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3D Helicopter View Added To Google Maps

Posted by Soulskill on from the merging-the-flight-sims-and-directions dept.

Zothecula writes "Those not content with getting a 2D top-down or 360-degree street level view of a planned route using Google Maps can now enjoy a virtual flight over the route thanks to Google adding a new Helicopter View. The new feature, which currently only works in a full browser and requires the Google Earth plugin, lets users see 3D view, and should come in particularly handy for walkers or bike riders looking for a more intuitive view of potentially tiring hills."

4 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. Not that new. by The_mad_linguist · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Google Earth has had a flight simulator built in for years now. The difference between normal google Earth, a F-16 in Google Earth and a helicopter in Google Earth isn't that noteworthy.

  2. Re:Full browser? by Cyko_01 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Netscape navigator 9.0.0.6 (I have it installed just for laughs) shows the 3D button but the plugin shows some errors and crashes the browser if you try it anyways.

  3. Linux Users Not Invited by Psion · · Score: 4, Informative

    Unfortunately, the plugin only supportes Mac and Windows. C'mon, Google!

  4. You don't have to run it in a browser by Animats · · Score: 3, Informative

    Google Earth is really a standalone Windows application. (Remember those?) Google didn't develop it; it was from a company called Keyhole, which sold it as a service for years before Google bought them out. I had a Keyhole account back in 2003. NVidia had a promotional deal; it was cheaper with an NVidia card.

    You could fly along a route in Keyhole, so a "helicopter view" isn't exactly new.