Google Maps for iOS has returned to the App Store with a bang, roughly three months after Apple decided to push the Google technology aside with its own home-grown mapping solution. Google's standalone Maps application for Apple's iOS platform is better and loaded with news features, like turn-by-turn navigation, public transit directions, a 3D-like Google Earth view and an integrated street view. Download it here.
Here is the complete official description on iTunes:
"Navigate your world with Google Maps, now available for iPhone. Get comprehensive, accurate and easy-to-use maps with built-in Google local search, voice guided turn-by-turn navigation, public transit directions, street view and more. Use Google Maps to discover great places to eat, drink, shop and play, with ratings and reviews from people you trust. Sign in to save your favorite places and quickly access all your past searches and directions from your computer, right on your phone.
Directions
Get voice guided, turn-by-turn driving directions.
Find your way by train, bus, subway or walking directions.
Access live traffic information in cities across the world.
Street View and imagery
View 360-degree panoramas of places around the globe with Street View.
See inside more than 100,000 businesses worldwide.
View high resolution satellite imagery of locations around the world.
Simple and easy to use
An entirely new Google Maps experience on your iPhone.
Newly designed and streamlined interface for even easier navigation of your world.
Use gestures to explore the map and browse results.
Along with its Maps app, the search engine giant has also released the Google Maps SDK for iOS, and a URL scheme. While the Software Developers Kit (SDK) allows developers to link directly to full Google maps functionality within their apps, the URL scheme helps them to link to specific map locations.
"People around the world have been asking for Google Maps on iPhone. Starting today, we're pleased to announce that Google Maps is here - rolling out across the world in the Apple app store. It's designed from the ground up to combine the comprehensiveness and accuracy of Google Maps with an interface that makes finding what you're looking for faster and easier," Daniel Graf, director of Google Maps for mobile, wrote in a blog post.
The new Google Maps app is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch (4th generation) iOS 5.1 and higher, in more than 40 countries and 29 languages, including Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.
In an attempt to decrease its reliance on Google, Apple had replaced Google Maps with its home-grown Apple Maps app when it launched iOS 6 back in Sept. 2011. However, Apple's half-baked initial effort was not well-received and was severely criticised for omissions, errors and lack of accuracy. Apple CEO Tim Cook issued an apology to consumers for the errors. Scott Forstall, Apple senior vice president for iOS software, was held responsible for the debacle and was ousted.
