Google Maps

869 'Google Maps' stories May 2011 - June 2014

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Google Maps adds Street View imagery for Greece

Jordan Kahn Jun 19 2014 - 6:19 am PT

Google has done a lot of interesting Street View tours recently, which allow Google Maps users to explore streets, parks, historical locations, monuments, and even the inside of some buildings right from their desktop or mobile device. Today Google is adding its 56th country to Street View with the addition of Greece, a country with more than enough cultural and historical monuments to make for quite an incredible Street View experience to explore. As noted by Google, the introduction of Street View can also greatly improve the experience for tourists, businesses and others traveling through Greece:

From now on unique Greek landmarks, such as the Corfu Old Town, the White Tower in Thessaloniki and the Arch of Hadrian in the center of Athens, will be vividly represented on our computer screens… Many Greeks long have been keen for us to bring its benefits to their country, seeing Street View as a powerful tool for the promotion of a country. At a launch event in Athens, Andreas Andreadis, President of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises, said the new service will prove invaluable to tourists coming to Greece — and Greek businesses serving them. Visitors now will be able to check their hotel in advance and preview places they want to visit. Street View benefits everyone from the wheelchair user who can check whether a building has a ramp to the elderly who may check whether there are sufficient parking spots before leaving home. Minister of Culture and Sports Panos Panagiotopoulos welcomed Street View in Greece as nothing less than “a gift from God.”

You can check out some of the interesting locations Google captured in Greece in its own Views Gallery collection.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t4m9lII8mk&list=UUS-dIYJRJz01BwmqZBaqVHA]

Google Maps passes 1 billion downloads on the Play Store

Stephen Hall Jun 14 2014 - 11:00 am PT

Following the official Gmail app passing the billion download mark last month, Google Maps has now passed that very same milestone (via Android Police). The app, very obviously one of Google’s most-used services, is widely cherished by both iOS and Android users to get them where they need to go (especially when iOS maps doesn’t quite do the trick).

Notably, this billion downloads for the app means that yes, 1 billion separate Play Store accounts have downloaded the app — it’s not counting repeat downloads on one account. What’s even more crazy? The app passed 50 million downloads in 2011 (and was the first to do so). In just 3 short years, Maps took off exponentially to see another 950 million downloads on separate accounts. That number doesn’t even count iOS downloads.

New ‘Google My Business’ service allows businesses to manage Search, Maps and Google+ information

Chance Miller Jun 11 2014 - 9:04 am PT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LCzri4tXuF0

Google, in a post on its “Google and Your Business” blog, has just unveiled a new service for small business. Dubbed Google My Business, the service is essentially a central location for small business owners to control how their businesses appear in Google search results, Maps, and more.

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Google spruces up Flight Search, asks travelers if they’re ‘feeling lucky?’

Mark Hearn Jun 10 2014 - 1:14 pm PT

Back in 2012, Google launched an experimental feature called Explore Flights that was aimed at frugal travelers looking to visit different destinations within a specific region. Still up and ~~running~~ flying, Mountain View will be adding some of the tool’s best offerings to Flight Search, along with a few additional new features.

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Google acquires satellite imaging company SkyBox for $500 million, will eventually use it for Internet access

Chance Miller Jun 10 2014 - 10:48 am PT

Satellite company SkyBox just announced that it has been acquired by Google for $500 million. The two have been in talks for several months now, with the deal finally being announced today. SkyBox Imaging is a company that takes high resolution photos using satellites. Google, in a statement, had the following to say about the company:

“Skybox’s satellites will help keep Google Maps accurate with up-to-date imagery. Over time, we also hope that Skybox’s team and technology will be able to help improve Internet access and disaster relief — areas Google has long been interested in.”

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UK updating road laws to allow the use of self-driving cars

Mark Hearn Jun 9 2014 - 7:57 am PT

The US isn’t the only country making preparations for self-driving cars, the UK is in the process of revamping its laws to allow driverless vehicles to cruise its roads. Science minister David Willetts recently told Mail Online that he has started talking with the Department for Transport to help British companies develop their own self-driving cars, with efforts currently underway in Oxford.

