Google Maps Gets Massive Street View Update

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Google Maps Gets Massive Street View Update

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday October 11, 2012 @09:56AM from the try-a-different-route dept.

SternisheFan writes "Google Maps has been updated with what's described as the 'biggest ever" increase in Street View photography, with more than 250,000 miles of road around the world gaining street-level imagery. Street View coverage has been boosted in eleven countries, with new 'special collections' of photography, giving more insight into particular landmarks. Google has also sent its cameras inside some landmarks, so you can now step into Kronborg castle in Denmark, for instance. The search giant uses a combination of Street View photography cars, bikes, and even individually-work camera backpacks to gather its footage. Support for viewing Street View on mobile devices has been contentious in recent weeks, with Apple's decision to oust Google Maps from iOS 6 and replace it with its own Apple Maps app. Google re-added access by updating its webapp, however, and has promised a native version of Google Maps for iOS by the end of the year."

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Awesome... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-11 10:02 · Score: 5, Funny

more here: http://www.streetviewfunny.com/
1. Re:Awesome... by TWX · 2012-10-11 11:41 · Score: 1
  
  And here I was, going to ask what new inappropriate images were part of streetview...
  
  --
  Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
one word: Gargoyles by jdogalt · 2012-10-11 10:09 · Score: 1

this reminds me quite a bit of Neil Stephenson's concept of "Gargoyles"...
for those with an iphone by nimbius · 2012-10-11 10:10 · Score: 2

attempting to step into the Kronenborg castle, you'll find it is conspicuously missing in Strasburg, Saskatchewan. but hey Grandma Lees 22nd Street bakery and "eating place" is pretty darn good too ya know.

--
Good people go to bed earlier.
1. Re:for those with an iphone by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-11 10:17 · Score: 0
  
  I don't know where Kronenborg is, but those of us with iPhones can certainly fly to Denmark to witness Kronborg Castle first hand.
2. Re:for those with an iphone by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-11 10:30 · Score: 0
  
  What's weird is ... streeview just goes in circles.... no way out!
  Also, Google Maps still works just fine in iOS5. Don't update until you're sure, because you can't go back.
3. Re:for those with an iphone by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-11 10:46 · Score: 0
  
  I don't know what you're talking about. I searched for Kronenborg Castle on my iPhone, and it showed me a street in the middle of nowhere in Germany! (No, seriously, it did.)
4. Re:for those with an iphone by wickedskaman · 2012-10-11 10:58 · Score: 1
  
  Not for me. You can get out through the entryway and follow the roads to civilization!
  
  --
  Sand's overrated... it's just tiny little rocks.
5. Re:for those with an iphone by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-11 11:01 · Score: 0
  
  Is that some undocumented feature of the iPhone now?
  Put it up your bum and fly? There's an App for that!
6. Re:for those with an iphone by hcs_$reboot · 2012-10-11 12:26 · Score: 1
  
  Have no problem with the iPhone maps. Should I? Btw, still using iOS 5.1.1
  
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  Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
7. Re:for those with an iphone by Plumpaquatsch · 2012-10-11 20:06 · Score: 1
  
  attempting to step into the Kronenborg castle, you'll find it is conspicuously missing in Strasburg, Saskatchewan. but hey Grandma Lees 22nd Street bakery and "eating place" is pretty darn good too ya know.
  You mean there is a "Kronenborg castle" in Strasburg, Saskatchewan on Google Maps?
  
  --
  Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
So they don't update all the imagery live? by RocketRabbit · 2012-10-11 10:16 · Score: 4, Interesting

Kidding. I am surprised, however, that they don't just continually update the entire database as they drive their vehicles around. It would be nice to have access to the older imagery as well, when they update.
1. Re:So they don't update all the imagery live? by happylight · 2012-10-11 10:35 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  They take about 6 months to a year from the pictures being taken to appearing on the maps.
  
