Google Maps 5.0 Offers 3D View and Offline Reliability on Android – Video Within

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Google Maps 5.0 is officially announced for Android. Users can download (or upgrade) on Android Market. Significant improvement includes 3D map view and offline map view.

One of the biggest change, in my opinion, is that they now uses vector graphics (as opposed to those square block) to display the map and this has allow smaller file sizes and better zoom control.

Here are some of the features on the new Google Maps 5.0

  • Tilting: Drag down with two fingers to tilt the map. Tilt while zoomed in on one of the 100+ cities around the world with 3D buildings to see a skyline spring to life.
  • Rotating: Twist with two fingers to rotate the map. After tilting to see 3D buildings, rotate around them to gain a new perspective from any direction.
  • Smooth zooming: Slide two fingers together or apart, and see the map and labels continuously scale to any zoom level, stopping when your fingers stop.
  • Compass mode: Center the map on your location, and then tap the compass button in the top right corner. The map will flip into 3D mode and start rotating to match your perspective, while still keeping all the labels upright and readable.

Watch this video to see how it is done.

However, do note that you will need Android 2.0 and above to see the 3D maps. And according to Google information, some devices does not support rotate function.

The following devices support touchscreen gestures in Google Maps for Android version 5.0. Due to hardware limitations, certain Android devices may not fully support every gesture available.

Fully-supported devices:

The following devices support panning, zooming, tilting, and rotating gestures.

  • Samsung Nexus S
  • Samsung Galaxy S
  • Motorola Droid
  • Motorola Droid 2
  • Motorola Droid X
  • HTC Incredible
  • HTC EVO 4G
  • HTC G2

Partially-supported devices:

The following devices support panning, zooming, and tilting gestures only.

  • HTC Desire
  • Sony Ericsson X10
  • LG Ally
  • HTC Nexus One

Note:

  • Rotating gestures require Android OS 2.2 or later.
  • This list of devices may be incomplete and may change in the future as new Android phones are available for purchase.

    • Click Here to See The List

    The offline reliability is also a plus to everyone. Previously, you will always need a data connection to download the map. Now, with offline reliability, you can actually store the maps onto your device so that even in the event that data signal is lost, you still can navigate with it.

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    Click Here to Read from Google Mobile Blog

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