Apple Maps Vehicles to Begin Surveying Croatia and Portugal

Apple Maps vehicles will begin surveying Croatia and Portugal for the first time in a few weeks from now, according to Apple's updated list of locations.

In Croatia, the Apple Maps vehicles will be in Split-Dalmatia County and Šibenik-Knin County beginning November 20. The vehicles will begin surveying the Alentejo region of Portugal starting December 4.

Since 2015, Apple has been driving vehicles around the world to collect data for Apple Maps. The vehicles have surveyed over 35 states in the United States, in addition to parts of France, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

Apple said it will blur faces and license plates on collected images prior to publication, suggesting that it could be working on adding a Street View feature to Apple Maps, similar to what Google Maps has offered for several years.

When Apple's fleet of vans first hit the streets, speculation arose about the vehicles serving as the basis of an Apple Car. But those rumors quieted down after the vans were later labeled with Apple Maps decals.

Some industry observers still believe the vans are at least partially related to Apple's autonomous driving project, but the evidence is inconclusive.

Tag: Apple Maps vehicles

Top Rated Comments

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ksnell

24 months ago

So Apple maps will achieve 69% accuracy vs currently 66% compared to google maps? Sorry - too little too late .. Apple maps completely suck compared to google maps or an innovative driving app like Waze

If you don't recall, Google would not bring true turn by turn directions to the iPhone out of fear of the competitive advantage it would give Apple, practically forcing Apple's hand to bring their own solution and then subsequently releasing a competing app. Lets not pretend like Google is somehow the good guy here.

Yes, Google maps is certainly more thorough in some areas, but it is no reason for Apple to give up. Try to think of the bigger picture as it relates to future autonomous driving, etc. It will continue to evolve and get better.

Rating: 7 Votes

Amacfa

24 months ago

I own everything from Apple Watch over Mac mini , iPad Pro , iPhone X and Apple TV - needless to say I like everything Apple. But Apple maps has me burned too often to even consider ... calling it “slightly behind” Google maps is stretching the definition of “slightly”

I would agree with you. But since iOS 11 it added lane guidance, indoor maps, faster routes, and great transit here in DC.

Overall the look and feel is better than google maps. I haven’t even installed it on my iPhone X. The only thing that’s missing is bicycle directions w/ routes!

Rating: 5 Votes

Amacfa

24 months ago

No. I don’t. But years later google maps still runs circles around Apple maps. So yeah - I’m sure this time it’ll be a game changer ...

Google maps is slightly better than Apple maps. Don’t outright lie and make up statistics buddy.

Rating: 5 Votes

Amacfa

24 months ago

You don’t even know what apple is doing with these vans

Rating: 5 Votes

ipedro

24 months ago

You guys are arguing over something that is subjective so neither of you is right.

In Toronto, Apple Maps has been far more reliable for me than Google for years. But in New York, Apple Maps is often terrible.

Google has burned me plenty of times and has sent me around the city on some weird route making me late. Maps isn’t a perfect science and neither Google nor Apple get it right in all markets and 100% of the time. Your perspective depends on which city you use maps in.

Rating: 5 Votes

djcerla

24 months ago

This.

And: by their very nature, maps must be continually updated, so any advantage a player has may be erased in the long run by throwing enough resources at the problem.

Rating: 4 Votes

TheWatchfulOne

24 months ago

Google was collecting real world map data 15 to 20 years before before anybody thought of doing that. Well, there was Yahoo maps and MapQuest, but I don't seem to hear much about them these days. MapQuest does have an app in the App Store. Does Yahoo maps even still exist?

Apple maps has improved by leaps and bounds as far as I can tell. Many times, if Apple maps has something wrong, Google maps has the same mistake.

One thing I will give Google: a few years ago in Houston, a new soccer stadium was built. Google had it labeled on their map before ground was ever broken. Real world was out-of-date maybe?

Rating: 3 Votes

SoApple

24 months ago

Unfourtunately, Google Maps/Waze are years ahead of Apple in this area.

Rating: 2 Votes

WalterTizzano

24 months ago

No. I don’t. But years later google maps still runs circles around Apple maps. So yeah - I’m sure this time it’ll be a game changer ...

My experience is very different. I much prefer using Apple Maps and I don’t see any fundamental issues with it. I’m happy Apple is improving it even further and I don’t think I am going to switch to Google Maps anytime soon

Rating: 2 Votes

S G

24 months ago

It is ironic that international locations are added for Apple mapping, and yet, any search of a street name without a full zip code ends up failing in my experience compared to Google Maps. I just tried a random French address: 15 rue des Ecoles. Google Maps returned several possible choices and if you don't select any and just press enter, it will default to the street in Paris, the most likely option. Apple Maps first gives you several options, none of which are in Paris, and if you just press enter for the best choice, you end up somewhere in Larchmont NY with no relation whatsoever to the name searched. This happens to me constantly, even for local landmarks or addresses. (PS: I am located in the US).

Rating: 1 Votes

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