Kugelblitz Releases Mac-Native Google Earth Alternative with Vision Pro Support

Mac-Native 3D Globe and Atlas

Kugelblitz has released a new application for Mac that serves as a 3D globe and atlas. It displays the Earth with imagery, road maps, and topographic maps rendered on real terrain, including 3D buildings. The application integrates thousands of open maps from its Library and utilizes freely available geodata, such as OpenStreetMap data from its own tile server, without requiring an account.

Vision Pro Integration

The Kugelblitz application supports Apple Vision Pro, enabling users to project the globe into the headset directly from their Mac. This functionality works on M1 Macs and does not require a separate application on the headset itself, as confirmed on February 27.

Geodata and Features

Kugelblitz offers three map types: imagery, road map, and topographic map, which are displayed on the globe's terrain. Users can also view any body as a flat atlas in five different projections. The Library feature allows searching and adding map services from global geoportals, including aerial images, satellite images, elevation models, and 3D buildings. OpenStreetMap data is streamed from Kugelblitz's tile server, providing global coverage without large regional downloads.

Additional Functionality

The application includes historical data, computing eclipses over 5,000 years and displaying past earthquakes, eruptions, tsunamis, and fireballs at their specific locations and times. Kugelblitz also features a cache for loaded data, with an option for instances on the same network to share it. Status windows provide information on loading progress, current view, and data sources, with licenses listed in a dedicated section. The application supports both German and English languages and allows users to select their preferred units.