Comparison

SPHERE OS vs 立体?マップ(3D?Map)

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SPHERE OS

Explore Earth's dynamic systems with an interactive digital globe. Visualize real-time data like cloud cover, seismic activity, and pollution, and engage through voice commands, gestures, and augmented reality. This tool transforms learning about our planet for educational and exhibition purposes.

Highlights
  • Real-time scientific data visualization
  • Voice recognition for navigation
  • Gesture-based globe control
  • Augmented Reality (AR) mode
  • QR code content integration
  • Customizable playlists for presentations
Features
Read full description

Still in the global age, children born in 21st century use 2D maps invented in 16th century, or conventional analogue globes. In order to update our perception on the condition of our planet, we would like to launch a brand-new interactive digital globe (named “Sphere”, http://sphere.blue/en). Operated with iPad, the globe represents a variety of scientific data such as the near real-time cloud distribution (satellite image updated hourly through the net) , live-cam image from around the world, seismic events and plate tectonics (with the animation of continental drift), trace of migratory birds and whales, the global transfer of air pollutants and marine debris, global warming simulations, etc. You can interact with the globe in various ways. 1) Voice recognition function : By addressing the name of cities or contents, the globe will rotate and it shows the live image of the cities or the related data either on the hemispheric dome or on the iPad. 2) By manipulating the globe icon at the right bottom of the iPad screen, you can easily spin the globe. By tapping the icons beside the globe icon, you can overlay national borderline, latitude/longitude lines, etc. 3) Hold your hand over the globe, and the globe will respond by the sign (the appearance of circle) showing that it is sensing your presence. Slowly move your palm, just like caressing the virtual atmosphere of the globe, and it will rotate in the direction you want to spin. 4) If you bring some points on the globe to the magnifying pointer zone, you will get some information on the local sites. 5) In the AR mode (by tapping AR icon at the bottom of the iPad), you use iPad as a window to browse virtually floating contents on the globe, such as national flag (browse data on each country by tapping the flag) , the rapidly increasing wind power generation around the globe (illustrated with the virtual windmills standing on each country), aurora circle floating above polar regions, etc. 6) You can show a variety of contents by using QR code reader function. Hold some items such as miniature animals or books (on which a QR code is attached) in front of the iPad, and the globe will show contents related to the item. (ex. The miniature Polar Bear will serve as a trigger to start the animation of the diminishing polar ice in recent years.) This function turn this globe into a sort of Edutainment tool for science museum and schools. 7) By using “Playlist” function, you can select necessary content out of over 100 pre-installed programs and edit the original scenario (Manual or Autoplay mode) for specific exhibitions, lectures, and presentations. The original model of our digital globe is called “Tangible Earth” and is disseminated around the world over the last decade, installed and presented at various museums and international conferences such as G8 Summit in Japan, the Summer-Davos forums (WEF), UN headquarter (Geneva and NY), etc. Now we would like to launch a popular edition (much more portable and cheaper) for schools and small museums, shops.

About

立体?マップ(3D?Map)

Features
Read full description

肉眼の場合は左右の地図を寄り目にして重ねると地図を立体で見ることができますが、練習が必要です。 
簡易型のVRゴーグルなどを使うと立体マップが見やすくなるかもしれません。

Screenshots

SPHERE OS3 screens
立体?マップ(3D?Map)3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: 立体?マップ(3D?Map) at weekly against SPHERE OS's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPHERE OS ships an update every 3 weeks, 立体?マップ(3D?Map) weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
SPHERE OS versus 立体?マップ(3D?Map): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPHERE OS立体?マップ(3D?Map)
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size951 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLNSOFTMayumi Kato

In-app purchases

None

SPHERE OS

No in-app purchases

None

立体?マップ(3D?Map)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SPHERE OS free?
SPHERE OS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is 立体?マップ(3D?Map) free?
立体?マップ(3D?Map) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SPHERE OS or 立体?マップ(3D?Map) have ads?
Neither SPHERE OS nor 立体?マップ(3D?Map) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPHERE OS or 立体?マップ(3D?Map)?
SPHERE OS ships an update every 3 weeks, and 立体?マップ(3D?Map) weekly. Most recently, SPHERE OS was updated on September 26, 2026 and 立体?マップ(3D?Map) on September 30, 2026.

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