Chances are that if you have used Google Maps in the last couple of years, then you may already be aware of the fact that Google has a very interesting function that allows you to see the actual photographs of the most popular streets, just like you would be driving on them.
The process is achieved thanks to the fact that the company has invested in cars that drove all around the world and filmed just about everything around them, all with the scope of creating a version of Google Maps that is both user friendly, interactive and capable of getting the job done.
Well, according to the most recent reports, it seems like Apple may be thinking about doing something like this on their own right now, so that they can have a similar feature over on their Apple Maps- the map system that Apple has adopted after their contact with Google maps expired. With this in mind, a handful of minivans that are not market have been seen driving all around California, fitted with roof mounted camera equipment. According to the latest reports, it seems like Apple may actually be leasing these cars at the moment, just like the CBS Bay Area affiliate has confirmed. Together with the cameras, the cars are also fitted with some cylindrical antennas that may be LiDAR sensors- these are practically a laser-based technology that can be used both in self-driving vehicles, but also in high-resolution mapping.
Based on everything that has been outlined so far, it is highly unlikely that Apple may be investing in self driving vehicles at this moment, mostly due to the fact that the minivans were leased, not produced by the company and not actually fitted with any sensors apart from the ones provided by the antennas. This leaves one choice and that is that Apple is now trying to add a street view option to their Apple maps. While the effort is definitely something to appreciate, wouldn’t it be a bit better if the company actually invested in fixing the maps and making sure that the satellite view is working great, before adding a streets view mode? Or is this a part of doing that?
What do you personally think? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
I’d like to see Apple map the parts of the world that Google hasn’t.
Although there are a lot of pictures online of landscapes, buildings, and wildlife throughout the world, the scenery I’m most interested in is electric utility poles. And the only way to look at large amounts of poles throughout the world seems to be in street views. Different countries construct poles in very different ways, and it’s fascinating to explore. Unfortunately, there are large parts of the world — most notably almost all of Africa — that Google hasn’t mapped and apparently never will. I’d like to see Apple map those regions.