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Google leans on Twitter for help with public safety announcements

Mark Hearn Jun 5 2014 - 8:03 am PT

Google Public Alerts recently incorporated tweets from locations affected by natural disasters. These notifications will be pushed from places like the National Weather Service and will help keep residents informed during times of duress. The idea behind using tweets is to quickly address public concerns like school closures and community evacuations. Google spreads this type of emergency information through several of its platforms, including Google Maps, Google Now and its Public Alerts website.

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Google Street View time machine images show the sad decline of Detroit from 2009 to 2013

Ben Lovejoy Jun 5 2014 - 5:55 am PT

WebUrbanist drew our attention to a Tumblr blog that captures the sad decline of Detroit from 2009 to 2013 using images captured from Google’s Street View time machine.

Back in April, Google added a clock icon to the top-left corner of images, which opens out into a slider that allows you to see the same image photographed at different times …
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Google Maps adds Street View support for Brazilian stadiums, tourist attractions ahead of World Cup

Chance Miller Jun 5 2014 - 12:01 am PT

The 2014 World Cup is set to kick off next week in Brazil, and Google seems to be excited about the event. Earlier this week the company updated the Chromecast with support for WatchESPN streaming, meaning that all 64 World Cup games will be able to be streamed to the device. Now, in a post on the Lat Long blog, Google has announced some new features for Maps exclusively for the World Cup.
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Police investigate when someone reported an apparent axe-murder spotted on Google Street View

Ben Lovejoy Jun 3 2014 - 6:57 am PT

Police in Edinburgh, Scotland, were called out to investigate when someone using Google Street View thought they’d spotted an axe-murder, reports the Independent. The series of images apparently showed someone being struck with an axe and the assailant walking away from the lifeless body on the ground.

The scene turned out to be a prank by a couple of quick-thinking mechanics who said they had 20 seconds to think of something to do when they spotted the Google car approaching.

“It was in the spur of the moment,” Dan Thompson said. “It seemed like the obvious thing to do so I threw myself on the ground and Gary [Kerr] grabbed a pick-axe handle from the garage.

“We only had about 20 seconds – it was all we could think of.”

The way that Google stitches Street View images together, which often leave visible breaks, added to the illusion, seeming to show a chopped-off hand.

The pair of jokers said that fortunately the two police officers who turned up to check it out saw the funny side.

They were already pretty certain it was a joke because one of their colleagues gets their car serviced here. They thought it was a really good laugh and in five minutes they were gone.

Certainly beats mooning or a couple getting amorous.

Google Maps 8.1 update for Android reintroduces Terrain Mode

Mark Hearn May 29 2014 - 11:12 am PT

Google Maps for Android recently received an update and while it’s not too heavy on features, it does bring back a feature that a lot of people have missed. Version 8.1 reintroduces Terrain Mode, which lets users view a topographic layer that shows elevation changes in surrounding hills, mountains, and valleys. Absent for nearly a year, this standout feature could be useful to would-be adventurers looking to experience the great outdoors. In addition to a mountain view from Mountain View, Maps users will notice a slightly modified UI, with previews for the first available route beings added to biking and walking views. Other adjustments include font changes and some onscreen information being repositioned. If you haven’t installed the update yet, head on over to our source link below to get brought up to speed.

(via Google Play)

Google Maps now serving up driving directions in North Korea

Mark Hearn May 28 2014 - 8:33 am PT

North Korea may not have a reputation for being a warm and friendly place, but if you ever managed to get your Dennis Rodman on and visit the country, it would be helpful to know your way around. Thankfully driving directions for select areas in North Korea are now available from Google Maps. Last year, with the help of its Google Maps Maker tool, Mountain View managed to scale its efforts to survey North Korea’s landscape. As a result, more local driving directions are starting to surface.

