French-Canadian site Cyberpresse is reporting that Apple has purchased Poly9, a company that makes interactive 3D mapping software — like you would see with Google Earth. You can play with it on their website. The applet clocks in at a mere 303kb, but it is Flash based.
So, what does this mean? The immediate assumption is that Apple is making more purchases on the app front, and is looking to bump Google out of the way. In October 2009, Apple purchased Placebase, a Google Maps competitor.
If this is true, and Apple Earth is on the way, I wouldn’t hold my breath for it. Apple has a habit of purchasing companies, and then sitting on them very quietly for a long, long time.
[via AppleInsider]
Written By