Mysterious Apple Vans Gathering Data for Maps, Images for 3D Street View Feature?

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Posted May 29, 2015 at 5:53pm by Shalom Levytam

The mysterious Apple vans that have been spotted around the country are gathering data for an in-house Maps database, taking storefront photos, and collecting images for an upcoming 3D Street View feature, reports 9to5Mac. Sources say the vans are not test vehicles for an upcoming self-driving Apple car.

To launch Maps, Apple aggregated geography data from several third-party sources, including TomTom. The company is said to be working on replacing data from those sources with its own base map data. Initially Apple had planned to shift to its own in-house map database in 2017 but that may be running behind schedule and instead could happen in 2018.

Apple's vans are also collecting street view images; however, the company wants to display the images in a more intuitive manner.

To expand its 3D Flyover mode in Maps, Apple is working on ways to tie together its new camera data to make a street level version of 3D Maps for a future version of its Maps app. As Apple has only recently started collecting its 3D Street View data, such a feature is not likely to be imminent.

Finally, the vans are also taking still pictures of businesses along commercial roads. This initiative is codenamed "Project Gardar" and it aims to replace the Yelp images seen on business cards within the Maps app. Apple will reportedly roll out these images gradually within the next year.

In addition, Apple is working on other improvements to Maps that will ship alongside iOS 9, including a new transit directions feature which will initially launch in six cities.

We will likely learn more about Apple's plans for Maps during the WWDC 2015 keynote scheduled for June 8th.

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Mysterious Apple Vans Gathering Data for Maps, Images for 3D Street View Feature?

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purplemaize01 - May 30, 2015 at 3:36am

There not even in NJ and they have all the cities wrong and the locations of highways when are they going to fix that. At least Google Maps has everything correct.

What142 - May 29, 2015 at 7:13pm

This sounds a lot like google maps.... Who's copying who??

gamerscul9870 - May 29, 2015 at 8:00pm

You know how Google just copied Apple in Apple pay after Google tried to make a good mobile wallet? Look at how much far ahead this will do, but what copy? This isn't even confirmed yet and you think you can claim copy? @woz you to.

Woz - May 30, 2015 at 5:23am

I researched this and found reports of iOS vulnerabilities like text message bugs, masque attacks, and eavesdropping. It shows that iOS has its own security challenges.

Woz - May 29, 2015 at 6:00pm

Hasn't Google already done this? Just use Google maps. Apple stop trying to copy Google.

Xulescu - May 29, 2015 at 6:38pm

I'm sure you have a phone that followed the iPhone's lead. Let's let them compete and make things better!

Woz - May 29, 2015 at 9:48pm

There were many smartphones before Apple and how much has apple copied android? Using 3rd party keyboards? Google first. Smart watches? Google first? Slide down notifications? Google first.

Woz - May 29, 2015 at 11:58pm

Google already had Google wallet before Apple Pay. Google now is far better than Siri. You have obviously never used an Android Wear watch.

gamerscul9870 - May 30, 2015 at 3:05am

Google had a wallet before Apple pay but up until that point, they realized how better it was to finally make something like it, plus it's going to take a hell lot more than just a Siri competitor and it's a long shot. I don't need to use android wear. Apple watch is enough to tell how much level of effort is in it.

Woz - May 30, 2015 at 3:52am

Yet without using both you can't compare the two. Wearables are just a gimmick. The apple watch is only for people who have extra money to waste. It isn't useful in anyway.

gamerscul9870 - May 30, 2015 at 4:30am

Even if you actually try it in person, whether you have them or not, looking at it narrows it down that compares how different looks mean different products they are and not same anything shrunken down onto a wrist. Apple watch has set the bar after wearables couldn't do it before Apple did, not to mention there is an upcoming trackpad for a fingernail that works with a smartphone. Aside from that, the Apple watch is for those who can buy it which is money to waste on quality. Useful as it gets.

gamerscul9870 - May 30, 2015 at 4:42am

Reality check: choose from hundreds of watch faces, tracks health, uses apps, uses Siri, has transparent effects, uses digital crown to adjust time, zoom, scroll, uses gestures for notifications, and the list goes on.

Woz - May 30, 2015 at 4:57am

So it uses apps? Doesn't your phone do that? Why do you need two devices to use apps? It uses Siri? Doesn't your phone already do that? It tracks health? You can buy a fitbit for a 3rd of the price to do that. It shows you the time? So does your cellphone. Notifications? Just check your phone. What does the Apple watch do that anybody can't already do?

gamerscul9870 - May 30, 2015 at 5:05am

It uses apps that are made for the watch to be simpler than what iPhone apps are. Who even said you need to paid devices to use apps. Sure some apps require that but zdnet mentioned app,e watch is enough to leave your iPhone behind which can do find overall without it. It uses Siri to perform watch functions compared to how it does on iPhone. Fitbit doesn't do much for health compared to what was already listed. Did you not catch the watch faces and there are hundreds, plus you can instantly check the time and set it up in many combinations along with faces. Notifications are done differently on the watch. Emojis are animated, gestures activate them to take care of it instantly, and thanks to QuickType function, it knows words to immediately reply back with voice. Most of these functions on the phone don't do much compared to the watch or require pulling out the phone and unlocking it. Apple watch being personal makes a huge difference in that with along of different stuff as stated. All this answers your question. I can go on with the list hint hint!

Woz - May 30, 2015 at 5:32am

>It uses apps that are made for the watch to be simpler than what iPhone apps are. >So that just shows that the applications makers are doing a poor job. Who even said you need to paid devices to use apps. Sure some apps require that but zdnet mentioned app,e watch is enough to leave your iPhone behind which can do find overall without it. Which is funny since most people don't own a wearable. The Android wear watches can do the same thing. >It uses Siri to perform watch functions compared to how it does on iPhone. So why do you need a watch to do Siri when your phone can. >Fitbit doesn't do much for health compared to what was already listed. Does everything the Apple Watch does. >Did you not catch the watch faces and there are hundreds, Who cares about watch faces? Nobody wears watches anymore. >plus you can instantly check the time and set it up in many combinations along with faces. I can instantly check the time by checking my phone. Android wear does this. My Fossil watch does this too. > Notifications are done differently on the watch. A notification is a notification. >Emojis are animated, gestures activate them to take care of it instantly, and thanks to QuickType function, I'm not a child and don't use Emojis. >it knows words to immediately reply back with voice. If I'm in a meeting i can't be talking to my watch. >Most of these functions on the phone don't do much compared to the watch or require pulling out the phone and unlocking it. What's wrong with pulling out the phone and unlocking it? Wait you have to unlock it? With my android phone I can set it so that if i'm connected to my wifi the password goes away. Or if its connected to a bluetooth device it can do the same. Heck my phone know when I have it on me or am using it and takes off the password until I put it down. Its called Smart Lock. Does your iPhone have that? >Apple watch being personal makes a huge difference in that with along of different stuff as stated. All this answers your question. I can go on with the list hint hint! I can just buy a nice watch and have all the functionality of my phone.