Image CNET
Update: The Google Earth iOS app has now been updated to version 7.0.0 with the expected 3D imagery and Tour Guide feature.
What’s New in Version 7.0.0
• Tour guide: Explore places you never thought to search for with new tours of your favorite cities, historic landmarks and natural wonders. • 3D imagery: Take flight above entire cities in 3D. Get started with Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Geneva or Rome and look for new additions in the coming weeks. Available for iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later.
Just like iOS Maps, the 3D stuff only works on recent hardware like the iPhone 4S and the second- and third-gen iPads. Meanwhile, 3D was enabled on Android Maps at Google I/O.
The update also included a “new tour guide feature that lists cities of interest, and flies users to that location.” Users can use this tool to learn more about locations they might want to visit.
So just how soon will Google get some more 3D cities in its repertoire? It’s in the works says Peter Birch, a product manager on Google’s geo team.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Douyfa7l8&feature=player_embedded]
“By the end of this year, we’re targeting getting coverage for 300 million people, and that’s really just this year,” Birch said in an interview with CNET. “We’re looking to add and expand to that.”
Some —present company included— speculated Google will make a stand alone Maps app in light of Apple’s recent change to its own mapping platform. However, Google Earth could conceivable take the reins as more mapping features are added.
As of this writing, the app has not gone live. The app will be here when it does [iTunes link].
- Google’s new 3D maps coming to iOS in coming weeks (9to5mac.com)
- After getting booted from Maps.app, Google is plotting their own amazing iOS Maps experience (9to5mac.com)
- Google doesn’t plan to leave iOS Maps users without a fight (9to5google.com)
- Xcode 4.4 released to OS X, iOS developers (9to5mac.com)
