Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand Tips, App Reviews and News for the iPhone and iPad by Richard Barrow

Google Earth on the iPhone

When I am off exploring Thailand, an essential tool for me is Google Earth. I love reading maps and also creating my own. But even better, I really enjoy studying satellite images. I have discovered many new places in my neighbourhood just by using Google Earth. Like sunken ships, temples surrounded by the sea, secret government satellite installations and even some new walks through mangrove forests. What I used to have to do was print out these satellite images from my computer and then use these when I was exploring. To be honest with you, one of the main reason that I wanted to buy the iPhone was because of Google Maps and the ability to show your current location on the map. If you have driven around Thailand as much as I have then you will know that most of the map books are either very lacking in detail or are just plain wrong. Google Maps is increasingly doing a great job of bridging this gap between what we have now and what we really need. Even better is Google Earth.

For some reason, even though the Google Earth iPhone app is free, it is not available in the Thai iTunes store. I am not sure why it is like that. However, as I have blogged about before, it is possible to set up an account in the US store even if you don't have a credit card (click here for instructions). The iPhone version works much the same as the software version that we have all played on our computers. However, it will mark your present location with a blue dot. You can also add your own Google Maps. In the above example, I added my Bangkok Day Trips map. I used this on my recent trip to Chonburi. Without Google Earth I would have never found Wat Thammanimit. I had added it to my map before I left. So, as I was driving along, I just needed to follow the blue dot all the way to the temple. If you have a Google account, you can easily add my day trip map to your list so that you can use it in the same way that I did.

Google Earth has just done an update which now includes major roads as an optional overlay. You also have the option to have markers for Panoramio pictures, Wiki articles, places, businesses and borders. They also have a version for the iPad. I am actually tempted to buy the iPad just for this app!