Apple is launching a project to map the inside of every large building | Hacker News Reader

Apple is launching a project to map the inside of every large building

businessinsider.com

39 pointsdavidbarker17 comments

"It was intended to compete against or replace Google Maps for iPhone users, but it turned out to be filled with errors and distortions, some of them hilarious — the Brooklyn Bridge imagery was so twisted it looked like it was collapsing into the East River."

It bothers me that the genuine usability issues stemming from some incorrect landmark data at the launch of Apple maps are still confused with eye candy hiccups due to the fact that pixel-perfect automated city reconstruction is a hard computer vision problem. The distortion of the Brooklyn Bridge's imagery when projected onto noisy height-map data had no effect on routing people to their destinations correctly. You'll find countless examples of funny-looking projections, weird shadows, etc. on Google Earth as well simply due to the nature of projecting imagery captured from one viewpoint onto incomplete proxy geometry and viewing from another viewpoint.

That's true, but it's also the Brooklyn Bridge. It's a testament to the fact that they launched their Maps app well before it was ready.

The article says that Apple "has the jump" on Google when it comes to indoor maps, but Google already has indoor maps in a lot of places. What gives?

The media will say almost anything to stir up controversy and get page views.

I wonder how happy Apple is about a CEO from a partner company effectively pre-announcing their efforts here. Sure, it wasn't secret, but it was also not covered by the press before.

That's exactly what I thought after Dr. Dre appeared in a video pretty much announcing Beats acquisition before it was official.

"Apple appears to be hoping to persuade building owners to upload a map of their space, and then iBeacons could in theory be used to automatically validate the map's accuracy...currently, Google is validating its indoor maps by hand"

It's interesting that the innovation here is apparently going to be in the verification, with humans manually building the maps. I wonder if Google's 'Project Tango' is supposed to be merging these steps so the map doesn't have to be built manually and is automatically verified - that certainly seems like a possible use of it.

They acquired WiFiSLAM a while back, which was an indoor location company.

http://thenextweb.com/apple/2013/03/26/what-exactly-wifislam...

Not sure how important this feature is to actual users. Seems like a waste of resources. But it's Apple so I'm sure they have a good reason

Blueprint Roomba instead of DJ Roomba?

Now Apple will know exactly when you're taking a shit.

edit: I wonder what type of algorithms they'll be able to run over world poop production to extract maximum shareholder value? Will they be able to maximize network efficiency by pinpointing world shit cycles? iMessage usage probably shoots straight up. When people aren't shitting, that capacity could be shifted. Do people buy more when they're shitting? Good place for analytics. Glad you volunteered the information.

They probably already have a pretty good idea based on your iPhone app usage data.

Don't buy an iPhone. Don't use a smartphone. Use a smartphone from another vendor that doesn't track you. Turn off your smartphone. Take the battery out of your smartphone. Block or don't reveal location data to the extent you can.

Take your pick, you've got plenty of options if you don't like the way Apple does business.

Should I leave America if I don't like the NSA? Or when Google follows suit (as they already seem to be doing) do I have no other choice than to drop out of the culture? What about when all phones are smart, and there's no payphones left? Should I get all of my family to just move closer to me?

>you've got plenty of options if you don't like the way Apple does business.

This is a lie by oversimplification.

edit: this is the dystopia of months in the future, not years. You're announcing when you shit, and announcing when you sleep, and announcing who you sleep with, to the vendor of your phone.

edit2: I'm honestly shocked that this is a minority opinion. It's not going to be X is on 509 Main Street, it's going eventually going to be X is in the bathroom at 509 Main Street. What possible consumer benefit could that have? Is it to help you find local businesses that appeal to your interests?

I have to assume that I'm just out of touch and people love the attention. I don't.

"Should I leave America if I don't like the NSA?"

Yes. That would probably be the easiest thing. It's not like the NSA are going anywhere anytime soon. Maybe move out of the Area 51 tin-foil campgrounds worrying about who knows when you're in the bathroom. Nobody is forcing you to buy Apple products or any other smartphone for that matter. The world managed just fine before them, and if it makes you happier, I'm sure you'll manage just fine without one too.

I don't buy Apple products, your reply is utterly vacuous, and you should be ashamed. Use iPads for plates for all I care.

edit: and as a programmer, I'm largely going to be the watcher, not the watchee. I'll program for it, but I'll never use a product that is openly user hostile.

> Should I leave America if I don't like the NSA?

The NSA spies on the world. Their spying on America is notable because they aren't supposed to do that.

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