Google has released an update for Google Maps which changes the way the Earth is depicted when users zoom all the way out.
The Earth is no longer portrayed as a flat surface and is now shown as a globe on the Google Maps desktop application.
Google previously used traditional Mercator projection to create a flat depiction of Earth, which makes it easier to portray maps in two-dimensional formats – but distorts the size of landmasses.
For example, Greenland previously seemed larger than Africa on Google Maps, while the new 3D globe depiction portrays real landmass sizes – with Africa 14-times the size of Greenland.
With 3D Globe Mode on Google Maps desktop, Greenland's projection is no longer the size of Africa.— Google Maps (@googlemaps) August 2, 2018
Just zoom all the way out at https://t.co/mIZTya01K3 😎🌍 pic.twitter.com/CIkkS7It8d
The Earth is no longer portrayed as a flat surface and is now shown as a globe on the Google Maps desktop application.
Google previously used traditional Mercator projection to create a flat depiction of Earth, which makes it easier to portray maps in two-dimensional formats – but distorts the size of landmasses.
For example, Greenland previously seemed larger than Africa on Google Maps, while the new 3D globe depiction portrays real landmass sizes – with Africa 14-times the size of Greenland.
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