  Here's an AMA done by a google streetview driver. Pretty interesting read.
  http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/yzoft/iama_recently_employed_google_maps_driver_i_drive/
2. Re:So they don't update all the imagery live? by rtb61 · 2012-10-11 21:37 · Score: 1
  
  I also enjoy the all to rare locations where they enter retail and commercial premises http://maps.google.com/help/maps/businessphotos/. Let's you not only scope out where to park when you get there but also where exactly you want to go in the store or business.
  So street view airports, bus terminals and train stations, as well as those many recreational locations is also cool, even when you are only street view touring.
  Would also be interesting to add in recorded video and sound, just the same as images are embedded in google maps. Enter a famous pizza restaurant and watch them cook up a pie etc. Start adding some motion into street view with 'video frames' at interesting locations (now don't you dare patent that shit).
  As well as starting to incorporate more bloody mirrors for far better streaming rates on all of Google's services, some of Google's stuff is bogging down to shit and becoming useless it times. No matter how good it is, if it ain't accessible it is a waste of time.
  
  --
  Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
3. Re:So they don't update all the imagery live? by RocketRabbit · 2012-10-12 13:36 · Score: 1
  
  For me, maps and such is always fast enough. The main problem Google has now is that its search has been SEO'd into total worthlessness.
4. Re:So they don't update all the imagery live? by rtb61 · 2012-10-12 21:37 · Score: 1
  
  Location, location, location, it doesn't just work for real world real estate, it also covers the digital landscape, mirrors dude are now just for looking into.
  
  --
  Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
Too bad google stopped supporting the flex API by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-11 10:18 · Score: 0

There's a google maps flex API, but it's depreciated.
Technically they could just load that up and port it into native code for IOS instantly.
Realistically, it's a piece of crap like a lot of the other google code that is no longer supported by the company.
"more insight into particular landmarks...." by KrazyDave · 2012-10-11 10:23 · Score: 1

Uh, I don't think we need Google's autonomous VW Beetle careening through the Sistine Chapel for interior Street View images. There are already plenty of resources for looking at landmarks.

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1. Re:"more insight into particular landmarks...." by raydobbs · 2012-10-11 10:36 · Score: 2
  
  I think that is where the aforementioned '...and even individually-work camera backpacks to gather its footage...' would come in. You know, to get interior shots.
Is it just me, or... by Derek+Pomery · 2012-10-11 10:30 · Score: 2

Did others find the fact that the link to the "biggest ever update" was to slashgear reiterating this slashdot post, kind of annoying?
http://google-latlong.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/making-google-maps-more-comprehensive.html
The link that slashgear links to.
Someone looking to drive traffic?

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1. Re:Is it just me, or... by SternisheFan · 2012-10-11 17:56 · Score: 1
  
  Did others find the fact that the link to the "biggest ever update" was to slashgear reiterating this slashdot post, kind of annoying? http://google-latlong.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/making-google-maps-more-comprehensive.html
  The link that slashgear links to.
  Someone looking to drive traffic?
  Nope, submitter here. I have no affiliation with any website, I'm just a guy with an internet connection, saw this story via google news, and did a quick copy/paste, and that's the truth. No conspiracy here. Why? Does slashgear have a "history" on /. or something?
2. Re:Is it just me, or... by Derek+Pomery · 2012-10-12 05:25 · Score: 1
  
  No history that I personally know of. I just have a general pet peeve about endlessly nesting blog articles getting between me and primary sources, each one repeating the exact same thing.
  Perhaps there's some way to write a Firefox addon that digs through links in a blog article searching for the primary source.
  Probably too complicated/bandwidth intensive. :-/
  
  --
  -- perl -e'print pack"H*","6e656d6f406d38792e6f7267"' /. ate my old sig. Bastards.
How to kill streetview: by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-11 10:32 · Score: 0

Someone needs to hack into their street view car scheduling so we can all stand out front mooning them. Few would willingly click on it again.
Streetview's great! by SternisheFan · 2012-10-11 10:42 · Score: 3, Interesting

Around last December, I bought a $100 VirginMobile Optimus V Android low-end 'starter smartphone, and I haven't regretted it for a minute! The people I knew were all telling me I should buy an iPhone, but they couldn't come up with a good reason to justify my paying all that extra $ for one. It'll take years for their maps to even come close to where google maps is at today. Yep, I'm proud to say I'm a (50+ year old) 'google-boy', who now also enjoys playing all the old arcade games on his $100 ICS tablet. Streetview's worth all the money that it hasn't cost me. I travel the world from my lazyboy anytime I feel like it, life is okay. :-)
Wow! by sethmeisterg · 2012-10-11 10:54 · Score: 1

All it took was some competitive pressure to get Google's ass in motion beefing up its feature set. What a shocker!
Sweet! by Culture20 · 2012-10-11 11:00 · Score: 5, Funny

I gotta check this out with my iPhone! Oh, right.
1. Re:Sweet! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-11 12:13 · Score: 0
  
  Can't you get it through the browser on iOS?
2. Re:Sweet! by antdude · 2012-10-11 13:30 · Score: 1
  
  Isn't that only on iOS6?
  
