The iPad and Maps

by KUMIKO YAMAZAKI on March 12, 2010 • apple • COMMENT

In case anyone’s missed it before, or just want to see it again, this is CNET’s video showcasing Google Maps in action on the iPad.

How will the iPad revolutionize the mapping community?

Unless you purchase the 3G version, the iPad only comes with an integrated digital compass and will be using Wi-Fi trangulation to approximate your location and orientation. This is hardly useful if you’re lost and on the road.

If, however, you’re one of the lucky ones with an iPad 3G, it will include almost all the capabilities of the iPhone and more. This will undoubtedly change the apps market and its expectations from each app due to its larger screen size. One prime example is guided tours. The iPad is no longer about carrying a map, but a data overload of suggested sites to see, reviews, comments, nearby restaurants, photos, and videos. DC Historic Tours is an excellent example of the future on the iPad.