Users of Apple's iPhones could be treated to a serious visual upgrade for their navigation software.

iPhone手机用户有可能会享受到手机导航软件的可视化升级。

 

Apple has reportedly acquired C3 technologies - a mapping specialist which creates photo-real 3D maps, with photographs “painted on” to 3D models of cities. Information such as GPS-located Facebook posts or mapping instructions can be instantly inserted “into” the maps.

据报道苹果公司已经收购一家名为C3科技的地图技术公司。该公司能利用实景照片制作城市三维立体地图，一些诸如能用GPS定位到的Facebook上的信息帖或地图说明都能即时地插进该地图。

 

C3 describes itself as, “the leading provider of 3D mapping solutions, offering photo-realistic models of the world for search, navigation and geographic information systems.”

C3形容自己为“领先的3D地图技术解决方案的提供者，为世界范围内的搜索、导航服务和地理系统信息提供了实景照片模型。”

 

Video demos show how the company can “insert” Facebook posts and other map information direct into its 3D maps. Apple has already bought other small mapping start-ups - leading insiders to speculate that C3's technology could one day replace Google Maps in iOS devices.

视频演示展示了该公司如何直接把Facebook上的帖子和其他地图信息插入到自己的三维地图中。苹果公司之前已经收购了其他一些小型地图公司。有业内人士猜测C3科技将在未来取代谷歌地图对iOS设备的技术支持。

 

C3 was bought by an unknown buyer earlier this year - and 9to5Mac revealed that this buyer was Apple, claiming that senior C3 executives are already working for Apple.

C3科技于今年年初被匿名买家收购，据9to5Mac透露这位匿名买主就是苹果公司并称C3的高级主管已经供职于苹果公司。

 

The acquisition of the Swedish mapping company - formerly part of Saab - reportedly cost Apple $240 million.

该瑞典地图公司的前身是萨博公司（瑞典航空与武器制造商）的一个分部门。据报道苹果公司以2.4亿美元的价格收购了C3。