Apple Maps 2.0

Apple is not giving up and is heading in the right direction in the future of it’s built-in iOS Maps app.

More people today, especially those in big cities, are having to rely on third-party apps (on any OS) for their local transit and walking routes.

Today, Apple Inc. has formally announced the acquisition of two mapping companies.

The first one mentioned by AllThingsD is Toronto-based startup Locationary.

Not only does Locationary ensure that business listing data is positionally accurate (i.e., the restaurant I searched for is where Apple said it would be), it ensures that it is temporally accurate as well (i.e., the restaurant I searched for is still open for business and not closed for renovation or shuttered entirely). And that sort of clean location data could go a long way toward improving Apple Maps and distinguishing it from rivals

Next is Hopstop.

Hopstop shows users in more than 500 cities the fastest way to travel by foot, bike, subway and car.

Personally, I’ve never had any problems with Apple’s native Maps app but do notice Google still has more data. But remember that it took Googles a significant amount of time and years to get to where they are today. Even though Apple got off to a rocky start, I am confident to say that within the next year or two, I will be solely using the iOS app.