Apple’s iOS 6 Maps app will get some help from Waze
TechCrunch noted that Waze was listed in the legal notices in iOS 6’s code, as were several other mapping-related companies. Along with TomTom and Waze, Getchee, Localeze, Urban Mapping, DMTI, and MapData Sciences were also listed.
Apple showed off its Google-free map system on Monday during its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote presentation. The new map offering includes what the company is calling “Apple-designed cartography,” including vector-based map elements that Apple says will look better than the map graphics currently available through Google Maps. It also offers turn-by-turn navigation, crowd-sourced traffic information, and a flyover mode with photo-realistic 3D views.
The company said it would be relying on third party tools for some of its map features, although there wasn’t any elaboration during the keynote on what those sources would be. Instead of shutting out companies as some analysts had suspected, however, it looks like Apple chose to team up with those navigation companies instead.