Apple Drops Google Maps For New iPhoto App (UPDATE
When Apple unveiled the new iPhoto app for iPad and iPhone on Wednesday, there was one conspicuous absence: geotagging via Google Maps. While iPhoto does uses a mapping service for tagging locations where photos are taken, the maps used are not Google-branded.
According to Apple Insider, the maps that appear in the new iPhoto for iPhone appear uncredited (whereas Google Maps proudly display the Google logo), have a different overall look from Google's maps and offer fewer details and less zoom control.
So what's the deal with these mystery maps Apple's now using?
The company has apparently ditched Google Maps for an open source project run by the non-profit OpenStreetMap Foundation,* whose goal is to "create and provide free map data to anyone who wants them." The Foundation on Thursday posted a (somewhat surprised-sounding) welcome message for Apple on its official blog. From OpenStreetMap's post:
"[Wednesday] Apple launched iPhoto, its photo management app, for the iPad and iPhone… and we’re rather pleased to find they’re the latest to switch to OpenStreetMap. [...] The desktop version of iPhoto, and indeed all of Apple’s iOS apps until now, use Google Maps. The new iPhoto for iOS, however, uses Apple’s own map tiles – made from OpenStreetMap data (outside the US)."
As evidence, OpenStreetMap (OSM) links to a comparison between the iPhoto app's map of Spain and OSM's Spain map, in which the two maps are overlaid. Although, as Mashable points out, there are clear differences in design between the maps, their locations seem to line up. OpenStreetMap attributes any discrepancies to the fact that Apple appears to be using data from April 2010.
According to Wired, OpenStreetMap data is only being used outside of the United States.
Foursquare also cites several app makers that have also moved away from Google Maps, including real estate portal StreetEasy, property search engine Nestoria and website-builder Fubra.
According to an article on Digital Trends, pricing was another big reason Foursquare dropped Google Maps. Indeed, Street Easy's Sebastian Delmon has shared similar thoughts about the cost of Google Maps.
According to Apple Insider, the maps that appear in the new iPhoto for iPhone appear uncredited (whereas Google Maps proudly display the Google logo), have a different overall look from Google's maps and offer fewer details and less zoom control.
So what's the deal with these mystery maps Apple's now using?
The company has apparently ditched Google Maps for an open source project run by the non-profit OpenStreetMap Foundation,* whose goal is to "create and provide free map data to anyone who wants them." The Foundation on Thursday posted a (somewhat surprised-sounding) welcome message for Apple on its official blog. From OpenStreetMap's post:
"[Wednesday] Apple launched iPhoto, its photo management app, for the iPad and iPhone… and we’re rather pleased to find they’re the latest to switch to OpenStreetMap. [...] The desktop version of iPhoto, and indeed all of Apple’s iOS apps until now, use Google Maps. The new iPhoto for iOS, however, uses Apple’s own map tiles – made from OpenStreetMap data (outside the US)."
As evidence, OpenStreetMap (OSM) links to a comparison between the iPhoto app's map of Spain and OSM's Spain map, in which the two maps are overlaid. Although, as Mashable points out, there are clear differences in design between the maps, their locations seem to line up. OpenStreetMap attributes any discrepancies to the fact that Apple appears to be using data from April 2010.
According to Wired, OpenStreetMap data is only being used outside of the United States.
Foursquare also cites several app makers that have also moved away from Google Maps, including real estate portal StreetEasy, property search engine Nestoria and website-builder Fubra.
According to an article on Digital Trends, pricing was another big reason Foursquare dropped Google Maps. Indeed, Street Easy's Sebastian Delmon has shared similar thoughts about the cost of Google Maps.
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