It was only a matter of time until Apple decided to ditch Google Maps and head for a better and more open solution. Yesterday, as iPhoto for iOS began to trickle out to bloggers, it was noticed that the new iPhoto app didn’t exactly have the Google Maps integration that Apple’s OS X version of iPhoto had to date.
Many began questioning whether Apple had decided to leave Google Maps behind entirely, and today we’re getting word from the OpenStreetMap Foundation that Apple has indeed begun using OpenStreetMaps’ data for location information outside of the US.
Jonathan Bennett, from the OpenStreetMap Foundation, wrote up a blog post on the company’s website:
The desktop version of iPhoto, and indeed all of Apple’s iOS apps until now, use Google Maps. The new iPhoto for iOS, however, uses Apple’s own map tiles – made from OpenStreetMap data (outside the US) … The OSM data that Apple is using is rather old (start of April 2010) so don’t expect to see your latest and greatest updates on there. It’s also missing the necessary credit to OpenStreetMap’s contributors; we look forward to working with Apple to get that on there.
It’s starting to sound like Google Maps being the go-to for mapping applications is coming to an end. The new maps in iPhoto for iOS, while using OpenStreetMap’s data, currently uses Apple’s own map graphics. It’s going to take some getting use to, but so far, I love it.
