THE DESCRIPTION:
This is the iPhone version of Google’s Earth application, which uses Google Maps’ satellite imagery and map information to make a 3D model of the globe.
THE GOOD:
The iPhone version of Google Earth is a lot of fun to mess around with. Multi-touch is a great way to explore a virtual globe. Pinch two fingers open and closed to zoom in and out, twist them to turn left or right, and drag them parallel up or down to adjust the view tilt if you get sick of the bird’s-eye. The whole thing feels pretty natural. If you combine this with the 3D terrain layer (included in the App), you can explore the peaks of Mount Everest at virtual eye level, just like on the desktop version. There are several other features, including Wikipedia articles about important locations, geo-tagged photos, and general city / state labels.
THE BAD:
Google Earth is a pretty intense application and will drain your iPhone’s battery. In addition, the App is a little sluggish in rendering map data, but for most purposes this isn’t too much of a hindrance. The omission of the 3D Buildings layer (similar in concept to the 3D terrain layer) is surprising; it would make the App invaluable in navigating major cities.
BOTTOM LINE:
While not entirely useful, if you want to experience the future, download Google Earth and have the whole world in your pocket, for free. This is a one-of-a-kind App, and it is simply stunning.
