AppleInsider Staff
Weeks after officially confirming the existence of a real-world data collection effort designed to bolster its mapping service, Apple has updated its fleet of sensor-loaded minivans with branding that makes them more clearly identifiable.
The minivans now sport a simple "Apple Maps" decal along the rear quarter panels, with the address of Apple's Maps microsite below. Both decals appear to be set in Myriad, Apple's marketing typeface of choice for years.
Apple affirmed the program's existence earlier this month with a new website that explains the purpose of the formerly-mysterious vehicles that have been spotted around the world for months. The company says data collected "will be used to improve Apple Maps," and provides an up-to-date list of locales where data will be collected in the immediate future.
When the vans first appeared in February of this year, many believed they were acting as testbeds for a secretive Apple autonomous vehicle project. While AppleInsider has reported the existence of such a program in a Silicon Valley suburb, the vans are not used for that purpose.
Instead, as we outlined in February, the vans are designed to collect detailed three-dimensional mapping data that will likely be used to improve Apple's 3D Flyover feature with new capabilities akin to Google's Street View. Apple has continued to invest in new technology for Maps in recent months, acquiring high-accuracy GPS firm Coherent Navigation and augmented reality company Metaio in May.
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29 Comments
I don't know why I found it so funny that it was necessary to point out the font that was used for the label. FUTURE NEWS: "Apple updates van label font to San Francisco"
[quote name="Cheesehead Dave" url="/t/186903/apple-now-labeling-map-data-collection-vehicles-in-the-us-uk#post_2739366"]I don't know why I found it so funny that it was necessary to point out the font that was used for the label. FUTURE NEWS: "Apple updates van label font to San Francisco"[/quote] I doubt it. They've used Myriad for a very long time. They changed the weight on it recently to a slimmer one, but kept it around.
Good, had Apple done that to start with we wouldn't have had to read all the drivel on AI about Apple developing a Mini Van! LOL
[quote name="digitalclips" url="/t/186903/apple-now-labeling-map-data-collection-vehicles-in-the-us-uk#post_2739371"]Good, had Apple done that to start with we wouldn't have had to read all the drivel on AI about Apple developing a Mini Van! LOL[/quote] yeap, they trying to put to bed the whole self driving cars story and I suspect people have been calling authorities about these vans with sensors on them claiming they are spying on them or something along those lines. Personnaly I like the apple solution over the google one with the huge pole atop of the car which make it a distraction on the highways. Apple solution is more subtle and not much of a distraction on the roads.
[quote name="Cheesehead Dave" url="/t/186903/apple-now-labeling-map-data-collection-vehicles-in-the-us-uk#post_2739366"]I don't know why I found it so funny that it was necessary to point out the font that was used for the label. FUTURE NEWS: "Apple updates van label font to San Francisco"[/quote] because thats one of the things apple enthusiasts do -- talk about typefaces. welcome.