public safety as well as municipal liability insurance issues that you fail to take into account with regard to your comments on the Segway which similarly could be applied to the drone situation too. For example in many states and on all federal land, in order to fly a motorized model aircraft, one must obtain a permit and have proof of liability insurance. It is not just a privacy issue, but also a public safety concern.



     


    Well I certainly simplified the situation for the sake of my argument and you make a good point about the liability which was a big issue at the time.  


     


    I would argue in return that individuals are currently allowed to tear down the sidewalk at 20-30 clicks in one of those scooters for fat people, and no one has ever raised the liability issue or complained about that.  Segways when introduced, actually had a lower top speed than those things, take up less space, are far more maneuverable, and included a programmatic option for "capping" the speed because the inventor foresaw this very objection.  None of that seemed to matter. 


     


    Personally, I thought the various city governments reaction to the Segway in the US was borderline hysteria. I would also argue that such things should be handled federally rather than locally.  There is a clear public interest in having the same rules of the road across the country.  

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 26 of 44
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gazoobee View Post




    I would argue in return that individuals are currently allowed to tear down the sidewalk at 20-30 clicks in one of those scooters for fat people, and no one has ever raised the liability issue or complained about that.  



    I know you see the problem as a 'fat person' or 'old person' issue but in many cases it is a disabled person in an electric wheel chair, which I agree is sometimes dangerous for regular pedestrians and I almost got run down by one just last week which really annoyed me how fast she was going, but nevertheless that is apparently a liability risk the city and public businesses are willing to accept in the course of enabling and not discriminating against disabled persons which IS a federal law. 

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 27 of 44
    This has already been done before, how can you patent something like this. Layers had an app that does this exact thing. This is nothing new, sorry.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 28 of 44
    macbook promacbook pro Posts: 1,605member
    This is fantastic. I proposed this for 3D Flyover while in Beta.

    Speaking of unmanned aerial drones. Apple might be able to dramatically increase the speed of capturing 3D Flyover data using unmanned aerial drones.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 29 of 44
    macbook promacbook pro Posts: 1,605member
    This has already been done before, how can you patent something like this. Layers had an app that does this exact thing. This is nothing new, sorry.

    No.


    <iframe width="640" height="360" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 30 of 44
    cnocbuicnocbui Posts: 3,613member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by charlituna View Post


     


    They have enough data to start the process. After all, if they waited until they had a 100% perfect data set before doing anything, it would never happen





    Really?  How many world cities do they have street view images for so far?

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 31 of 44
    cnocbuicnocbui Posts: 3,613member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum View Post





    Other companies have map data sets than Google -- and, likely, any of them are more trustworthy than Google!



    Navteq, owned by Nokia, have excellent maps, street view and just acquired a 3D mapping company.




    And that helps Apple, and is relevant to them, how?

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 32 of 44
    cnocbuicnocbui Posts: 3,613member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gazoobee View Post


     


    I know you're joking, but the data set could be generated faster and much cheaper using drones flying quickly up and down streets in a given city.  Apple could even make their own iOS controlled hovering drones with a feature that lets the user upload to the dataset in the cloud so as to crowdsource the images and create better coverage of rural areas. 



     


    And these drones won't, of course, run into or hit anything or cause anyone problems in any way?

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 33 of 44
    dick applebaumdick applebaum Posts: 12,527member
    cnocbui wrote: »
    Other companies have map data sets than Google -- and, likely, any of them are more trustworthy than Google!


    Navteq, owned by Nokia, have excellent maps, street view and just acquired a 3D mapping company.


    And that helps Apple, and is relevant to them, how?

    Apple could easily cut a deal with Nokia to provide map data. Apple and Nokia already have cross-license agreements to share each others' technology... so, not too far beyond the realm of possibility.

    Also, Apple could buy Navteq outright -- Nokia recently sold their HQ buildings to raise cash... so, not too far beyond the realm of possibility.

