Video: Google To One-Up Apple, Announce 3D Maps a Week Earlier - Mashable

From a report by Mashable suggest that Google's announcement for it's next generation of Maps is timed to preempt what Apple will announce for its mapping solutions.

At an event entitled “The Next Dimension of Google Maps” next Wednesday, Brian McClendon, vice president of Google Maps and Google Earth is slated to give event goers an inside look at what’s in the works for Google’s mapping service and “provide a sneak peek at upcoming features that will help people get where they want to go – both physically and virtually ... Google’s timing on its announcement suggests that it is being done to directly compete with Apple, and perhaps show users what –potentially better – options might exist with Google Maps and Android versus what Apple will be offering with the iPhone and iOS 6." See accompanying video preview.