Month: June 2018

TomTom shares fall after Apple announces own mapping system

CompuScoop Staff June 30, 2018 2

TomTom NV, a maker of digital mapping technology, fell Friday after the website TechCrunch reported that Apple Inc. plans to rebuild its Maps application for iPhones with its own data, putting the companies’ long-running partnership at risk,” Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg.

“Apple dropped Google Maps in 2012 and launched a redesigned Maps app with data primarily provided by Amsterdam, Netherlands-based TomTom and other sources,” Gurman reports. “The app immediately received poor reviews.”

“For the past few years, Apple has been building a custom maps infrastructure, drawing from its network of more than 1 billion iPhones and information collected from vans touring the globe with cameras and high-tech sensors,” Gurman reports. “Apple will begin rolling out its new data through this year’s iOS 12 iPhone and iPad software upgrade, beginning with cities in Northern California, the website TechCrunch reported.”

Read more in the full article here.

Questions and Answers about Apple’s New Maps

CompuScoop Staff June 29, 2018 2

“Earlier today we revealed that Apple was re-building maps from the ground up,” Matthew Panzarino reports for TechCrunch. “These are some questions from readers that came up when we went live. You can ask more questions [in the full article] and I’ll try to add them.”

Here’s a sample:

Q: What part of Maps will be new?
A: The actual map. Apple is building them from scratch, with its own data rather than relying on external partners.

Q: Does it use information from iPhones?
A: Yes. It uses segments of trips you take that have been anonymized called probe data to determine things like “is this a valid route?” or to glean traffic congestion information.

Q: Does this mean street view mode is coming?
A: Maybe; Apple did not announce anything related to a street-level view. With the data that it is gathering from the cars, it could absolutely accomplish this, but no news yet.

You can read more of the TechCrunch article here: https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/questions-about-apples-new-maps-answered/

Apple taking Maps “To the Next Level” in iOS 12

Dan Uff June 29, 2018 2

Ever since Apple introduced Apple Maps in 2012, it hasn't been as useful as it could be.

But mid Friday, the company revealed that it will be expanding their map coverage and usefulness, starting next week when Apple Maps will get limited first-party map data in the next iOS 12 beta update, and then expanding it as time goes on.

Next week's first-stage rollout will cover just San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area, expanding to northern California by the fall and the rest of the U.S. in the following year, the company told TechCrunch.

Apple hopes to be able to change the maps in real-time, by giving construction and traffic information - by using iPhones and their own fleet of Apple Map Vehicles, which are currently being used to help in gathering the data now.

In the reveal, Apple's Eddy Cue said in a statement:

"We wanted to take this to the next level. We have been working on trying to create what we hope is going to be the best map app in the world, taking it to the next step. That is building all of our own map data from the ground up."

At the moment corrections and updates need to pass submission and validation, but Cue indicated that the company will soon be able to change anything in Maps in real-time and even more frequently.

DC Comics is launching its own Streaming Service

Dan Uff June 29, 2018 3

DC Comics has announced that it will e launching its own streaming service and it'll be available on iOS and the Apple TV.

The service will include news, TV shows, digital comics, and more.

The company said in a statement:

DC UNIVERSE is a first-of-its kind digital subscription service that gives fans access to exclusive content and experiences not available anywhere else. With membership, fans will enjoy all-new original live-action and animated series, classic TV series and films, a curated selection of digital comic books, breaking news, an expansive DC-centric encyclopedia, and access to exclusive merchandise. Additional fan features include opportunities to connect with others in the DC community, earn premium rewards and participate in sweepstakes and contests.

DC Universe will be available as a beta starting in August and will officially launch some time in the fall. It’ll be the only place to watch the live action Titans, along with the new Harley Quinn animated series and Young Justice: Outsiders season 3. It’ll also be the place to watch all of DC’s back library of TV shows and movies.

The company is following CBS and others.