This is <em>fantastic</em> fun. Zoom in on somewhere (London, anywhere you know). Zoom right in. Now press the top rocker of the right-hand button of the middle group. Press it again. And again. Now that is cool.

Let the fun and games begin: "Now it has Mapquest intellectual property in the fold, it will have the tools to either nudge out Google Maps or at the very least sue."

A puzzle:

Currently <a href='http://jokru.tumblr.com/post/18929681613'>there is speculation</a> that Apple is using OpenStreetMap data for coverage outside of the United States, and the US Census's <a href='http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/'>TIGER data</a> within. If this is the case, it's a strong vote for the use of OpenStreetMap data in mission-critical scenarios, much like <a href='http://mapbox.com/blog/foursquare-switches-mapbox-streets-openstreetmap'>Foursquare's recent move</a>.

OpenStreetMap contributors have found telling similarities between Apple's maps and OpenStreetMap. Here are some examples from <a href='http://jokru.tumblr.com/post/18929681613'>Germany</a>, <a href='http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/talk/2012-March/062212.html'>Italy</a> and <a href='http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/talk/2012-March/062213.html'>Austria</a>. However, the data Apple may be using here seems to be from around 2010, as <a href='https://twitter.com/#!/druidsmith/status/177574145981292545'>some people have commented on Twitter</a> or have <a href='https://twitter.com/#!/synack/status/177544571411111936'>hypothesized based on reverse engineering</a>.

Neither Apple's website nor the <a href='http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewEula?id=497786065'>legal terms of the iPhoto application</a> include mention of OpenStreetMap data though, leaving Apple's data sources officially unconfirmed.
Neither Apple’s website nor the legal terms of the iPhoto application include mention of OpenStreetMap data though, leaving Apple’s data sources officially unconfirmed.

The puzzle remains. What's clear though is that Apple hasn't gone for Google Maps. And that's significant enough in its own right.

Do your maps look like everyone else’s? Are you paying high fees just to include maps on your website?

Wonder who that could be referring to?

Switch to OpenStreetMap and discover how you can build beautiful maps from the world’s best map data. We give you the data for free; you can make any map you like with it. Or benefit from the expertise of those already using OpenStreetMap. Host it on your hardware, or elsewhere. You have control. switch2osm.org explains how to make the switch – from first principles to technical how-tos.

OpenStreetMap does produce lovely maps, and they are updated - when it's needed - really quickly. When will a satnav provider use one?

"Google had this to say about the OpenStreetMap incident: 'The two people who made these changes were contractors acting on their own behalf while on the Google network. They are no longer working on Google projects.'

"And a source familiar with Google's actions said the two were terminated because they used Google's network for unauthorized activity, which is against Google's rules, not because of what they actually did on their own initiative."

So yes, they were people working for Google. But they weren't doing this for Google, if that's clear. They weren't "Google-run computers"; they were Google-briefly-employed staff.

Four reasons - including the fact that Google is now charging large users of Maps, but that included a screwup by its sales staff, who didn't know anything about the site. Not a good way to win a sale.

They've switched to OpenStreetMap - so congratulations to Steve Coast.

Analytics and coding by Trampolie Systems. Well done, people. This is what we'd have liked to do if we had the programming chops.

Not time travel, please note.

From the OpenViz blog: "Those of you with longer memories will recall my post back in May, promoting the then new triple store for DCLG’s Indices of Deprivation.<br />
"I’d love to report that this has generated a flurry of new apps.  I think I’m not alone when I say: we need some more real-world examples which show us the true power and potential of blending together different data sources….over the web…..using open standards."<br />
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Very impressive demonstration. The thought that occurs on seeing it is that indices don't tell you much about behaviour or other things; they don't provide any predictive power, and that's what's lacking.

Questions is: what took it so long?

"When you’re visiting an unfamiliar location, Google Maps for mobile is great for getting an idea of how close you are to your destination, where streets and landmarks are in relation to each other, or just for getting “un-lost.” But what if you don’t have a data signal, or you’re abroad and don’t have a data plan? We say that if you use Google Maps for mobile, you’ll never need to carry a paper map again. The “Download map area” lab in Google Maps 5.7 for Android is a step in making that statement true even when you’re offline."<br />
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Neat.

"Google Fusion Tables allows you to create data visualisations including maps, graphs and timelines. It is currently in beta but is already being used by many journalists, including some from key news sites leading the way in data journalism." <br />
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Neat, and not just because two of them involve The Guardian.

"Marissa Mayer VP of Maps and Local for Google disclosed that Google Maps for mobile has now reached 200 million intalls and active users. Mayer went on to tell Arrington that currently Google Maps is seeing 40% mobile use and 60% desktop use.To that, Google Maps for Mobile naturally sees more use on the weekend.<br />
"Mayer said that in June Google Maps will cross over, with more users for mobile rather than desktop."

Bookmark this page.

"UK TravelOptions offers fast and convenient access to travel information (currently Underground and DLR trains in London). As you fly over London's streets and landmarks with simple finger gestures, just spot your station or stop and click the icon. Our vector maps transfer less data and are cheaper to use than other map based services."<br />
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Looks very nice.