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Google Maps Now Zooms Out To a Globe Instead of a Flat Earth (venturebeat.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the keep-scrolling dept.

Google Maps has been updated to present you with a 3D globe of the planet when you zoom out. Previously, Maps would have shown you a flat map of the world. An anonymous Slashdot reader shares a report from VentureBeat: About two weeks ago, however, Google quietly rolled out (hehe) a change so that the service now presents you with a 3D globe. You can manipulate the globe as you'd expect -- spin it, zoom in, and zoom back out. Google Earth, watch out -- Google Maps is coming for you. Globe mode only works on desktop, but all major browsers are supported, we're told. We tested it on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge -- they all showed the globe just fine. This is all thanks to WebGL.

2 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. Clouds are realtime too by fructose · · Score: 5, Informative

    When you zoom out in satellite imagery, the clouds are also realtime cloud cover. Pretty slick.

  2. Solar System, inc space station. by stephenjsweeney · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'm surprised no one's mentioned the ability to zoom out in satellite mode and view and planets of the Solar System, including the International Space Station. Or maybe that's always been a thing, but I've only just discovered it. Earth even appears to be shaded correctly depending on the direction the globe is facing the Sun.