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Quick Review: Google Maps for iOS

iPhone users rejoice! Google Maps is back! Today you can download a new standalone app for Google Maps for your iPhone. To top it off, it's a better offering than the old Google Maps you could get!

First and foremost, it's a vector based mapping system. The one feature I've LOVED on Apple Maps is the vector based nature of it. It means no more sitting around waiting for 'tiles' to load, the maps are drawn based on geometry and not images. Overall, one of the best things to come to mapping software in a long time.

The new Google Maps app also has nice tilt zoom features, with 3D renderings of buildings, and free rotation of your view. Everything else is as you'd expect it from Google Maps, with much more information than other mapping products. Only two criticisms:


  1. I want to be able to turn off the tilt zoom and rotation. I'd like that the be a preference.
  2. I want a full iPad app (coming soon apparently)


Otherwise, it's a great app, and worth the download!

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