Apple announced iOS 6 at WWDC this year with a big focus on the Maps application, which got a complete overhaul. The Maps application no longer relies on Google Maps technology (the torch was handed to TomTom) and the application now includes a few really awesome and highly demanded features such as turn-by-turn navigation, and 3D maps, which give you the feeling of hovering above cities to see them from the perspective of being in a helicopter. The only catch is these new graphically intensive features are only available on A5 devices.
In an attempt to beat Apple at their own game, Google has updated their Google Earth application today (version 7.0) with 3D maps technology. Granted the application doesn’t come with turn-by-turn navigation, it’s good news to see that Google is stepping up to the plate to bring us some new ways of viewing the world. In addition, the application is iOS 5-compatible, so people that aren’t running an iOS 6 beta release just yet will be able to use 3D maps on their iOS devices.
The only catch is that the application is just as picky as Apple is. Only newer A5 iOS devices can run the 3D maps technology. This means the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and the new iPad are the only iOS devices that can take advantage of the great new Google Earth update today.
According to the App Store’s update log, the updated Google Earth application also comes with a 'Tour Guide' feature, which allows you to use electronic city tours to your advantage in order to learn about new places you may have never heard of before.
While the update comes in as a great one for Google Earth, the true way to an Apple fan’s heart is to make the great features backwards compatible with devices like the iPhone 4, iPod touch 4G, and original iPad. It also would be cool to have turn-by-turn navigation available to us for free as well. iOS hackers have proven that the older devices are perfectly capable of performing these actions regardless of the classic 'graphical horsepower' excuse. Unfortunately, if Google were to integrate these ideas, it may cause friction with Apple’s own rules for the App Store.
You can download the new Google Earth application from this link.
Sources: App Store via CNET
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