Jan Zdarsa Although Apple has not officially admitted anything, it is already certain that it has purchased a company that is a competitor of Google Maps. The first hints appeared as early as July, but there has been no proof until today. However, the ComputerWorld server noticed on the Linkedin profile of the founder of the map company Placebase, Jaron Waldman, that he became part of the Geo team of Apple.
Placebase deals with the creation of map materials and other applications based on these materials. Apple was very dependent on Google Maps until this time. Whether it's the maps in the iPhone, but also, for example, the geotagging in iPhoto is based on Google Maps. But relations with Google have become heated recently, so Apple is probably preparing a backup plan. And since it's Apple, I believe that they intend to use the interesting Placebase project for more than just displaying a map.
Relations with Google worsened when Google announced Chrome OS, thus becoming a direct competitor to Apple on too many fronts. Eric Schmidt left (or had to leave) Apple's supervisory board, and then it only got worse. Recently, the federal commission is dealing with the dispute between Apple and Google, when Apple rejected the Google Voice application - while Apple claims that the acceptance of Google Voice was only delayed and they are working with Google on a solution, according to Google, Google Voice was sent to the ice by Apple.
Whether the truth is on the side of Apple or Google, Google's well-known motto "Don't do evil" has been receiving a lot of flak lately. For example, on Android, so-called ROMs are created, which are modified distributions of the system in Android phones to improve functionality (similar modifications as after jailbreaking the iPhone), but these mods have been marked by Google as illegal. Reason? They contain Google applications (e.g. YouTube, Google Maps...) for which the authors of these packages do not have permission. Result? The popular CyanogenMod has ended. Of course, this stirred up the Android community, because openness was supposed to be the main strength of Android. And more and more similar examples are appearing.
Another Apple message concerns Snow Leopard. Users are slowly upgrading their Leopard to Snow Leopard, and according to Internet measurement tool NetMonitor, 18% of Leopard users have already upgraded to the new system. Definitely a great result in such a short time. I personally switched to Snow Leopard earlier this week and so far I can't say enough good things about it. The speed of the system is absolutely amazing.
I'm joining!!! I also switched to SnowLeopard this week and I am very satisfied. Perhaps only if all the applications I was used to worked for me. But I admit that during the week that I have been using the new OS, many applications that were initially non-functional have become functional again.
Could you please at least briefly describe the progress of your transition to Snow Leop.? Or write an article about it?
SteveJSF: look at superapple.cz
There are tutorials and insights from users who have already upgraded.