You have the whole world on your iPhone, literally. Because coming soon for iPhone users around the world there will be a 3D virtual globe app for Apple iPhone. it’s not quite Google Earth but undoubtedly modeled after that. Imagine being able to control Google Earth with the touch of a finger or a swipe on a touch screen!
This new three-dimensional geographic navigation application is being developed by a company called Earthscape, as announced at the recent 2008 Where 2.0 conference, an annual gathering in Burlingame, California, of location-related software developers and companies interested in buying, financing, selling, and/or otherwise supporting them. The new GoogleEarth-like app is, appropriately, the company’s namesake; in other words, it is also called Earthscape.
The new program even promises to have “social layers” built in, innovative technology that will allow for an even richer map display and search experience. The social layers will allow users to bookmark places of their choice anywhere on the planet and tag them with photos, stories, and travel tips. Users can then share their world (so to speak) with other users. This makes Earthscape poised to be not only the newest mapping app, but also the ultimate in social networking venues.
Other similar content that will increasingly be available at different points on the map around the world will be Wikipedia articles, restaurant reviews, and a variety of other dynamic content.
With Earthscape, just like with GoogleEarth, you’ll be able to get incredibly close to any place you want, but with Earthscape you’ll also be able to toggle between different views of that place taken in different seasons. Imagine seeing what your favorite travel destination looks like in winter, spring, summer and fall.
Not only will you be able to toggle between different seasonal views, but you’ll also be able to toggle between views from different eras. Now you can see what your hometown was like in the land of the 20th century, for example. It seems that this makes Earthscape on the verge of being the ultimate in historical applications as well.
In addition, Earthscape also provides you with aviation maps and topographic maps of the places you choose to view them.
Earthscape will include a Javascript API that allows more advanced users to develop their own custom programs for use with Earthscape. For example, you could design an app to track your pets’ movements or map your posts on your favorite social bookmarking sites. Any location-specific data you want to map could easily be turned into a custom Earthscape-compatible app.
All we have to say to this is: “Watch out, GoogleEarth!”
