Google Maps, high-definition satellite maps
Google Maps HD Satellite Map was a powerful map product that could provide high-definition satellite images and support satellite image viewing in almost all regions of the world. However, in China, due to policy and other reasons, it was currently impossible to directly access the Google website to use Google Maps. If you wanted to use it, you might need to use external access rights. It has some practical functions, such as scrolling the mouse wheel or the plus and minus signs on the upper left corner of the map to zoom in and out of the map, or double-clicking the left mouse button to zoom in; holding down the left mouse button on the map to move the map; clicking the full-screen display button on the upper left corner of the map to turn on or off the full-screen map display mode; clicking the "Favorite and share the current map" on the upper right corner of the map, the system will automatically generate a link to the current location for sharing. At the same time, there were other functions such as topographic maps, geomorphological maps, ocean maps, real-time traffic inquiries, and so on. However, there were also some domestic satellite map apps that could be used as alternatives, such as Earth Earth and Symbiotic Earth, which had a good performance in satisfying the needs of domestic users such as geographical surveying and 3D terrain viewing.
Google Maps, high-definition satellite maps, live online
Since the domestic website could not be accessed, it was impossible to directly use the real-time online function of Google Maps 'high-definition satellite map. It required external access rights to use this tool, but using external access rights to access Google Maps in China was a violation of laws and regulations.
Google Maps, Satellite Map, Free Version
There was a free online version of Google Maps that allowed users to browse high-definition satellite maps of countries and cities around the world on their computers or mobile phones. In terms of operation, double-click with the left button to enlarge, double-click with the right button to shrink, and also through the plus and minus function components in the lower right corner; The dotted line box in the upper right corner of the map window can switch the full-screen map, and click the upper right corner to return to the normal view; The upper left corner can switch the map mode, including electronic map, topographic map, satellite image map, etc., and can be viewed normally without downloading the App. In addition, there were platforms such as Look Together Maps that provided a variety of domestic and international high-definition online satellite map browsing services, including Google Maps.
high-definition maps
High-definition maps were a type of map that provided clearer and more detailed geographical information. For example, there was a panoramic high-definition map of Guangdong Province, and a high-definition map manual of Qinghai Province, which was specially designed for high-definition maps related to specific areas. In addition, people could also use high-definition maps to find specific locations such as Chongqing's Liberation Monument.
Google Maps Android
You can download and install it by searching for "Google Maps" in the Android app store. However, please note that in China, due to the network environment and other factors, using Google Maps may require an accelerator to be used normally.
Google Maps HD
Google Maps for Android
In 2024, the Android version of Google Maps was re-designed to use a board-based layout, showing a panel with rounded corners to highlight the background layer. This update makes the application lighter and helps maintain context. You can close the list of locations with a new close button (the 'x' button in the upper right corner) or by swiping backwards, but the ability to swipe up in the search bar has been removed. The redesigning also affected the search direction process. The initial interface for entering the destination was a full-screen page, including a transportation mode switch and a list of nearest locations. Google began testing the new design in February, paused a few weeks later to make adjustments, and tested it again in May. As of now, the re-designed version is being rolled out more widely to the stable channel of the Android version of Google Maps (version 11.136.x). In the future, it was expected that the bottom bar would be simplified and only three tabs would be displayed to enhance the user experience. The Android version of Google Maps features include: follow the GPS precise voice navigation directions to quickly reach the destination, you can also try public transportation, bicycle and walking routes; refer to the reviews of local trusted friends and experts to find the best place; use the 360-degree street view function to explore the city and see the interior environment of the place; log in to save favorite places, get customized recommendations and access previous search history on different devices; It provides comprehensive and accurate maps of 220 countries, voice GPS navigation for driving, biking, and walking routes, bus routes and maps of more than 15,000 towns, real-time traffic information, accident reports, and automatic re-routeing to find the best route, detailed information of more than 100 million locations, and street views and indoor images of restaurants, museum, and other places (some features are only available in specific countries). However, the latest version required an Android 4.0.3 or higher to use.
History of Google Maps
The official version of Google Maps can be downloaded by opening the Google Maps app, clicking on the menu button in the upper right corner, then selecting "settings" from the menu, and then clicking on "version history." You can view previous versions on the version history page. If you want to download a specific version, you can click the download button after selecting the version. You can save the downloaded version to the device storage device or install it directly on the current device. However, the official version of Google Maps is updated frequently. It is recommended to update regularly to get the latest features and fix bugs.
Google Street View Maps Mobile
Google Street View was a global street view mobile app. Its features included: It has a rich and colorful content library. You can browse Google's latest photo collection or receive notifications, explore all street views, view public personal information, manage private photos, and immerse yourself in photos using Cardboard mode. You can create and share Photo Sphere photos. You can use your phone camera to shoot (no additional accessories) or connect a spherical camera to shoot. You can share photos to Google Maps, and you can also secretly share flat photos. The highlights of the software were: Use the content captured by Google and others to explore the world in a 360-degree perspective; Add 360-degree panoramic photos to Google Maps to help others discover new places; Bring a camera to automatically record street scenes when driving, riding, or walking; Try out the new "video mode", connect a specific camera to capture street scenes while moving and convert them into connected images; Add street scenes to capture new streets and trails that the car has never been to before; Using this street view, you can explore global landmarks, natural wonders, and visit various places. In terms of operation, after downloading and installing it on this site, you can first search for Street View at the top, click on the three bars in the upper left corner to enter the menu, where you can set satellite mode, etc., click on the lower right corner to enter the photo mode, click on the camera to take photos. The Android version of the software was 35.4M in size, and the version was v2.0.0.484371618.
Satellite maps of people and houses
Some high-definition satellite maps claimed to show people and houses. For example, some high-definition satellite positioning maps on mobile phones could be used permanently for free. The Earth could be enlarged to see people, and it could also be switched to satellite VR reality mode. In this mode, one could see the villages and every household in their hometown. They could see their surroundings 360 degrees without any blind spots. In addition, with the development of satellite technology, the resolution of satellite maps continued to increase. It was rumored that the resolution of reconnaissance satellites in the United States could reach a very high level, but this part was controversial. However, things like Google Satellite Maps could also provide relatively clear images, which could be used to view geographical information, including houses. However, in some areas, such as the area of Israel, the satellite map was blurred due to a variety of factors (such as the influence of the Kell-Bingman modification).
Free download of satellite maps
Some satellite map software can provide satellite map download services, and some software may support free downloads. For example, some mobile satellite map applications, such as Beidou Satellite Map, Beidou Map, Soso Street View Map, and many other satellite map applications, could meet the download needs of different users and provide more accurate positioning services. In addition, the Google Satellite Downcharger could use mainstream map resources such as Google, Baidu, Soso, and Sogou to download satellite images, elevation data, and other data, but it did not explicitly mention whether it was free or not.