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  Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
3. Re:Sweet! by das_io · 2012-10-11 15:26 · Score: 1
  
  Just open Google Maps in the Browser and you can see all the Street View glory. Google added a pure HTML5 solution. Works like a charm in iOS6 with Safari and Chrome.
4. Re:Sweet! by Culture20 · 2012-10-11 15:40 · Score: 1
  
  I spent ten minutes trying to get street view to work in the iOS 6 safari browser. No success.
5. Re:Sweet! by Plumpaquatsch · 2012-10-11 20:09 · Score: 1
  
  Can't you get it through the browser on iOS?
  Not if you're a stupid Fandroid who hasn't even got an iPhone.
  
  --
  Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
6. Re:Sweet! by Plumpaquatsch · 2012-10-11 20:11 · Score: 1
  
  I spent ten minutes trying to get street view to work in the iOS 6 safari browser. No success.
  Then Google must have turned to blocking access from Mobile Safari - take it up with them.
  
  --
  Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
Chatroulette + streetview by goombah99 · 2012-10-11 11:46 · Score: 1

Someone needs to hack into their street view car scheduling so we can all stand out front mooning them. Few would willingly click on it again.
Combining the very best of Chatroulette and streetview.

--
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
No such promise by grouchomarxist · 2012-10-11 12:30 · Score: 2

The summary claims "[Google] has promised a native version of Google Maps for iOS by the end of the year", but Google has made no such promise.
Recently, at AllThingsD, all Eric Schmidt said was "I don’t want to preannounce products, but I can tell you that were we to do that, Apple would have to approve it."
http://gigaom.com/apple/schmidt-apple-has-to-approve-google-maps-app-for-ios-if-we-build-it/
My guess is they are developing it, but they haven't promised it yet.
1. Re:No such promise by Plumpaquatsch · 2012-10-11 20:13 · Score: 1
  
  The summary claims "[Google] has promised a native version of Google Maps for iOS by the end of the year", but Google has made no such promise.
  Recently, at AllThingsD, all Eric Schmidt said was "I don’t want to preannounce products, but I can tell you that were we to do that, Apple would have to approve it."
  http://gigaom.com/apple/schmidt-apple-has-to-approve-google-maps-app-for-ios-if-we-build-it/
  My guess is they are developing it, but they haven't promised it yet.
  Or that they don't plan to develop it, and want to pretend Apple is blocking them.
  
  --
  Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
250,000 miles is further than the Moon by Tijaska · 2012-10-11 18:01 · Score: 1

Next up - to infinity and beyond!
I keep hearing this...but I'm still skeptical. by mark-t · 2012-10-12 00:19 · Score: 1

Google re-added access by updating its webapp, however, and has promised a native version of Google Maps for iOS by the end of the year

Where was an official statement from Google made to this effect?

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File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Footpaths next? by JonathanCombe · 2012-10-12 00:27 · Score: 1

I'd love to see them extend the street view to public footpaths too (although perhaps we'd have to drop the "street" from the title). Some of the UKs most beautiful scenery can only be accessed on foot and it would be wonderful to see some of these online too. Of course doing so would be very expensive but I'd certainly be happy to walk some local paths for free if Google could provide a loan of the equipment.
1. Re:Footpaths next? by MarxNotDead · 2012-10-12 01:34 · Score: 1
  
  IIRC they started doing this a year ago or so? I think I saw pictures of google bikes on public footpaths.
I've seen it by coinreturn · 2012-10-12 01:47 · Score: 1

I was mapping some obscure roads in WV the other day and could not believe that had street view for them. We're talking barely-used two lane roads between podunk little towns.