Real-looking 3D photo sat-nav 'to replace' Google Maps on iPhone

Software creates 3D cities out of photos

Can insert GPS-located Facebook posts direct into maps

Technology 'could be in iPhones within a year'

Users of Apple's iPhones could be treated to a serious visual upgrade for their navigation software.



Apple has reportedly acquired C3 technologies - a mapping specialist which creates photo-real 3D maps, with photographs 'painted on' to 3D models of cities. Information such as GPS-located Facebook posts or mapping instructions can be instantly inserted 'into' the maps.



The senior officers of C3 technologies are already working for Apple, reports 9to5Mac.

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The 3D mapping software from C3 creates solid, photo-real versions of cities digitally, so that information such as Facebook posts or navigation can be 'inserted into' the images

The slightly flattened cars on the ground are the only sign that this image of Las Vegas isn't the real thing - it's a 3D map produced by C3 technologies, the mapping specialist reportedly acquired by Apple for $240m

C3 describes itself as, ' the leading provider of 3D mapping solutions, offering photo-realistic models of the world for search, navigation and geographic information systems.'

Video demos show how the company can 'insert' Facebook posts and other map information direct into its 3D maps. Apple has already bought other small mapping start-ups - leading insiders to speculate that C3's technology could one day replace Google Maps in iOS devices.



C3 was bought by an unknown buyer earlier this year - and 9to5Mac revealed that this buyer was Apple, claiming that senior C3 executives are already working for Apple.

The acquisition of the Swedish mapping company - formerly part of Saab - reportedly cost Apple $240 million.



Technologies such as iPhone's Siri voice-control 'assistant' sprang out of smaller companies acquired by Apple - and Apple tends to bring such technologies to market fairly rapidly.



The maps are created by 'painting' photographs over 3D models of the terrain - C3 boasts that it can even update images with user-created images, so the views could be more up-to-date than Google's Street View

9to5Mac notes that Apple took just a year to bring Siri to iOS, and says, ' W e’d be surprised to see the same old Maps program in iOS 6. Expect something much much bigger.' The Californian company has already confirmed that it hopes to 'upgrade' the traffic information within its mapping software.

As ever, Apple is remaining tight-lipped about whether or not this software will be built into future versions of iOS.









