Google Earth ‘s 3D imagery is now available on Apple’s iOS platform, months before Apple plans to launch its own photorealistic 3D maps on its mobile devices.
CNet reports that Google pushed an update to its Google Earth app on Apple’s iOS platform, which will allow users to see the same 3D imagery that it showed off in early June when the feature was made available to users on Google’s Android platform.
14 regions are currently available for 3D viewing, including Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay area, and Boston. As the company adds more 3D cities to the database, both the iOS and Android platforms will see an update to Google Earth.
Peter Birch, a product manager on Google’s geo team, stated of the project to add more 3D cities:
“By the end of this year, we’re targeting getting coverage for 300 million people, and that’s really just this year. We’re looking to add and expand to that.”
The Los Angeles Times notes that Apple users are also able to access a “tour guide” feature, which suggests interesting places to poke on the Google Earth app. In order to access the tours, they explain:
“…just pull up the tab at the bottom of the screen and open tour guide. Choose a place you’d like to visit and Google will “fly” you there. Bits of Wikipedia trivia will provide additional information and context about the place you are virtually visiting.”
The “tour guide” feature is available for any Apple iOS device running version 4.2 and newer. As for Google Maps 3D on your desktop? Not yet, but hopefully soon.
Check out more information about Google Maps 3D here:
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