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Apple Acquires Crowdsourced Local Business Search Firm Locationary for Improved Maps

Friday July 19, 2013 7:14 am PDT by Eric Slivka
AllThingsD reports that Apple has acquired Locationary, a Canadian company focused on crowdsourcing location and other data on local businesses for improved accuracy.
Apple has acquired the Toronto-based Locationary, a small Canadian startup, backed by Extreme Venture Partners and Plazacorp Ventures. Multiple sources familiar with the deal tell AllThingsD it closed recently and includes Locationary’s technology and team, both. The price of the acquisition couldn’t immediately be learned.
Referred to as a "Wikipedia for local business listings" by AllThingsD, Locationary uses crowdsourcing and other means to improve local search results for mapping purposes by verifying such data as location and whether or not the business is still in operation.

locationary_saturn
Apple is obviously interested in Locationary for its potential to improve Apple's mapping services, which have received significant criticism since their launch in iOS 6 last year. Locationary's platform will help Apple to offer accurate data on various points of interest, enhancing the local business search integration that is a key part of mapping and navigation services.
[ 79 comments ]


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daneoni
71 months ago

Google Maps is so good, especially 2.0, I don't think I'll ever use Apple Maps. They should just pull the plug on the maps project.


I'm glad you don't run or even work for Apple.
Rating: 15 Votes
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appleisking
71 months ago

Google Maps is so good, especially 2.0, I don't think I'll ever use Apple Maps. They should just pull the plug on the maps project.


Microsoft was ahead of Apple in the tablet market by years, maybe they should have pulled the plug there. Blackberry was producing phones before Apple produced the iPod, maybe they should have pulled the plug there. Mp3s were around for years, maybe they should have pulled the plug there. Yes, they did a bad job with it, but that's what happens in life, friend. You fix things up, make them better, not give up.
Rating: 14 Votes
Avatar
Corrode
71 months ago
Google Maps is so good, especially 2.0, I don't think I'll ever use Apple Maps. They should just pull the plug on the maps project.
Rating: 11 Votes
Avatar
doboy
71 months ago

Google Maps is so good, especially 2.0, I don't think I'll ever use Apple Maps. They should just pull the plug on the maps project.


You should just pull the plug on your own comment. :rolleyes:
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
bjett92
71 months ago

I wish Apple would just start using Google Maps again. Their boycott against Google products is just silly and they're losing customers based off their instinctive decisions.


Google's licensing agreement with Apple to let Apple use Google Maps on the iPhone wouldn't allow Apple to implement turn-by-turn GPS navigation in order to make it an Android exclusive feature. In order to add the feature, Apple had to tell Google goodbye and that they didn't need them. If Apple was still using Google Maps I guarantee you there would be no turn-by-turn navigation. It's not a boycott, Google was just being very anti-competitive with Apple.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Jsameds
71 months ago
It's getting there. It would be cool with Siri integration:

"Give me directions to the nearest McDonalds"

"I found 16 Gymnasiums nearby"

Dammit, Siri!
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
appleisking
71 months ago

So Apple won't throw in the towel on this map thing, eh? Sheeez. Just accept that you can't do EVERYTHING well, Apple.

But no...Apple will spend millions, if not billions, in acquisitions, man hours, technical support, etc. to TRY to make a map app that comes close to Google...while annoying every single iPhone user in existence.


Nobody's forcing you to use Apple Maps.... You can go ahead and use g maps all you like but it doesn't mean Apple can't try to fix a product they already spent so much time and resources developing. It's software after-all, not hardware a little tweaking can do wonders.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
appleisking
71 months ago

Google's licensing agreement with Apple to let Apple use Google Maps on the iPhone wouldn't allow Apple to implement turn-by-turn GPS navigation in order to make it an Android exclusive feature. In order to add the feature, Apple had to tell Google goodbye and that they didn't need them. If Apple was still using Google Maps I guarantee you there would be no turn-by-turn navigation. It's not a boycott, Google was just being very anti-competitive with Apple.


Yup but you know these people. When it comes to Apple, anything that happens is their fault and only their fault and they couldn't be bothered to figure out why a certain approach was taken because they know better than Apple.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
HenryDJP
71 months ago

So Apple won't throw in the towel on this map thing, eh? Sheeez. Just accept that you can't do EVERYTHING well, Apple.

But no...Apple will spend millions, if not billions, in acquisitions, man hours, technical support, etc. to TRY to make a map app that comes close to Google...while annoying every single iPhone user in existence.


You've got to be kidding with this entire post. Ever heard of "If at first you don't succeed, try-try again"? I'm so sure you haven't gotten it right the first time and wanted a second chance. Why do you care how much money Apple puts into the project, they have it to burn and not only that, most of their customers prefer using Apple's software and not rely on 3rd parties pulling the chain when they get mad at Apple from time to time. The customer suffers. You need to be on Android if you're going to have this attitude.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
charlituna
71 months ago

Right, because we should be only running software on our Apple products from 3rd party companies such as Google and because Google's mapping system was 100% perfect from day 1.


Wasn't still isn't.

After three years of reporting the issue I gave up on google maps not reporting my street as one way (its been that way for like 30 years). Two more years later it is still wrong.

Apple maps has it correct in day one

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So Apple won't throw in the towel on this map thing, eh? Sheeez. Just accept that you can't do EVERYTHING well, Apple.

But no...Apple will spend millions, if not billions, in acquisitions, man hours, technical support, etc. to TRY to make a map app that comes close to Google...while annoying every single iPhone user in existence.


EVERY user? Nope.

In the future don't confuse your personal opinion, or even the opinion of a small group, with fact.
Rating: 3 Votes

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