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Google Maps + Earth view further blurs line between real-life and sci-fi
Google Maps now has a Google Earth view right within the site. This new addition further blurs the distinction between Earth and Maps. It's basically just like Earth, only in your browser.
When I tested the feature, navigation, tilting and panning seemed just as smooth as in Earth. The 3D-buildings layer is enabled, and as far as I was able to tell, there's no way to disable it or enable other layers. So that's something Earth still has over Maps, I guess.
I feel this addition makes Google Maps hands-down the most powerful online map tool. Earth view + satellite imagery + maps + Street View = absolute Sci-Fi. You can drill down on a specific spot in numerous ways -- bird's eye view all the way down to street level. This is really the stuff we used to see in lame action films back in the nineties, but now it's here and it's real.
After the fold you can find a short video from Google showcasing the feature.
[via The Official Google Blog]
Comments
3
Subscribe to commentsBilskoApr 29th 2010 1:29PM
Agree that Google Maps is the best out there....BUT, would it kill them to get a little "Birdseye View" functionality like maps.live.com has? You know, for all those places where 3D building models don't exist yet.
Android underlingApr 29th 2010 1:50PM
I never like the 3D buildings, they always looked like complete crap to me. I think i will just stick with satellite imagery and street view.
GerryApr 30th 2010 12:57AM
Bing has had this forever, and with a better implementation. As usual Google is late to the part.