AppleInsider Staff
Google rolled out a substantial update to its Google Earth iOS app on Wednesday, bringing a few important changes to the title, the biggest being built-in Street View capabilities.
Until now, users of Google's mapping products on Apple's mobile platform had to switch between Google Earth and Google Maps to access features like Street View. With Wednesday's update, however, the Internet search giant is bringing parity to the two titles in an effort to further merges its existing software lineup.
The implementation of Street View adds another layer to the satellite imagery app, and brings the usual drag-and-drop controls first introduced on the Google Maps Web client. Users can zoom into the new mode by pulling the small yellow "stickman" icon at the top right of the screen into supported street zones, which are highlighted in blue.
In use, the feature is largely the same as the Google Maps for iOS version, though it feels a bit slow to load.
Another major change is the user interface, which has moved from the four-corner button layout to a theme more in line with Google's other iOS titles. Now, the layer selection menu and search button are located at the top of the screen, while the the current location and points of interest slider is at the bottom. All assets are positioned at the top of the screen in the iPad version of the app.
Other improvements to Google Earth include an updated direction search that visualizes walking, biking and driving directions in 3D instead of a top-down view. Also added is a refreshed search result list that allows users to browse through recent searches.
Google Earth is available now as a free download from the App Store.
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Amber Neely
Andrew O'Hara
Mike Wuerthele and Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
21 Comments
Suggested headline revision: "Google Earth[B] for iOS[/B] gets Street View and new UI"
Wow does this run S L O W on my iPhone 4. I'm feeling the pain of never upgrading, waiting till this fall for an iPhone 5S or whatever it will be called.
Could someone please explain how to use street view on the iOS google maps app? I have had the app since it was released and have never been able to figure out how to use street view.
[quote name="jacobmx" url="/t/158258/google-earth-gets-street-view-and-new-ui-in-update#post_2353153"]Could someone please explain how to use street view on the iOS google maps app? I have had the app since it was released and have never been able to figure out how to use street view. [/quote] Tap and hold on the map, then swipe up the lower panel that appears.
It is designed for an iPad screen... Yeah. It is slow and tedious to navigate -- it kinda' does whatever it feels like doing -- the Touch UI is horrible! Street View doesn't add much considering all that's missing in the same-old-same-old Google Earth. Try Luna Park in Sydney Australia... There is a Wall with a big 3D Clown Face. GE sucks at navigating to, and showing this in 3D. GM Street View is better, but you can't get close enough in 3D with GE... and you can't get far enough away with GM Street View. Apple Maps 3D Flyover is much easier, quicker -- and gives better results. BTW, with GE and GM 3D at Hoover Dam -- the Highway still drops into the canyon -- Apple fixed that months ago!