Street View Now Available in Google Maps
Now you can click on a street in Google Maps and you’re virtually there. Street View, a limited feature that could be called experimental because of the paucity of cities available, was just rolled out by Google a few hours ago. But that lack of imagery doesn’t make this any less cool. Click the Street View button on the top, select one of the camera icons then you can do a virtual walk around that city.
It doesn’t give you that virtual race car that you get with Microsoft’s Live Search Maps, but you do have the ability to get a full 360-degree view of wherever you’re standing, and then you can zoom in on any point within that view. It’s also great to go full screen, and it almost feels like you’re there. What’s the catch? Take the jump to find out, and to see a video showing the new features.
There are only parts of five cities (San Francisco, New York, Denver, Las Vegas and Miami) that have imagery available. Now as soon as they can gather imagery for the entire world, this will be an indispensable tool. Imagine if someone crammed all that data into a GPS system. Keep in mind, though, a database is only as powerful as the information within.
Google Maps [Google] Thanks, Matt!
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Now all we need is to be able to move inside shops and things as well
This is so cool. Especially when you’re like me and miss living in New York city.
I was able to goto the front of my apartment building…walk down to the street past my laundromat, to the corner diner and imagine going in for Bagel and crappy coffee. Hey look they’ve changed the facade.
Around the corner, few doors down, liquor store still there.
Mona’s Bar across the road, although it’s shut. Mustn’t be open yet. Further down the street more bars and favourite restaurants.
Pizza Gruppo, yum, best pizza in NY.
26 Seats nice little French place.
Life cafe…oh it’s open and people out on the street tables. I could just go an Eggs Life and a Bloody Mary. Best way to start a day. (weekends usually)
Tompkins Square park. Well I can only walk around the park. It would be nice if I could walk through it.
OK enough…making me feel very East Village home sick.
BTW the You Tube video scared me for a second when I first saw what the guy was wearing.
Skinny geeks in a orange Lycra jump suits is just a no no.
Wow. This is pretty amazing. But surely they’d be pushing the boundaries of personal pivacy? I dunno, as cool as it is, it feels a bit wrong…I dunno… it’s the constitution… it’s mabo… it’s just…the vibe.
Oh well, who am I to stop technological advances.