Google re-invents the Maps app

WORLD MAPPER Google has released version 5 of its Google Maps software for the Android operating system, improving offline use and adding 3D interaction.

These are two major changes to the software according to a blog post from the firm, and they take the flat, north-up map view into three dimensions, while also making it easier to find your way when you lose your mobile connection.

In order to go 3D the firm has dropped the old way of loading maps, which populated the screen through grey squares, and has swapped it for a map drawn using vector graphics. This, said Google, will let users tilt, rotate and zoom into their maps and view buildings and locations in 3D.

Michael Siliski, a product manager for Google Maps added that improved reliability will support these new features, which he said will keep maps available on devices when connections are lost.

"Dynamically drawing maps requires 100 times less data to get maps across all zoom levels, so now we're able to proactively cache (or store) large areas on your device based on where you use Maps the most. This way, you can rely on having fast, robust maps available to you where you're most likely to need them," he said.

This small amount of stored information should not cause too much data load according to Siliski, who explained that viewing maps using the new software consumes about 70 per cent less data than before.

The Google Maps 3D and offline features are available on Android 2.0 and above. µ