Apple's current Find My Friends app lets iPhone and iPad users spot acquaintances on a map, but an invention detailed on Tuesday takes things to a whole new level with path tracking and route following.
Ridesharing startup Uber has finally shown its hand in the mergers and acquisitions market, picking up small navigation and geospatial services firm deCarta in a move that some say is designed to help Uber lessen its dependence on mapping services from Apple and Google.
Third-party data presented to users within Apple Maps may soon include local gas prices and school locations, thanks to new partnerships with GasBuddy and GreatSchools.
As part of Apple's continued effort to build out its in-house mapping service, the company recently added nine new cities, including Venice, Italy, to the list of locations sporting 3D Flyover support.
Apple's mapping efforts appear to be growing, as AppleInsider readers continue to spot mysterious sensor-laden vans, just like the ones previously confirmed to be registered to Apple, roaming around the United States.
Following a brief outage on Thursday, the Apple Maps Connect Web portal returned to service with new German and French language options, suggesting the service is slowly rolling out internationally.
A pair of high-resolution photographs acquired by AppleInsider on Wednesday show close-up views of a van thought to be part of a secret Apple initiative, including a highly detailed look at what are believed to be GPS, camera and other roof-mounted instrumentation.
A new video obtained by AppleInsider on Monday reveals more detail on Apple's camera-equipped minivans, with views of the interior showing at least two people man the vehicles during testing operations.
Apple inadvertently made waves earlier this week with the revelation that the company was behind a fleet of camera-equipped minivans found roaming streets throughout the country. Initial rumors suggested that they may be a step towards a self-driving "iCar," but digging done by AppleInsider suggests that the vehicles are not actually early indications of an autonomous Apple automobile.
Apple's interest in indoor positioning technology could go well beyond just identifying a user's location, by offering estimated wait times at a variety of businesses, allowing iPhone users to adjust their schedules and save time by avoiding high-traffic periods of the day.
Just under three years after Apple evicted Google Maps from iOS, Cupertino's own mapping and navigation offering still has some critical weaknesses. AppleInsider looks ahead at what the next 12 months could have in store for Apple Maps.
Apple on Friday pushed out an update to two first party services, bringing Flyover to nine new locales including Avignon, France, while expanding international movie showtime support for Siri.
A pair of patent filings uncovered on Thursday reveal what could be Apple's answer to mass transit mapping, a highly requested feature since Google Maps was replaced in iOS by the first-party Apple Maps in 2012.
After Apple's Maps app launched to negative reviews in 2012, the company has actively taken steps to enhance the fledgling navigation service, the latest effort being the addition of listings data from at least ten new companies.
Google announced on Wednesday that its popular Maps platform, including the free downloadable iOS application, will receive a major update in the near future, including a new look and new features, such as the ability to make restaurant reservations through OpenTable without leaving the app.
In a continued effort to make Apple Maps more accurate, Apple on Tuesday launched a new Web portal called "Maps Connect" to let local businesses add information directly into the mapping services.
Following the sale of its handset division to Microsoft, Finnish telecommunications company Nokia on Wednesday announced that it would expand its consumer offerings with the release of a free navigation app — based on its Here mapping service — for Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms.
Apple's website in China has published a detailed response to accusations by the country's state owned media, refuting claims that iOS tracks users' locations in a firm but politely worded statement.
As Apple continues to refine its in-house mapping and navigation services, business owners are reportedly receiving phone calls from Maps team representatives looking to resolve user-submitted data discrepancies.
Chris Blumenberg, an engineer responsible for some of the foundational elements of Apple's mapping strategy dating to the first-generation iPhone, is said to have accepted an offer to leave Apple for transportation networking startup Uber.
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Mikey Campbell
Sam Oliver
AppleInsider Staff
Neil Hughes
Daniel Eran Dilger