    Or Apple could invest in the Naviteq division of Nokia which is losing money and Nokia has never recovered the $8.1 billion it paid for Naviteq... so, not too far beyond the realm of possibility....

    You must be blind (or lazy) not to realize the potential of companies to do business with other companies who they can trust (with proper contractual agreements).

    Look it up -- Bing is your friend!


    I'd much rather Apple cut a deal with Nokia than Google!
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 34 of 44

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jimbo123 View Post



    You can't but feel that's its all catchup to Google.


     


    You can't help but feel it's all catch-up to and surpass Google.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 35 of 44
    dick applebaumdick applebaum Posts: 12,527member
    mstone wrote: »
    evilution wrote: »
    Google had a 7 year head start and within a year Apple has got pretty close.
    Actually only two years head start when you consider that they have to redo every street scene and map on a two year refresh cycle to stay relevant. Kudos to Apple Maps for updating their aerial photography in my US location... and the resolution is a couple levels higher than it was before.

    Yes! Orange County looks great! How about your former home in Central America!


    I posted the following to another forum:
    On a different note...

    Much to my pleasant surprise, I noticed that Apple has updated iOS Maps to provide 3D Flyover of Pasadena, CA (and most of the surrounding cities)...

    So you can: visit the Rose Bowl; follow the historic Pasadena Freeway to Dodger Stadium and beyond to Olvera Street in LA; tour Santa Anita Race Track (where I learned to drive); see El Monte Airport (where I learned to fly) follow the Spanish Missionaries on their quest up Mission Blvd / El Camino Real... or just do a 3D Flyover of Heidi Fleiss...
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 36 of 44
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum View Post



    Yes! Orange County looks great! How about your former home in Central America!



     


    Sorry no. Same low res outdated useless grayscale images. I'm currently in CA not CA. :)


     


    @MacBook Pro : Great vid. Haven't watch that one for awhile!

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 37 of 44
    curtis hannahcurtis hannah Posts: 1,834member
    Hold on there... Shouldn't E Broadway be on the right hand side and W Broadway on the left?
    You know what they say... If the patent is wrong then...  LOL.
    Don't know, but maybe it means you are going south and the north street appeared on accedent.

    Well maybe we will see this in IOS 7, I expect a major feature push for it after all the complaints.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 38 of 44
    mechanicmechanic Posts: 805member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post





    They had a good example to work from. image


    And Gee what a suprise Gurggle bought the tech to get a start in maps.  


     


    "Google Maps first started as a C++ program designed by two Danish brothers Lars and Jens Rasmussen at the Sydney-based company Where 2 Technologies. It was first designed to be separately downloaded by users, but the company later pitched the idea for a purely Web-based product to Google management, changing the method of distribution.[38] In October 2004 the company was acquired by Google Inc[39] where it transformed into the web application Google Maps".


     


    So I guess they bought there example and innovated¡

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 39 of 44
    slurpyslurpy Posts: 5,398member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cnocbui View Post


    So Apple have this great idea on how to better use a data set they don't have, while Google actually have a data set and ways of using it.  I thing Apple have overlooked one or two minor details, but that's pretty consistent with their whole Maps initiative.

     



     


    SO because Apple maps is not already superior in every single way to a product that Google has had on the market for more than a decade and has been working on since it first launched, that means Apple 'overlooked' things and you're angry at them for working hard to improve it further? A few months ago Apple was completely reliant on Google for mapping, and Google maps is considered untouchable. Now, the vast majority of iOS users are using Apple maps and are perfectly happy with it- I'd say that's progress. Even Apple can't conjure up magic and map the world perfectly and instantly, along with its hundreds of millions of POIs all from imperfect data sources. Give them a shred of credit at least instead of spitting on the fact that they submitting patents to improve the app further. 

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 40 of 44
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,769member
    mechanic wrote: »
    And Gee what a suprise Google bought the tech to get a start in maps
    So I guess they bought there example and innovated

    I agree. Looks like innovation to me too. Start with a rough idea and build on it.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
Sign In or Register to comment.