Google unveiled a version of its Google Earth 3-D mapping tool tailored for Apple’s iPhone, and early reviewers like Mashable’s Stan Schroeder are impressed. The version puts the iPhone’s unique touch interface to good use, letting users easily navigate within the application and even tilt the phone to change views. Unfortunately, the new application does have one downside.
As Schroeder says, the new Google Earth for iPhone takes advantage of the phone’s user interface “beautifully.” Here’s his take:
Besides the standard panning and multitouch zooming, you can tilt your iPhone to change the viewing angle or switch it to horizontal view to see a wider picture. Furthermore, both Wikipedia and Panoramio layers of bookmarks are included (you can turn them on and off in the settings), and offline mode also works. if you continue using the application without being connected to a network, it will use cached imagery you’ve previously viewed.
Google also posted a video on YouTube that shows just how well tailored the app is to the iPhone. The one flaw in all that beauty? As with all things Google, the new app has an online advertising feature, as noticed by Google Blogoscoped.
