UpNext Releases Impressive 3D Mapping App for iPad

Mapping company UpNext has released a new iPad app with its 3D mapping technology. The app shows uses points of interest and friends Foursquare check-ins to help users navigate on a 3D representation of close to 50 cities. TechCrunch, writing about the app, says:

I am seriously impressed. The resolution is great and the onscreen update speed is amazing. It offers the best of services like Google Maps alongside real city imagery, allowing you to use the map to orient yourself in 3D space. A blinking dot on a 2D street-scape works, but a 3D dot in a 3D city works even better.

The app boasts what UpNext calls "enhanced 3D" for 22 cities, with rich building and road detail:

Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Paul, Washington DC

UpNext HD Maps for iPad is available free on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Laika37

96 months ago

...and some people still say the iPad is just a big iPod touch. Can't do that on an iPod touch.

You could if it was bigger

Rating: 9 Votes

thekeyring

96 months ago

...and some people still say the iPad is just a big iPod touch. Can't do that on an iPod touch.

Rating: 1 Votes

nagromme

96 months ago

Just to be clear:

The app in question is "UpNext HD Maps,” not “UpNext 3D Cities,” which is older and only has half a dozen or so cities right now—but which does support iPhone.

(It also seems to take up more space on your device, pre-downloading your chosen citi(es); compared to this newer app which streams as near as I can tell—but may therefore depend on an Internet connection all the time? I haven’t checked what else differs between the two.)

Rating: 1 Votes

Pigumon

96 months ago

You could if it was bigger

It's not JUST a bigger iPod Touch, it's FINALLY a bigger iPod Touch. :)

Useful screen space was all the Touch was lacking.

.

Rating: 1 Votes

pointlessly

96 months ago

Pretty. Cute. Pointless.

When you have applications that show you actual street photographs, how is a 3D map any better, especially when the buildings don't really look like the actual buildings? They try, sure, but don't come close. So it's another "gee whiz" app that's redundant. And then there's the advertisement at the bottom of the map that bears no relation to my interests. If you want turn-by-turn on your iPhone and iPad go with waze. :cool:

Rating: 1 Votes

Digitalclips

96 months ago

Good effort and quite fun, if obviously very beta. When Apple release their own 3D mapping system based on the SAAB technology this sort of application will be doomed, I would not want to be an investor that's for sure.

Rating: 1 Votes

JesseFogarty

96 months ago

So much for Android trying to use the lack of turn by turn directions, I think 3D maps > turn by turn directions.

On another note, really Apple? Another god damn genius update that Canadians get to drool over but never use... Nice.

Rating: 0 Votes

Zimmer62943

96 months ago

coming soon for other devices like the kindle fire. kindle FAIL

Rating: 0 Votes

SockRolid

96 months ago

Very nice. But I suspect Apple is going to release a massive upgrade to Maps in iOS 6.0. On iPhone and iPad. And that will crush independents like UpNext.

And that massive iOS Maps upgrade just might explain why Samsung is hyping their own turn-by-turn navigation system in ads now. Because in a few months Apple will trump them.

Rating: 0 Votes

ArtOfWarfare

96 months ago

...and some people still say the iPad is just a big iPod touch. Can't do that on an iPod touch.

T.T

A failure on the developers part to envision to interface on a smaller screen doesn't mean the iPhone couldn't handle it. iPad exclusive apps really piss me off.

Edit: nontheless, I shall be using the app on my iPad to look around Boston... There have been some walking routes I've wanted to look into but havn't been adventurous enough to try it in person (what if I get lost?)

Rating: -1 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]