Google Earth 7 update brings 3D Maps to iOS, beats Apple

With the release today of Google Earth 7 for iOS on the Apple App Store, the Mountain View tech firm has beaten Apple to the punch. The latest iteration of Google Earth bring to iOS a huge feature that Apple is adding to its own mapping app with iOS 6: 3D images. With iOS 6, Apple takes control of mapping on its mobile devices by dropping Google and offering an in-house application instead. The 3D imaging on Apple's software is called "Flyover". But that is still a few weeks away and Google Earth 7 is available now.

Google announced on Thursday that the 3D functionality of Google Earth 7 for iOS brings 3D to the same 14 regions that Android users were able to access starting in June. Those 14 regions include L.A., the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston and others. As Google adds 3D to more regions for its Android app, it will add the same regions for the iOS variant.

Google is moving quickly to add 3D to more and more areas. By the end of the year, Google says it will have 3D coverage of regions covering 300 million people. Google Earth 7 for iOS requires the user to have an Apple iPhone 4S, Apple iPad 2 and the 3rd generation Apple iPod or higher in order to see the 3D images. Older models can still use the app, but will not see the 3D images.

"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 LA, the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Rome, Portland and others. As Google adds more 3D cities to its database, both those platforms will get them at same time."-Google

source: AppleAppStore via MacRumors