Google has announced the release of a Google Earth application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The application was introduced via an official Google blog and is described as achieving the dream of "being able to carry the Earth around in your pocket".The application offers users easy access to the world of Google Earth on the go. By incorporating the functionality of the iPhone and the 3D imagery of Google Earth, it gives users the ability to move from one location to the other with the swipe of a finger, tilt the screen to change the view, and tap to zoom in and out.
The 'My Location' feature will take you to wherever you are in the real world on the map, which could prove very useful if you tend to get lost easily in unfamiliar places.
Google has also added a new layer to the Google Earth application which contains eight million photos from Panaramio, allowing users to view high-quality pictures of locations found on the map. Similarly, users can also read geo-located articles from Wikipedia. All of this lets iPhone fans take a virtual tour of a location, look at stunning pictures and read up on its history at the click of a button.
Another feature is Google Local Search, through which you can search for places, businesses and landmarks the same way you would with Google Maps.
Google stated: "With Google Earth you get to the full detail page for businesses, so you can get reviews, photos, user content, business hours, and other useful information."
Google has also added a "search near me" feature giving users the ability to find businesses in close proximity to their current location without having to find it on the map first. This useful addition means finding the nearest cinema, pub or restaurant is made easy.
The Google Earth application for the iPhone/iPod Touch is free and available to download now in 18 languages and 22 countries.