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Google eyeing Skybox Imaging for potential $1 billion purchase to bolster satellite photos in Maps

Jonathan Kizer May 23 2014 - 7:16 am PT

Google may acquire Skybox Imaging, a company with experience in taking incredibly detailed, high-resolution aerial satellite photos, according to TechCrunch. The purchase may cost Google in excess of $1 billion, though that number is fairly common anymore.
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Google Maps for iOS updated with snappier Street View

Mark Gurman May 20 2014 - 10:52 pm PT

Google has updated its Google Maps application for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with improved Street View and various bug fixes:

• Smoother, faster transitions when you move through Street View
• Bug Fixes

The update is (of course) free in the App Store.

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Google’s India election map helps keep track of over 500 million votes

Mark Hearn May 16 2014 - 2:56 pm PT

It’s election season in India and Google is counting the votes. Not in an official capacity, but the tech giant is running a real-time tally of the numbers and placing them on an interactive map to keep track of the statistics on a regional scale. Whether you’re participating in the process as one of the election’s 500 million-plus voters, or you’re someone who follows global politics, this layout is a sight to behold.

To bring this project together, Google has leaned on Nielsen to help keep track of the results as they happen. The portal also provides fast access to each district’s local votes as they roll in, making it fairly easy to follow an entire nation’s transition of authority.

Google Maps

Google Maps adds elevation data for bike routes

Jordan Kahn May 16 2014 - 12:12 pm PT

As noted by TechCrunch, Google has recently added elevation data to bike routes in Google Maps. Google confirmed the new feature, which it left out of announcing in its big Maps updates earlier this week.

Just look for a route on Google Maps, choose the biking directions and look for the new elevation profile. Besides the graphical representation of those hills you will have to climb, the new card also shows you the total number of feet you will have to climb on your route (and those joyous miles you get to just kick back and try not to die while you barrel down the hill on the other side).

The new elevation data is available in Google Maps when looking at biking routes on the desktop (except for routes that happen to be mostly flat), but the feature is unfortunately not yet available to users of the Maps mobile apps.

Google Maps’ ‘quick facts’ wants to be your virtual tour guide

Mark Hearn May 15 2014 - 7:27 am PT

Google Maps has just been blessed with a nifty new feature that inserts info cards loaded with snippets of info from Mountain View’s Knowledge Graph. A pop-out window called “quick facts” spews out details about popular tourist attractions from around the word, including places like the temples of Angkor. Google’s new virtual tour guide is currently limited to Maps’ desktop software, however we expect the outfit’s mobile app to catch up soon. Too bad Clark Griswold didn’t have access to this type of tech while on his way to Wally World.

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Google Maps adding public transit data for the UK tomorrow

Jordan Kahn May 13 2014 - 4:59 pm PT

Update: Google has just made things official and also let us know its adding bus lines in Vancouver and Chicago. In addition, it also released some updated stats on the progress of transit directions in Maps (pictured below).

On the other side of the globe, Vancouverites looking for sun can now get real-time updates on whether a bus to Kits is faster than one to Third Beach.
In Chicago, Cubs fans can now zip to and from Wrigley Field, armed with the real-time information they need to hop on a bus and avoid congestion on Lake Shore Drive.

Google is about to expand its public transport data in Maps for both desktop and mobile users in the UK. The Guardian notes that the public transport directions were previously only available to users in London but starting tomorrow the feature will become available to users across England, Scotland and Wales with nearly 17,000 new routes.

Users can currently access public transport information for London and the south east, but from Wednesday users on iOS and Android apps and on the desktop version will all be able to search National Express and Traveline data, as well as 1,500 local and national operators such as Centro and Merseyside. Nearly 17,000 routes are included and 34,000 stopping points, ferry ports and stations.

Product manager for public transport in Google Maps David Tattersall gave the following comment to The Guardian:“In Britain, public transport is part of the national psyche. The biggest changes will be on mobile, as devices are becoming more and more powerful and they’re things we spend a lot of time with. We’re aiming to really improve users’ lives.”

Google also plans to add public transport routes for Norther Ireland once it gets its hands on the data.

Google Maps has transit data for 15,000 cities and towns across 64 countries and 6 continents.
Buses, trains and ferries included on Google Maps travel 200 million kilometers every day—that’s the equivalent of driving every single road in the world three times!
Over 2.3 million transit stations can be found on Google Maps
Fun Fact! In the 10 seconds it takes to read a social post, over 30,000 vehicles found on Google maps have left their stations.

