Filed under: iPhone 101
iPhone 101: Zooming in and out of maps
In the iPhone Google Maps application, it's pretty obvious how to zoom into maps. You double tap the screen. The map readjusts, zooming further in. So how do you zoom out? Sure you can pinch your way back but there's a far easier way. Use a single multi-touch tap instead. That is, tap with two finger at once.
Separate your fingers so it's clear that you're making two contact points and...tap. Google Maps obediently zooms back out, one zoom stage for each multi-touch tap. Give it a try. It's a great tool to bring into your Google Maps vocabulary.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fernando said 2:14PM on 8-09-2007
Before 7/29 this was TUAW ever since its more like TUIW-UG = The Unofficial Iphone Weblog and User Guide. I mean please are you seriously this obsessed with the Iphone that you need to write an article on how to zoom out on the Map utility. Please I think 99% of the people that own one (me included) should definately know this by now! I mean are you guys going to write an article next on how to turn on the Iphone next!?!
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bxstrb said 12:09PM on 8-09-2007
I wish they could've implemented the two finger single tap in the web browser. Hopefully in the next update.
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Steven said 1:10PM on 8-09-2007
I really like all these iPhone tips, but surely you can make an iPhone blog so people that just want Apple news without the iPhone stuff won't get so annoyed.
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Brady J. Frey said 11:40AM on 8-09-2007
You know, I thought I'd love google maps on the iphone, but it's been an annoyance for me. Sometimes it doesn't find the same stuff as a regular google search - but far more annoying:
- do a search in safari's google for something local
-when you see the preview list on google for reviews and other information, click on the reviews
button
Automatically launches the google maps application. I can't read all the other good information it puts in there! Drives me nuts!
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Carl said 11:45AM on 8-09-2007
Is there any reason that anyone can think that Google Maps doesn't use the standard "unpinch" gesture to zoom in? (like on photos -- you press the point you want to zoom with two fingers and then expand your fingers in the amount you wish to zoom).
The only reason I could think of is that the google map data is to low rez to accurately represent the zoom -- but I'd rather have it go blurry for a moment before refreshing and keep the same gesture to zoom in rather than have this one lone app that has a different UI..
Anyone else have ideas? Agree? Disagree..?
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PK said 1:04PM on 8-09-2007
@Carl:
Actually, the unpinch motion to zoom in on Google Maps has worked since Day 1 on my iPhone, and seems to work in exactly the same manner as the unpinch motion in Photos. Is it possible your iPhone isn't working correctly?
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