In a patent application from September 2011, Apple shows a navigation system similar to Google’s Street View, but with one notable difference. You won’t have to “swipe” to move around on the street view, the screen will update automatically by using the devices camera, accelerometer, and sensors.
CNET:
Published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple’s “3D Position Tracking for Panoramic Imagery Navigation” patent filing describes a navigation technology that looks and works like Street View. The system would display a panoramic image of a certain location on your mobile device, allowing you to virtually move around the area.
Google’s Street View requires the user to swipe or tap their finger to move around in their virtual street view space. Apple’s patent describes a method where by physically moving your device through real space, you can then move around the virtual mapping environment. By moving the device up, down, left, or right, your view is adjusted accordingly.
The technology could allow you to virtually enter buildings, travel through an intersection, and even make a turn at a street corner.
Information can be laid over the top of the display to point out businesses and points of interest.
The view can also be expanded by using more than one device. Two adjacent devices could display their own portion of a panorama.
Apple decided to use their own Apple Maps in place of Google’s Maps on their iOS devices. The company received harsh feedback for problems, both real and perceived, with the new app. Technology such as is described in the above patent could be just what Apple’s Maps needs to fight back in the navigation and mapping wars.
