A new report today from Swedish news service Rapidus (via Tech.eu) claims that Apple has been quietly increasing its presence in Lund, Sweden with a focus on an "advanced mapping technology" that aims to further improve Apple Maps . The company is reportedly working out of a new R&D center in the city said to have launched last November.

ios9mapsnewfeatures

Now, a report from news agency Rapidus claims Apple has been quietly ramping up its operations in Lund, a city near Malmö in Sweden, where it is apparently working on 'advanced mapping technology'. Reports that Apple had set up a relatively secretive R&D center in Lund first surfaced in November last year, but it's always been unclear what was being worked on over there.

The news today points toward continued improvements for Apple Maps, which is currently seeing a significant amount of investment from Apple. The company has in recent months expanded its fleet of vans surveying streets around the United States and other countries with a variety of sensors. Apple confirmed over the summer that the data collected from the vehicles will be used to improve Apple Maps in the future, likely with street-level imagery similar to Google's Street View.

Top Rated Comments

Mavelous Avatar
125 months ago
Where are we in the whole "Apple Maps Data Needs Fixing" thing? I've used Maps as a SatNav since iOS 7 when I got my first iPhone, and have never had a problem with it.
Great. every time I use my maps app I'm gonna be led to IKEA
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thekeyring Avatar
125 months ago
Where are we in the whole "Apple Maps Data Needs Fixing" thing? I've used Maps as a SatNav since iOS 7 when I got my first iPhone, and have never had a problem with it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jsameds Avatar
125 months ago
A "Streetview from Apple" is what I'm waiting for.

I imagine it will be integrated with FlyOver for a seamless transition between maps and streetview, and that you'll be able to roam freely through the roads as opposed to teleporting from bubble to bubble as is the case with Google's.

It's gonna be so cool! :cool:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keane16 Avatar
125 months ago
I am happy to see the continued investment in maps. Still I am curious why Sweden? Seems like a strange place to develop maps, but I guess, whatever.
The question should be why not Sweden. Excellent country, with a strong background in Tech and Science.

In particular Lund has an great research University which I imagine makes it a hotbed for talent? Just a guess though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lund_University#Academics

"According to the book, The Flight of the Creative Class, by the U.S. urban studies, Professor Richard Florida ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Florida') of University of Toronto ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Toronto'), Sweden is ranked as having the best creativity ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity') in Europe for business and is predicted to become a talent magnet for the world's most purposeful workers. The book compiled an index to measure the kind of creativity it claims is most useful to business – talent, technology and tolerance"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Sweden

I'm glad Apple is expanding globally, with this and the R&D Center in Israel. Helps tap into local talent.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lincolntran Avatar
125 months ago
Great. every time I use my maps app I'm gonna be led to IKEA
Every time I looked for a Target near my house, Google Map takes me to a child care center. Google Map has taken me to wrong places in more times than I care to count. Apple Map has improved a lot since launch and I use it most of the time now.


I'd use Apple Maps if my address or even my street were on the map. 2 years of reporting the bug/error have got me nowhere.
I feel your pain. Other people has better luck with reporting in details like street address, gps location, etc. when sending in the bug.


A "Streetview from Apple" is what I'm waiting for.

I imagine it will be integrated with FlyOver for a seamless transition between maps and streetview, and that you'll be able to roam freely through the roads as opposed to teleporting from bubble to bubble as is the case with Google's.

It's gonna be so cool! :cool:
You know Apple, they try to provide a great experience while Google just throw a bunch of buttons and arrows together and call it a day.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2457282 Avatar
125 months ago
because Apple acquired a mapping company in sweden...?

http://9to5mac.com/2011/10/29/apple-acquired-mind-blowing-3d-mapping-company-c3-technologies-looking-to-take-ios-maps-to-the-next-level/
Thanks. I was not aware of the purchase, but that explains everything nicely.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...
iphone 17 pro majin bu sky blue

iPhone 17 Pro Allegedly Coming in Sky Blue Color Used for MacBook Air

Tuesday April 22, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 Pro in a new Sky Blue color, the same color that debuted on the latest M4 MacBook Air models Apple released in March. That's according to the leaker Majin Bu. Concept mockup from Majin Bu Writing on his website, Bu claims that "sources close to the supply chain confirm that several iPhone 17 Pro prototypes have been made in various colors, with Sky Blue...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...