Google Earth for iPhone

Google Earth includes the ability to view maps created on your desktop computer on your iOS device, which is a nice idea. 

Getting around with Google Earth

It's advisable to have a look at the controls system in the program's Tutorial section before you start using Google Earth on your iPhone or iPad, because some of the commands aren't immediately obvious. .

You can swipe the map in any direction to move around, pinch your fingers to zoom out, tap on a spot to zoom in, or make a circular motion with your fingers to rotate the viewpoint. You can even view the lie of the terrain just by tilting your iOS device.

Although the controls seem simple, in practice they are quite unresponsive at times. Depending on what you're looking at, navigation can be quite choppy, making honing in on a precise spot pretty infuriating. This is especially true of older model iPhones and iPads.

Budget travel on iOS

Google Earth is a powerful tool for helping you explore our planet whether for research or just curiosity. The user experience of this iOS version could be smoother, though.