Hacker News Reader

Comment by robocat | Hacker News Reader

And the reason only some maps apps work, is that Apple don't allow a background App to keep running that tracks GPS and reports location over data???

I'm guessing

View on HN

Surely the reason is that neither Apple Maps nor Google Maps is willing to add the code to interface with the special Flemish Traffic Signal API.

The market is too small, and there’s no profit to be made. Unlike the “you could take an Uber” ad in Google Maps.

Yes, but why do they want to be integrated with a maps App?

If it can work as a background App then why not? And if you're in charge of the Google Maps App, you know you'll get blamed for draining the battery and transmitting location data continuously.

It smells like someone in Belgium is lying or is looking for a scapegoat excuse.

The reasoning just doesn't sound right, technically.

Is there an international standard API for this? Perhaps one used mostly for emergency services? Neither Google nor Apple would want to code crap in for every single country's weird features.

Probably because maps apps can do useful things like tell the light whether you're intending to turn right or not.

Because users don’t want to install apps that have access to gps in the background.

AFAIK background location is opt in, but only requires the developer to check a box in their xcode project. It's not like you have fill out a form and have apple approve it or something.

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/corelocation/handl...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com