Google Street View flood mod shows your city under water

Mark Hearn May 7 2014 - 10:47 am PT

The impact of climate change is a hot topic and many environmentalists are urging the powers that be to take action. To help spread awareness and promote World Environment Day on June 5th, an eco-friendly crowdfunding outlet by the name of CarbonStory has put together an interactive website called World Under Water. Available exclusively on Chrome, this modified version of Street View paints a dramatic picture of what the world’s cities will look after sea levels have risen.

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Google Maps for Android updated with lane guidance, improved offline maps, Uber integration

Zac Hall May 6 2014 - 9:22 am PT

Google announced on its blog today a big update coming to Google Maps on both Android and iOS including integration with Uber.
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Google Maps now lets you travel back in time with Street View

Jordan Kahn Apr 23 2014 - 6:24 am PT

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvH3rtFMa9o&feature=youtu.be]

Google announced today that it’s adding an interesting new feature to Google Maps that will allow users to view historical imagery through Google’s Street View feature. Rather than just being able to view the latest imagery that Google has updated its Maps with (which is usually a year or two old), you can now browse through previous imagery for any location using a new clock icon that appears in the upper left corner of some Street View imagery.

Now with Street View, you can see a landmark’s growth from the ground up, like the Freedom Tower in New York City or the 2014 World Cup Stadium in Fortaleza, Brazil. This new feature can also serve as a digital timeline of recent history, like the reconstruction after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Onagawa, Japan. You can even experience different seasons and see what it would be like to cruise Italian roadways in both summer and winter.

There are a lot of interesting things to check out using the new feature. Google points out that the feature serves as a history book in images, allowing users to virtually travel to historical locations and view them as they once were. For now it looks like the feature will be limited to the new Google Maps for desktop users.
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Google’s new Street View image algorithm can crack most CAPTCHAs

Mark Hearn Apr 16 2014 - 2:05 pm PT

Although most human eyes struggle to see them clearly, Google has developed a software that can crack most CAPTCHAs. In a paper published earlier this week, Google researchers from its Street View and CAPTCHA teams discuss a new algorithm capable of solving the company’s jumbled text security puzzles with an accuracy rate of 99.8 percent.

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Googlers talk designing Glass, Search, and Maps in new videos

Jordan Kahn Apr 16 2014 - 10:32 am PT

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-lMnhiAzEw]

Ahead of its Google I/O developer conference this summer, Google today posted three new videos to its Google Developers YouTube page giving us a taste of how the conference will be more focused on design this year. The company announced today that “design will be an important focus at this year’s conference” and it wants to get the conversation started with the new videos.

At Google I/O this year, we will have sessions and workshops focused on design, geared for designers and developers who are interested in design. We’re looking forward to exchanging ideas with you both at the conference and online afterwards. Remember, registration is open until Friday and details on Google I/O Extended events are coming soon.

In the first video, Google designer Isabelle Olson talks how she and team took the original Glass prototypes and turned them into the product you know today. Two other videos (below) have Googlers walk through recent redesigns of Maps and Search while talking design philosophy.
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Waze CEO says Google paid $1.15B for the company

Jordan Kahn Apr 7 2014 - 11:09 am PT

In a blog post today published on LinkedIn from CEO and co-founder of mapping company Waze, we learn what we didn’t know at the time of Google’s purchase of the company back in June. While industry estimates at the time put the value of the deal somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.1 to $1.3 billion, today Noam Bardin confirmed that the final purchase price was $1.15 billion.

Not only did Bardin reveal the exact price paid— although there was no mention of whether that number is in cash or otherwise— he also seemingly mentions that the deal was made due to pressure from investors:

One of Waze’s mistakes was the valuation of its A round which significantly diluted the founders. Perhaps, had we held control of the company, as the Founders of Facebook, Google, Oracle or Microsoft had, Waze might still be an independent company today.

You can read Bardin’s full blog post here, which has more details about the deal and what was going on at Waze leading up to the acquisition.