This article by Justin O’Beirne about the difference between Google Maps and Apple Maps is pretty fascinating – even if you’re not a cartography nerd.

This article not only details the differences between the companies map products but also illustrates the vast amounts of data and automation that have caused Google Maps to leap way ahead of its mapping competitors.

Combining data about buildings, data about users’ behavior, and satellite/aerial/Street View imagery, Google is able to learn (in a manner of speaking) quite a lot about the physical world.

Neat. If maybe a little unsettling.

Read the full article here.