As reported by Google Maps Mania and Google Earth Blog, StreetView has arrived in France! It’s not a lot of imagery — mostly along the Tour de France route, but it’s quite cool nonetheless.
Go check it out for yourself, and then post your cool discoveries in the GEH StreetView archive.
This is the update you’ve been waiting for! Google Maps StreetView has been updated with a TON of new stuff.
37 new areas:
10 new parks and recreational areas:
Expanded coverage in 15 existing areas:
There is all kinds of fun stuff to go find! Share your best ones in the Google Earth Hacks Streetview section.
Google has just updated Google Maps Mobile to version 2.2. The primary enhancement in this version is public transit — now you can get information on bus, train and ferry routes right from your mobile.
You can download the application by visiting this link with your phone, or you can read more on the Google LatLong Blog or on Google Maps Mania. In addition, they’ve produced a short video to show off the new features:
Well, new to them at least. Panoramio has brought out a new feature to allow you to “Look Around” some landmarks using a very simple, intiuitive interface. As Google Earth Blog points out, this feels very similar to Microsoft’s Photosynth. In addition, as Google System points out, it’s not nearly as cool.
I’m a bit disappointed that this doesn’t yet work in Google Earth. I was picturing something much more similar to Photosynth, where you could interact in a 3D world. Still, it’s a very nice start and works very well. The transitions between photos are very smooth and really help illustrate how the photos are related to one another.
Some places to check out, as suggested by the Panoramio blog:
Update: A little more info is now up on the Google LatLong blog.
The 4,500 resident city of North Oaks, MN has demanded that Google remove StreetView imagery of their town. However, they’re not a typical town, in that all of their roads are owned by the residents (meaning they’re private) and the city enforces a trespassing ordinanace.
While it’s certainly unique, since no other city has made a similar request, it seems that they’re well within their rights to request that, since the roads are private.
It makes me wonder if other cities (with public roads) will request this. It would be interesting to see what happens with those.
This sounds great! Frank Taylor at the Google Earth Blog has just revealed that Google will be releasing a browser plug-in today that will essentially put Google Earth in your browser.
A few notes so far:
No link yet (it’s not live), but it should be available later today.
Update: Here it is! Also, more coverage on the Google LatLong blog and Ogle Earth.
It appears that a Google imagery update is happening, but it’s a bit different than the past few. Recently, new imagery has been coming into Google Earth first, then it finds its way into Google Maps a few days later. However, this time might be reversed.
The city of Linz, Austria has different imagery when compared in Google Earth and Google Maps. Compare for yourselves:
Now the big question — what else has been updated? Post your discoveries in the comments below!
Updated Areas
In just “a few hours” Manhattan will receive a fresh set of StreetView imagery. I’ve checked it out, and I’m still seeing the old data. To see which data you’re looking at head to the arch in Washington Square Park and see if it looks like this sample of the new imagery:
Based on their post, it seems that the Manhattan refresh is the only new imagery for now — no Italy or Atlanta yet. Along with fresh, sharper imagery, you’ll now be able to look upward as well.
In addition, Google has implemented some automatic face-blurring technology. If it works as well for everyone as it does in the screenshots, it’ll be pretty nice. It blurs the faces, but doesn’t detract too much from the imagery.
If you find anything interesting in the new imagery, be sure to submit it to Google Earth Hacks’ StreetView section.
As reported by the Google OS blog, Google Maps is getting a minor facelift. They are replacing the tabbed search boxes at the top with a single search box that knows what you’re looking for.
I’m still seeing the old version (as are many other people), but the new one is apparently being rolled out. Here is a comparison of the old and new search boxes.
As posted on the Google Maps API Blog, the Maps API now can geocode addresses right to the rooftop. In particular, it will now drop the pushpin on the proper side of the street for any given location.
It seems to work quite well. I tried a variety of addresses (family members) around the country, and it put it right on each of them.
Oddly enough, this feature isn’t in Google Maps yet. If you search Google Maps for your address, it still shows it in the middle of the road. Is there a logical reason to leave it that way, or do they just need to get around to adding the feature over there?
