maps

Apple's Australian maps mishap linked to local data

The bad directions issue that led local police in Australia to steer motorists away from Apple's Maps app may not entirely be the iPhone maker's fault.

Apparently there are two listings for the same problematic location in the Australian Gazetteer, the de facto local geographical dictionary that lists some 322,000 locations and their corresponding GPS coordinates.

As reported by The Register, this resulted in two possible results for "Mildura" -- one of which was located in remote wilderness more than 40 miles away from the town of the same name. People were reportedly getting stranded … Read more

Apple's 'mapology'

Apple's Maps app was released as part of iOS 6 in late September. Besides a new look and feel, the main feature is spoken turn-by-turn directions, something the software had lacked. Apple's own software also adds a snazzy 3D view of select cities using imagery captured from flyovers, something only users on Apple's newer devices can take advantage of.

Despite the niceties, the software came under fire for the accuracy of some of its data and other shortcomings compared with the Google-powered app it replaced. Shortly after its release, and subsequent scrutiny, Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly … Read more

Google Maps lets users explore NASA's 'Black Marble'

Google Maps is now letting users explore Earth's far-reaching lands filled with flickering lights using imagery from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's "Black Marble."

The Web giant announced the launch of its own Earth at Night today, which is a global view and animation of the images taken from NASA and NOAA's jointly operated Suomi NPP satellite. These series of images show what the Earth looks like from space once the sun sets.

"It took 312 orbits to get a clear shot of every parcel of Earth's land surface and … Read more

Police Down Under rescue Apple map users

Monday's CNET Update shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque:

It's no secret that Apple's Maps are bad. But using the app could be hazardous to your health. Australian police had to rescue several people who were stranded in the wilderness after being directed 70 kilometers off-course by Apple's directions on iOS 6. Police have urged residents to use other mapping apps in the meantime.

Today's tech news roundup also looks into the continued drama between Twitter and Instagram. You'll no longer see a photo automatically load inside of a tweet -- you have … Read more

The 404 1,180: Where that map's gonna get you killed (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Australian police discourage use of Apple Maps app after rescues.

- "50 Shades" success yields $5,000 bonuses at Random House.

- Best Buy sends five iPads in error, says "keep them."… Read more

Australia police discourage use of Apple maps app after rescues

Apple recognized a few months ago that its iOS map app was so inefficient that it encouraged use of competing apps. Now police in Australia are suggesting that such a move might save the lives of motorists Down Under.

Police in Victoria, Australia, issued a warning Monday discouraging iPhone users from relying on Apple's map app after rescuing several people who became stranded in recent weeks in the wilderness following the app's directions -- some who were stranded 24 hours without adequate food and water.

Police said they rescued six motorists who were stranded following Apple's directions … Read more

Apple Maps fiasco makes Mad's '20 Dumbest' list

Apple, already the world's most valuable company, has received yet another superlative... from Mad Magazine.

Uh-oh. This can't be good for Tim Cook and the Cupertino clan.

Indeed, get ready for some serious harshness from the wit-masters at Mad who earlier gave us the above hilarious mock New Yorker cover featuring the world as seen by Apple Maps.… Read more

Google updates its maps for 10 European countries

Google today said it had updated maps for 10 countries and regions in Europe, bringing the number of countries it has mapped through its globe-spanning Ground Truth project to 40.

The new maps cover the following places: Andorra, Bulgaria, Estonia, Gibraltar, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.

The update comes as part of Ground Truth, the 4-year-old effort to combine licensed map data with algorithms, photography, and old-fashioned human labor to create the best map possible.

In addition to new roads and highways, the update encompasses walking paths, ferry lines, building outlines, park boundaries, and university campuses, Google said … Read more

News Corp. cans The Daily

News Corp. axes The Daily.

The Daily, which was an ambitious tablet-only news publication backed by News Corp., is shutting its doors December 15. Launched back in February 2011, The Daily was an interactive newspaper stylized for consumption on the iPad. Best of all, a year's subscription went for only $40 and offered a wide variety of sections. While there will be no more issues of The Daily, its brand will live on other channels within News Corp.

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the first text message. On December 3, 1992, SMS pioneer Matti Makkonen successfully sent … Read more

Google updates Maps API to improve in-app map views

Google updated its Maps API today, giving developers a handful of new features to improve the way Google Maps are displayed inside their apps.

The company wrote in a blog post:

We've incorporated many of the highly requested features developers want, such as:

More dynamic and flexible UI designs for large screen Android devices, such as tablets, using Android Fragments Adding more Google Maps layers in their apps including satellite, hybrid, terrain, traffic and now indoor maps for many major airports and shopping centers The ability to create markers and info windows with less code.

More … Read more