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Google Brings 3D Maps to iOS with 'Google Earth' Update

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Last month, Google attempted to siphon some interest from Apple by holding a press conference introducing "the next dimension of Google Maps" just days before Apple's preview of iOS 6 and its own mapping solution at its Worldwide Developers Conference.

Among the announcements from Google were new 3D features for the company's Google Earth platform, features the company reported would be coming to iOS in an update to the Google Earth app in the coming weeks. A few days later, Apple introduced its new Maps app for iOS 6 which will include similar 3D imagery under the name "Flyover".

google_earth_iphone_3d.jpg



But with iOS 6 not launching to the public until later this year, Google has now beaten Apple to the punch, with CNET reporting that Google has released version 7 of Google Earth [App Store] for iOS to bring the new 3D imagery to the platform.
Google today is updating its Google Earth app on Apple's platform to include the same 3D imagery it showed off in early June. That same feature rolled out to users on Google's Android in late June.

iOS users are getting those same 14 regions, including Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston and others. As Google adds more 3D cities to its database, both those platforms will get them at same time.
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Google is looking to quickly expand the feature, planning for 3D coverage of 300 million people by the end of the year and many more beyond that.

The new 3D feature of Google Earth requires an iPhone 4S, iPad 2, or third-generation iPad, but older devices can continue to use the other features of the Google Earth app.

Article Link: Google Brings 3D Maps to iOS with 'Google Earth' Update
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/07/26/google-brings-3d-maps-to-ios-with-google-earth-update/
I just downloaded it, but I don't see any way to turn on 3D mode. I'm using an iPhone 4S running iOS 6. I see "tilt" mode, but there are no 3D structures. I even looked up the Statue of Liberty just to make sure it just wasn't my area.

Correction: Although I downloaded it fresh after I saw the article, it gave me the old version. I just checked and there is an update now. :-|
 
Google Earth is little more than a toy.

And one of my favorite toys!! It just got even better—thanks, Google! Toss a nice transit app my way next please :)

2bikes said:
How different is this than the current Google Earth?
Click to expand...

The 3D buildings (at least in some places) are probably better now. Plus, Google Earth on iOS didn’t used to have 3D buildings at all.

P.S. I just noticed that Street View on the web (Flash-based) now has red-blue 3D. Doesn’t seem to work very well, but I happen to have red-blue glasses, so it makes for another interesting toy.
 
Good, but not perfect

It's a lot of fun, but I hope Apple's implementation is a little more polished.
7650943014_beaaca50ab_b.jpg
 
Very nice as an idea but shame about the execution. When I tried to zoom in on Boston MA, the app crashed on my 4S after about 5 seconds.

Think I'll wait for IOS6. I'm sure it'll work better.
 
djrod said:
I'm trying it right now,this seems better than apple's, more faster and better detailed.
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On b1 or b2 I would have agreed, but the performance of 3D mode on b3's Maps is much better on the 4S than it was before. I found Apple's to load faster, have a little more detail, and have a more consistent framerate than Google's. When I zoomed in far into LA for example, Google Earth took a really long time to load all the textures and buildings. I won't say it's definitive; that's just my experience, YMMV.

I also got a "running out of memory" error from Google Earth while I was using it :eek:
 
Flyover on iOS 6 beta 3 is much better on iPhone 4S.

I just tried out the new Google Earth 3D and it's a lot slower to load, and controlling the map is a pain, and as soon as you move it, the 3D has to re-render. And it sucks battery life almost 1% every minute! :eek:

I will admit that when it does load properly, it's very high-res.

Oh, and it works better on iPad, probably because of the faster hardware and larger screen size.
 
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Getting out of memory messages viewing San Fran on my iPad 3rd gen.

Not as smooth as ios maps but loads faster so far. Frame rate is choppy.
 
Going through the opening tutorial I got a message about low memory. great!

Find a place I gotta drive to this morning. Need directions. Can't get directions.


Point of this app is?
 
it's good to know that google maps will still be around after iOS 6. I love street view. It's like having a virtual tour.

i still try to revisit places i went to on an actual trip to Japan, virtualy. It keeps my memories fresh. Other wise it would fade away. taken by mundane day to day activities like Work :(
 
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