Could Apple be developing a new mapping technology?
That seems to be the case, as developer Steve Troughton-Smith unearthed via a new app entitled Indoor Survey located on the iOS App Store page Sunday. Although Troughton-Smith was able to find the app, it doesn't appear in the App Store's search tool and is only accessible via direct link.
Well this is an Apple app I've not seen before!
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) November 1, 2015
"By dropping 'points' on a map within the Survey App, you indicate your position within the venue as you walk through," the app description reads on the page. "As you do so, the indoor Survey App measures the radio frequency (RF) signal data and combines it with an iPhone's sensor data. The end result is indoor positioning without the need to install special hardware."
The title of the app was last updated October 27, with it being compatible with the iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices with iOS 9 or advanced.
Engadget points out that this app could be the first result of Apple purchasing Silicon Valley indoor positioning startup WiFiSLAM for $20 million back in 2013. WiFiSLAM channels RF signals from Wi-Fi points to mark a user's location — which sounds pretty similar to the aforementioned description of Indoor Survey on the iOS App Store page. That and the website points out that Apple has filed for several patents.
This could be the start of whatever big or small that Apple is planning for its indoor mapping technology. Adding to that theory is reporting from Apple Insider showing that on the company's Maps for Developers webpage, a sample code (Footprint) spells out the conversion from geographic coordinates to a flat floorplan.
