You may have heard by now that Apple plans to ditch Google Maps in iOS 6. It seems that after three years of buying digital map companies, Apple is ready to build its own in-house mapping solution to serve as the source for iOS 6’s built-in Maps app. Apple’s new Maps app is said to include photorealistic 3D rendering, and will likely be unveiled alongside iOS 6 at Apple’s WWDC 2012 keynote on June 11.
Google, though, doesn’t want to let Apple get the jump on them, it seems. They’ve recently begun handing out invites to a Google Maps event of their own. According to these invites, Google plans to unveil “The Next Dimension of Google Maps.” The event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6th at 9 AM. According to the invitation, a copy of which was obtained by 9to5Google, the event will provide invitees with “a behind-the-scenes look at Google Maps” along with “a sneak peek at upcoming features that will help people get where they want to go – both physically and virtually.” Check out the invitation below:
While there’s not much real information on just what Google is planning to show off at this event, it’s not all that hard to figure out. Between the use of the word “dimension” and the realistic rendering (it’s clearly not a photograph) of a coastline on the invitation, it’s pretty clear that Google is doing some 3D mapping of their own. Of course, there aren’t any other details available as yet. I’ve reached out to Google to see if they have any more information to offer, but they have not yet responded.
