3D flyover: Apple Maps adds new flyover images in Germany

Apple has updated and significantly expanded its satellite images and flyover images in several regions in Germany: Apple Maps now not only includes updated aerial images for the Rhine-Main region, but also so-called flyover views for the first time. The cities of Frankfurt am Main, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Darmstadt and Offenbar can be flown over in a 3D model view from a bird's eye perspective, as readers noted at the beginning of the year.

New satellite images and flyover images

Some of the new satellite images are apparently from the summer of 2024. Apple Maps sometimes showed newer aerial images in the browser version than the apps of the same name on iPhone, iPad and Mac. The images for 3D flyovers appear to be somewhat older. The view is reserved for Apple devices; the manufacturer does not yet support this in the browser.

Planned "flyover tours", virtual flyovers of well-known landmarks, such as those offered by Apple for Munich and Berlin, are not currently available for the Rhine-Main region. Other cities that do not yet offer a 3D flyover view appear to be in preparation: when searching for Essen and Bochum, the map app already displays flyover buttons under the names of the cities, but the corresponding view was not available at the time of going to press.

First flyover updates in Germany for years

Apple has significantly expanded the 3D flyover view of its map service in recent years, but has mainly added cities outside Europe. In Germany, the last significant updates were almost 10 years ago. Parallel to Frankfurt & Co, Portugal's capital Lisbon also received a 3D view in Apple Maps at the beginning of the year. Apple has not yet mentioned the new cities in the official list of covered flyover locations.

(lbe)