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.
Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products.
Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released.
iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by Joe Rossignol
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027.
Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition.
The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia.
Since the iPhone Air launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production.
Apple supplier Foxconn has...
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season.
Note: MacRumors is...
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
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.
