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NEWS: Google Earth hits version 2.0 for iPhone

Amy-Mae Elliott — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:14:15 +0000

Update brings MyMaps functionality

Just over a year after the application's launch, Google has announced an update for Google Earth for the iPhone and iPod touch.

With the original at one point the second most-downloaded free application overall, it's an update that will likely be downloaded by a fair few users.

Version 2.0 of Google Earth for iPhone adds the ability to view maps created or saved on a desktop computer on an iPhone via the MyMaps settings, improved icon selection and performance and the availability of the app in new languages.

The app will be rolling out around the world over the next day or so, available to download for free from the iTunes App Store.

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Tags: Phones iPhone apps Google Google Earth Car And GPS Software updates Software

Google Earth hits version 2.0 for iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:14:15 +0000

NEWS: VIDEO: Google Earth Building Maker unveiled

Duncan Geere — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:50:02 +0100

As addictive as playing with Lego

Google's Earth and Maps applications are fantastic, but they have a slight problem - they're flat. The vast majority of locations have some form of terrain data - but that data comes from satellites which can't work out individual buildings. Some cities, like San Francisco, have had their terrain modelled, but most are featureless.

Google doesn't have the manpower to model all those buildings itself, so instead it's turning to the wilds of the Internet for help. It's launched Building Maker, which allows anyone to pick a spot on the globe and start making buildings out of simple 3D shapes. Whole buildings can be put together within minutes.

At the moment, only 50 cities are accessible. Only two of those are in the UK - Cardiff and Birmingham. If you're not sure where to start, then, Google will offer you a random location in a city worldwide instead. It's all done within the browser, though you might need a few plugins to make it work.

When you've made your model, you can keep track in your Google account of what you've built, and go back and edit models at a later date. You'll be credited for any buildings that you contribute.

In our brief testing, we found it lots of fun, if a little tricky to get the exact positions of the corners right. If you find you're having trouble lining something up right, then it's often easier to delete that block and start from scratch, but experimentation will give you most of the knowledge you need relatively quickly.

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NEWS: VIDEO: Google Earth simulates climate change

Duncan Geere — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:37:53 +0100

Al Gore gets involved

Google has put together a set of maps for its Google Earth application that model and simulate the effects of climate change on the planet. In a introductory video, narrated by Al Gore, the company has outlined how the planet could change as a result of human emissions.

Data from the IPCC was turned into a series of layers for the lapping product that show a range of expected temperate and precipitation changes depending on how the human population of the world reacts to the threat.

If you don't have Google Earth you can also view the changes on a special website that the company has put together for that purpose. There's a link to that below.

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