We exclusively revealed last month that Apple is developing its own mapping database, complete with 3D Street View imagery – and the company has now officially confirmed this on a new webpage.
We first speculated back in February that this was the likely reason for the camera-equipped minivans leased by Apple, at a time when many were suggesting they were test beds for self-driving cars.
Apple is driving vehicles around the world to collect data which will be used to improve Apple Maps. Some of this data will be published in future Apple Maps updates.
We are committed to protecting your privacy while collecting this data. For example, we will blur faces and license plates on collected images prior to publication.
If you fancy trying to photobomb one of Apple’s camera vans, the company has posted a list of the locations they will be visiting later this month …
As well as thirteen locations in the U.S., Apple vans are also visiting four regions in England, plus Dublin and surrounding areas in Ireland.
Apple Maps has so far relied on third-party mapping data, the bulk of it supplied by TomTom. The famed Apple Maps glitches (some of them rather beautiful) were in large part the result of relying on automated processes to integrate mapping data from disparate sources.
Apple this week announced the addition of mass transit directions to Apple Maps as part of iOS 9.
