Edible Apple

Following 9to5Mac’s report that iOS 6 will usher in a new era of iOS mapping, namely that Apple will be replacing Google Maps in favor of an in-house solution with an incredible 3D mapping feature, John Paczkowski of All Things D adds some tantalizing, albeit non specific, details to the story after independently confirming Apple’s plans with its Maps app.

Sources describe the new Maps app as a forthcoming tentpole feature of iOS that will, in the words of one, “blow your head off.” I’m not quite sure what that means, and the source in question declined to elaborate, but it’s likely a reference to the photorealistic 3-D mapping tech Apple acquired when it purchased C3 Technologies. C3 did use missile-targeting technology to develop its gorgeous 3-D models of major cities, so …

Apple of course has made quite a number of interesting Map based acquisitions over the past few years. In addition to the Swedish based C3 Technologies, Apple also acquired Placebase back in 2009 and Poly9 in 2010.

But just what exactly is so mind blowing about 3D models of major cities? Well, take a look at the C3 video demonstrating a 3D overview of Oslo Norway. Suffice it to say, this type of functionality on a handheld device would definitely be worthy of being called mindblowing.

And here’s an equally tantalizing description of what C3 maps can deliver

“Based on declassified missile targeting technology from Swedish aerospace giant Saab, C3 maps can be rotated around because each individual pixel has depth information attached to it. 3D data is calculated directly from high-resolution aerial photography, based on the positions and angles of the cameras to give each pixel its geographical position with very high accuracy. C3 maps also sport interior panoramas of points of interest based on HDR imagery, with room navigation, 3D menus and banners, overview maps and other interactive features. There’s also street-level imagery captured using an advanced multiple camera system with overlapping viewing angles to capture the entire surroundings in stereo.”

via All Things D