Because the Maps application is subject to a strong attack from Apple's users and competitors, the company has recently listed many job offers in which it says it is interested in hiring engineers to improve the maps system in the Maps application. Apple makes 17 positions available to those interested, they are available for talented people in various fields of mapping maps and building systems similar to Apple's.
- Experience implementing routing algorithms such as Dijstra and A*
- Experience determining and/or presenting maneuvers in a turn-by-turn navigation system
- Familiarity with map matching from GPS and other location data
- Familiarity with map data formats from TomTom or other leading map providers
- Strong mathematical and computational geometry background
- Experience with the iOS SDK and Cocoa programming
Until Apple succeeds in hiring its people and until it succeeds in getting something productive out of them, quite a long time will pass, but it is good that Apple is trying to solve a very disturbing problem.
