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Huawei Is Working On Its Own Version of Google Maps (cnet.com) 42

According to the state-owned China Daily, Huawei is working on a Google Maps alternative with Yandex and Booking.com. The service is expected to be unveiled in October. CNET reports: It's apparently designed to use a tool for software developers to create apps based around its mapping capabilities, rather than for consumer use. It'll connect to local mapping services, cover 150 countries and regions, and be available in 40 languages, the report said.

Huawei didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company's ability to access Google's services has been threatened since President Trump blacklisted it in May. That came as a result of U.S. lawmakers' concerns about Huawei's tight relationship with the Chinese government and fears that its equipment could be used for spying. Trump has since said the ban will be eased.

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Huawei Is Working On Its Own Version of Google Maps

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  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • It's the location data they can mine on their users.
      • How much everyone travels.
      • Who they hang out with.
      • Where they shop.
      • When they join political protests.

      Everyone can download openstreetmaps.

      But only big privacy invaders like Huawei and Google can infringe on people's rights like that.

  • and looked at my location. Terrible graphics. Like looking at the ground from around 2000' with uncorrected nearsightedness.
  • by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Friday August 16, 2019 @09:27PM (#59096080)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • by ebvwfbw ( 864834 )

      Does that include the huawei to hell?

      Yes. With Bevis & Butthead swinging their heads back and forth.

  • READ :

    "Huawei Is Working on Copying Code and Stealing IP to Create it's Own Version of Google Maps."

    And there is nothing you can do to stop them.

    • by rtb61 ( 674572 )

      Huawei is looking to work with Yandex and for your information https://yandex.com/maps/11470/... [yandex.com] and I did not pick the location by accident because sanction by corrupt US actions, Yalta in the Crimea.

      • Uhhhh... wut? That location shows nothing terribly exciting. As far as corruption, again, er uh wut? Complete sentences using subject/verb/object format are helpful in languages which use that structure, such as English. Example, "John ate the apple". Subject = John. Verb = ate. Object - the apple. ("the" is an article and "apple" is a noun, for those following along).
    • by Njovich ( 553857 )

      I don't think they need to steal any code to make a map app? Huawei + Yandex + Booking have a programmer or two laying around. As far as stealing IP goes, software patents aren't all that great anyway.

    • Creating maps and navigation algorithms is not some super secret technique than only Google invented. Path finding algorithms on graphs are older than both Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and maps have existed for thousands of years.

    • If they have to run it by their Chinese censors, it becomes trivial, no stealing needed: Just display a blank window wherever you are. For additional credit, put "Censored" across the window.
  • Expect to see Tawain, East China sea including the Spratly islands, the Senkaku Islands, and other Chinese territorial claims which are not internationally recognised, all indicted in Huawei maps as all part of China.

    It is quite clear with the Chinese government backlash against Canada for the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, that Huawei is deeply tied to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). So they will make sure that Huawei OS and preloaded apps will reflect CCP policies.

    I would also except any children's apps related to Winnie-the-Pooh to be banned from the Huawei app store.
     

  • ..., Huawei is working on a Google Maps alternative with Yandex...

    [bold mine]

    But further, he/she talks of ...Its Own Version of Google Maps... in the title!

    Question is: can there be a version of Google Maps that doesn't belong to Google as a company?

    Editor...Hello...!!!

  • Would be pretty easy to build upon and probably contribute to. Apple uses them for some parts of the world.

    The one thing that Google has is street view, but not for China. And Baidu street view edits images as required by the Communist party.

    • At this point in the game, it's probably in Huawei's best interest to produce something that doesn't involve a third party that can be ordered to withdraw access by a US ban or restriction - I don't know how much of Open Street Map is based in the US, but like the international banking system there's almost certainly a way for the US government to threaten OSM to get them to withdraw data access and cooperation.

      • No, I don't believe there is. The existing data is already published and licensed under their license. The software can also be duplicated. The worst that could happen is that there would be two versions of it.
      • It'll be interesting to see how much tech they can continue to produce long term if there's ever a halt to massive CCP IP theft.
        • Erm, China is the country that developed gun powder while your ancestors were still trying to figure out why two shiny rocks made sparks. Considering America's brain drain and dismal education system I think they will do just fine.
          • Wow, excuse me but could you be any more bigoted? You have no idea what my background is nor what my ancestors did and when. And even if you were correct (you are not), what does what you said about something happening in the ancient past have ANYTHING to do with CCP IP theft in the last THIRTY yesrs? Nothing. Nice try at defending a vicious murderous barbarous dictatorial regime set to conquer the world and destroy democracy and freedom everywhere they can. Hello, Hong Kong! (And Tibet, and the Xuighe
    • And Baidu street view edits images

      So there is a street view of American military bases, like Area 51? Seems Google edits images as required by the democratic party as well.

  • = steal all data from openstreetmap.org, give nothing back, give no credit, show no gratitude.
  • Google maps is forced to shift the map by 500m, so actual locations are very far off. You can see the difference when you compare the satellite view with the map view. We should make sure all chinese dictatorship maps are forced to have the same inaccuracy outside China. I say Google is "forced", but we all know they are kissing Xi's ass. I would actually prefer it if we "forced" Google to make the map accurate and give China the finger.

  • Everyone in China already use Baidu Maps () or Gaode Maps (), why bother adding another one?
    Of course they could just use OSM, but then... No control over what's displayed.

    • Everyone in China already use Baidu Maps () or Gaode Maps (), why bother adding another one?
      Of course they could just use OSM, but then... No control over what's displayed.

      New to Slashdot, seems like chinese characters are stripped from the posts.
      I wrote in the parenthesis: Baidu Maps (bidù dìtú) and Gaode Maps (go dé dìtú)

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