Google has just unveil their new , refreshed Maps 5.0 app for Android , establish soon . What ’s new about it ? Well , it fork up buildings in 3D , stretch faster , works offline and will automatically rotate the map according to the phone ’s grasp .
Thanks to the small file size and scalability of the novel dynamically drawn transmitter art in Maps , the app now render in realtime , and function download about 100 times less data — which leads to faster payload time and super smooth zooming . ( Previously , maps were downloaded as a caboodle of tile and zooming was more of a “ snap to ” experience . ) The Modern 3D construction model will start to appear as you get down to the street view grade , and you’re able to even slant the map using a two - finger’s breadth swipe motion , change the single-valued function ’s perpendicular orientation to offer a sensation of a building ’s height . Imagine come out out of the subway in NYC and instantly recognizing where you ’re at by checking out the building around you in 3D. 100 cities , like New York , will be supported from the outset .
But perhaps the coolest part of the updated app are the gyration tools . you’re able to rotate the map using the multitouch screen , or have the app go around itself in accordance with the compass . So if you ’re walking through a busy metropolis , the map will turn as you change by reversal , hopefully prevent the user from losing their sense of commission . And if you want a different feeling at the mapping , you could move two finger in a rotary motion to turn out the map to your liking .
Also included in the update is an offline mode that will remember areas you ’ve shoot the breeze the most , and cache those maps in the background so that if one ’s connection should drop out , they wo n’t be without navigation . Maps downloads and caches data from your most frequently claver areas overnight when you ’re connected to Wi - Fi . A straightaway demo we saw impressed us with how the immense majority of New York City stay in memory — even 3D edifice models and soar down 2 - 3 layer in the mathematical function — after the phone was interchange to offline mode . Google says that this should compensate for 90 percent of the time the app currently fails when the connection is bad — in Navigation it ’ll even re - route you if you miss a good turn in an area where the sign drops .
The minimum requirements for the new Maps will get it persist on any phone running Android 1.6 Donut , but feature article such as the active rendering and map gyration will only work on more advanced hardware — basically , it ’s got ta be as powerful as the original Motorola Droid , though YMMV . It ’s a reasonably incredible experience , and we can only go for it shows up on other non - Android phones with Google Maps sooner alternatively of after .
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