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Apple Maps Accidentally Reveals Secret Military Base In Taiwan
redletterdave writes "After one Taiwanese newspaper snapped and printed a satellite photo of a top-secret military base from the new Maps application running on an iPhone 5, the defense ministry of Taiwan on Tuesday publicly requested Apple blur the sensitive images of the country's classified military installations. The top-secret radar base, located in the northern county of Hsinchu, contains a highly-advanced ultra-high-frequency long-range radar that military officials say can detect missiles launched as far away as the city of Xinjiang, which is located in northwest China. The radar system was obtained via U.S.-based defense group Raytheon in 2003, and is still being constructed with hopes to be completed by the end of this year. 'Regarding images taken by commercial satellites, legally we can do nothing about it,' said David Lo, the spokesman of Taiwan's defense ministry, in a statement to reporters. 'But we'll ask Apple to lower the resolution of satellite images of some confidential military establishments the way we've asked Google in the past.'"
They found it when they were actually searching for the nearest Burger King in Gary, Indiana.
Slight correction, Xinjiang is a province not a city. And a very lovely part of the country to visit.
The images of a base showed up, so they gave everyone the specs and capabilities of the radar system in their request to hide the base again? That doesn't seem very clever.
"Dear Google, we see you're showing images of Area 51. This is the base where we hide all the alien corpses and spacecraft we've collected over the years, so we'd really appreciate it if you blur the aerial photography. Thanks!"
Silly Taiwanese people. You don't request Apple for anything. You beg. You pray. You hope. But you DON'T speak to The Apple unless spoken to by The Apple. Commoners!
I think google may have beaten them to it
According to this article, the images are even clearer in google maps
http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/9/3477836/taiwan-radar-defense-system-apple-ios-6-maps-complaint
Watch those corners
At least Apple Maps revealed something that was actually there.
Headline makes it sound like Apple made some sort of error and gave aid and comfort to an enemy... somewhere.
The base happens to be there in a photo. Owners of base are asking for it to be blurred. Your slow news day will now come to a close. (cue national anthem)
if taiwan declares war on the US because a US corporation violated their national security, it would open the floodgates...
china: "mmm fung pei! finally we have excuse... prepare 10,000 nuclear missiles for launch, and prepare our 1,000,000,000 soldiers to finish them off"
russia: "quickly, follow the chinese because all our stuff is a bit rusty so let them take the brunt... long live the mighty Soviet Union!"
iran: "quick lets fuck up israel while the US is busy"
north korea: "ahh harrow!... taiwan decrare war on US infidels... rets just rob a few terrorists over the pacific whire they're distracted"
us: "aaw crap!"
In other news, a giant art sculpture designed to be visible from space located in the northernmost reaches of Siberia is mysteriously blurry when viewed from the latest satellite photography through Apple's new maps application.
Is it me, or is blurring/removing something from these maps the absolute ideal way to tell the entire world: "There's something really important to someone here."
I can see the conversation now. "How do I get to the Secret Base?" -- "Take a left and follow the road until it disappears on your map, then you're there."
I think google may have beaten them to it. According to this article, the images are even clearer in google maps
They are the same articles, in that they say the same thing, FT original A::
"Oddly enough, images of the base appear clearer when viewed through Google Maps"
Which google was asked to blur, as mentioned by both articles.
And then France is all "Fire le missles!"
"But I am le tired."
"Well then have a nap. THEN FIRE LE MISSLES"
The enemies of Democracy are
No problem. The correct location of the base will never be found.
Have gnu, will travel.
silence!... i kill you!
But sir, do we surrender before or after we file the missiles?
That is a tired such a tired joke.
Of 125 major European wars since 1495, the French have fought in 50, more than Austria (47) and England (43).
Out of a total 168 battles since 387BC, they won 109, lost 49 and drawn 10.
-- Stephen Fry, QI season 6 episode 5.
Not bad for a bunch of surrender monkeys. Disclaimer: I'm a German and we were, after all, responsible for that oft mentioned surrender but we also admire courage and tenacity even in our (thankfully former) enemies. If you occupants of the Anglo Saxon cultural bubble want to call anybody a bunch of 'Surrender Mokeys' it's us Germans. We did after all surrender twice in the last century, the French only once.
Only to idiots, are orders laws.
-- Henning von Tresckow
That is a tired such a tired joke.
Not only is worn out, but the irony seems to be lost on Americans who don't exactly have the best record in winning wars (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq twice an Afghanistan). And the biggest single victory in US military history (against England) was because they were saved by the French.
We did after all surrender twice in the last century, the French only once.
And you just surrendered a 3rd time :-)
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