Watch out Google Earth, Apple Maps has a hidden VR-like 'flyover' mode
You're soon going to have a new reason to use Apple Maps.
Apple is adding a new feature to its mapping app that builds on iOS' existing 3D "flyover" tours of cities around the world. Now, instead of just the guided tours, you can navigate a first person view of the cities while in flyover mode.
The feature, which has not been publicized by Apple, is available now in the iOS 11 public beta. When you search for a location that has "flyover" enabled, you can dive into a first-person 3D view of the city. "To explore the map, move forward or backward or side to side," it says.
Navigating flyover mode is a lot like watching a 360-degree video on your phone: you can change your point of view by moving your phone around or walking around. You can also still go on a "flyover tour" for a more passive experience.
Though not technically VR, the new feature is reminiscent of Google Earth VR and raises fresh questions about Apple's plans for virtual reality.
The feature looks a lot like Google Earth VR, even though there isn't yet a way to navigate Apple's flyover in a VR environment. Still, the similarities, combined with the use of ARKit, raises interesting questions about Apple's eventual plans in the space.
It's easy to see how the new flyover feature could eventually translate to a true virtual reality experience. Apple fueled more rumors about its plans for some kind of headset or eyewear earlier this week when its acquisition of a company that makes eye-tracking technology was revealed.
Whatever the longterm goal of Apple's new flyover feature, though, it's a pretty neat way to get an up-close look at cities without donning a headset or downloading a new app. It might even be enough to make you give the rest of Apple Maps a second look.
UPDATE: June 29, 2017, 11:54 a.m. PDT Updated to clarify that previous versions of iOS had "flyover tours" but the new first-person navigation features of flyover are new to iOS 11.
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
