Apple Maps vans operating around the clock in run-up to 'iOS 10' debut

With Apple widely expected to announce improvements for its in-house mapping effort alongside "iOS 10" this summer, the company's fleet of sensor-laden vans continues to ply the streets — even at night.

Apple's vans have been spotted with increasing regularity since they first appeared. A snapshot provided by AppleInsider reader JP shows one of the readily-identifiable vehicles plying the highways outside of New York City after dark, while others have been seen on late-night runs through Boston and its surrounding areas.

After a few months of mystery, Apple officially acknowledged the maps data program last June. The company now provides a listing of locations where the vans are expected to appear in the immediate future.

The sensors attached to the vans — cameras, LiDAR, and high-sensitivity GPS, among others — point to a mapping effort broadly similar to that run by Google.

Apple maps van rolling around Boston pic.twitter.com/klngX9ycBw
— Matt Karolian (@mkarolian) January 23, 2016

That program is likely to include both ground truth operations as well as environmental capture. The former verifies that roads are where the map thinks they are; the latter scans and collects data on the surrounding area, including depth maps and photographs.

Apple's language surrounding its mapping efforts point to an expansion similar to Google's Street View, and such a feature could be unveiled as soon as this summer. The company is likely to announce iOS 10 — its next-generation mobile operating system — at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference held in June.

35 Comments

jonorom 293 comments · 13 Years

About 8 years ago

In the DARK?

this is obviously not an Apple clone of Street View. Will Apple provide nighttime views as well as daytime? That would make sense.

cnocbui 3612 comments · 17 Years

I don't think a nighttime street view makes sense. I don't think a 3D model would be a good substitute for street view either so at a guess I would say Apple probably aren't doing street view.

cnocbui said:

I don't think a nighttime street view makes sense. I don't think a 3D model would be a good substitute for street view either so at a guess I would say Apple probably aren't doing street view.

I guess they could be doing just a LIDAR run - there is less obstructing traffic at night. But I still like the idea that they are creating a night view - Apple devices are becoming increasingly responsive to the environment in which they are operating.

lepton 111 comments · 20 Years

I notice the vans seem to concentrate themselves on areas that currently have FlyOver. I'm guessing they will introduce a "FlyInto" feature, where in FlyOver cities, you could fly down to street level.

ireland 17435 comments · 18 Years

jonorom said:

In the DARK?

this is obviously not an Apple clone of Street View. Will Apple provide nighttime views as well as daytime? That would make sense.

It's a clone, they just are 'possibly' adding a night view. Google Maps has a HUGE headstart on maps. Apple needs more employees checking and implementing user fixes. Sometimes I've noticed reported fixes in a week or two and other mysteriously just don't get fixed. Not enough employees on the problem would be my guess.