Google rolls out more improvements to its mapping tools following Apple’s Maps apology

Google rolled out more new and refreshed imagery for its Maps and Earth tools on Friday, the same day that Apple CEO Tim Cook issued a letter of apology for the "frustration" caused by the Cupertino company's new Maps app.

Google employees charged with keeping the company’s mapping tools in tip-top shape must currently be walking around the Mountain View offices with a spring in their step so bouncy they run the risk of banging their heads on the ceiling with every stride.

The Web giant always knew it had some good stuff going on with Maps and Google Earth, but after the disastrous launch of Apple’s Maps app recently, its offerings suddenly look even better.

And as Apple boss Tim Cook issued a letter of apology to iOS users on Friday regarding the Maps mess, Google was busy rubbing salt into the wound by uploading improved imagery to its own mapping tools. In the apology letter, Cook even went as far as to recommend people use Google Maps, among other similar services, until Apple improves its own offering.

In a post on its Lat-Long blog Friday, Google’s Bern Steinert announced refreshed high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery for a slew of locations around the world, as well as some brand new 45-degree imagery.

Google’s 45-degree imagery goes up against the Flyover feature on Apple’s Maps app, which offers photo-realistic, interactive 3D views of major cities around the world. In Google Maps, you’ll find new 45-degree views for 37 US and 14 international locations. Steinert offered up a picture of Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa by way of example.

More than 100 countries and 17 cities have been updated with new high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery in both Maps and Earth. Check out the blog post for detailed information regarding locations.

Google is constantly adding new features to Maps and Earth in a bid to hold its position as the leading provider of online mapping tools. Its Street View service recently threw on a pair of flippers to explore some spectacular ocean scenery off the coast of Australia, the Philippines and Hawaii.

“Our quest to create the most comprehensive and accurate map of the world is ongoing, but we’re happy to take a pause and share some impressive progress that our Google Maps and Earth imagery teams have recently made,” Steinert said in the blog post introducing the new imagery, no doubt with a massive smile on his face when he wrote it.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Google Maps updates with higher resolution images and adds 45 degree view as well

Google has updated their maps platform to include higher-detailed satellite imagery, as well as a new 45° view as well.

They’ve started with 51 cities initially, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, and the State Capitol building in Austin, Texas.

Of the 51 cities, 37 of them are scattered across the US, so be sure to check out some great American landmarks.

While 45° view is not a novelty for online maps (Bing Maps have had Bird’s Eye mode for quite a while), it seems that Google is trying to get in a few punches against the competition, in light of Apple’s recent maps debacle.

The cities which Google lists as having higher resolution satellite maps available are far too numerous to list here, but you can get a find a full list by following our source link.

Let us know if your area is among those updated.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Google Earth/Maps adds new satellite, aerial and 45-degree imagery for locations worldwide

Google has updated its Earth and Maps products with a stack of new and refreshed satellite, aerial and 45-degree imagery.

As competition intensifies in the world of online mapping, Google continues to refresh and add to its existing data, on Friday rolling out ever more detailed satellite and aerial imagery for a plethora of locations around the world.

Detailed in a post on the Web giant’s Lat-Long blog, Google geo data strategist Eric Kolb said users would be able to enjoy “another extensive refresh to our high resolution aerial and satellite imagery, as well as new 45-degree imagery in Google Maps spanning 30 new cities.”

Google Earth is already showing new aerial shots for over 20 locations, together with refreshed satellite imagery for over 60 different regions around the world. In his post, Kolb said the new aerial and satellite data isn’t yet showing on Maps but will be soon. However, Maps is already showing the 45-degree imagery.

Countries with refreshed high-res satellite data include the US, Brazil, Morocco, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Bordeaux in France, San Sebastian in Spain, Rome in Italy, Salzburg in Austria and the UK’s Olympic Park are just a few of the locations featuring new high-res aerial imagery, together with a bunch of places across the US.

New 45-degree imagery has been introduced for 23 US cities – among them Bend OR, Buffalo NY, Cincinnati OH and Wilmington NC – as well as seven international locations, including Bordeaux and Marseille in France, and Blanes in Spain.

The entire list of places displaying new or updated imagery can be found in Kolb’s blog post here.

Google is continuing to work hard on improving its map-based offerings, with new features and updates being introduced all the time. Other companies are beginning to move into the space, encouraged by businesses and app developers looking elsewhere for Web-based mapping data following Google’s decision to start charging for it.

OpenStreetMap has been gaining a lot of fans recently, and at next week’s Apple event we should be getting a launch date for iOS 6, which will bring the Cupertino’s own Maps app to the home screen of millions of iPhones and iPads around the world, replacing Google Maps as the default map provider.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com