Apple has purchased mapping startup Mapsense, reports Re/code. Mapsense is a San Francisco-based startup that's able to sort through massive geotagged datasets to create quick geographical visualizations of location-based data points that can be embedded into apps.
According to its website, Mapsense built a cloud-based high-speed mapping engine that could ingest and index huge amounts of data with "lightning fast" search and filtering and simple visual analysis tools.
There are over 10 billion devices on the planet streaming location data on a daily basis. While collecting location data has become mainstream, the traditional tools to visualize, understand, and harness it have been hampered by the speed and scale of this massive and complex new datasource. Mapsense's platform and developer tools help organizations quickly ingest and analyze billions of rows of location data to make more intelligent, locally targeted business decisions across the organization.
Apple is said to have paid between $25 and $30 million for Mapsense, and its 12-person team will join Apple. Apple confirmed the acquisition to Re/code with its standard acquisition statement: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."
It is not clear what Apple will use the Mapsense technology for, but this is just one of a long line of mapping companies Apple has purchased to improve its Maps app. Over the past several years, Apple has purchased companies like HopStop, Coherent Navigation, Locationary, WifiSLAM, Embark, and Broadmap.
Apple may have canceled the super scratch resistant anti-reflective display coating that it planned to use for the iPhone 17 Pro models, according to a source with reliable information that spoke to MacRumors.
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Apple has completed Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) for at least one iPhone 17 model, according to a paywalled preview of an upcoming DigiTimes report.
iPhone 17 Air mockup based on rumored design
The EVT stage involves Apple testing iPhone 17 prototypes to ensure the hardware works as expected. There are still DVT (Design Validation Test) and PVT (Production Validation Test) stages to...
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This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which launched on April 24, 2015. Yesterday, we recapped features rumored for the Apple Watch Series 11, but since 2015, the Apple Watch has also branched out into the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch SE, so we thought we'd take a look at what's next for those product lines, too.
2025 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple didn't update the...
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iPhone 17 Air dummy model alongside iPhone 16 Pro (credit: AppleTrack)
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Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025:
Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:36 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
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Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
Insert your "Google Maps is better" comments below:
Paper foldable maps are better! You can instantly view the entire map at once without screen size restrictions, and you can fold them up into a pocketable size when you're done.
It is not clear what Apple will use the Mapsense technology for, but
Why does MacRumors always feel obliged to preface every supposition they make with a "It is not clear, but " disclaimer. Looking back at the last month or so's articles, I found they did it more than 30 times. That gets a little tiring to read don't you think. It adds almost nothing to the discussion because we already know that you don't know and are only making guesses. You don't need to apologize every time for not knowing.
Here look for yourself:
It is not clear what Apple will use the Mapsense technology for...
It is not clear why Apple has chosen today to create a new Twitter account for gaming...
It is not clear what colors Apple is planning to introduce, but ...
It is not clear if this update will add any outward-facing changes to El Capitan,...
It was not clear to me which of the bugs I encountered were the fault of Apple...
It is not clear what will be introduced in iOS 9.1, but...
It is not clear if Apple has plans to allow third-party developers to create watch faces, but...
It is not clear what is included in the fifth beta as Apple has not released a new seventh developer beta,...
It is not clear when Apple will release a patch for machines running OS X Yosemite...
It is not clear if the visits came from existing iOS devices...
It is not clear when service will be restored for affected customers...
It is not clear where the Apple Store will be located within the mall, but...
It is not clear if all of Cortana's functionality is available when run this way, but ...
It is not clear what Apple plans to do with the office space, but...
It is not clear when Apple began its Apple Music advertising push, but ...
It is not clear if Apple will adopt 3D Xpoint when it first becomes available, but...
You rather they don't make moves to improve at all? Late is better right? Beside, they started to improve map as soon as they released it. Map and navigation are not easy. It takes Google years to get good and even google is still having the wrong data in so many places.
Even after 3 years, Apple is still sooooo far behind Google Maps. What do they do all day? As they say, if your try to be good at everything you'll be good at nothing.
Map and navigation are not easy. It takes Google years to get good and even google is still having the wrong data in so many places.
