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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.

    1. Re:Clouds are realtime too by Gilgaron · · Score: 5, Funny

      Now they just need to make the street view real-time, too!