Image: Google.
Earlier this year, Google announced a new Immersive View feature for Google Maps. Using the power of artificial intelligence, the tool takes flat photos and constructs 3D images of landmarks, restaurants and certain buildings. Users can thus get a better idea of what awaits them at this location.
This immersive view is now rolling out for navigation and should be available to users soon.
15 cities, including Paris
Starting this week, new 3D views of 15 cities will be available – whether you’re traveling by car, on foot or by bike – bringing a new look to turn-by-turn guidance. While previously you had to choose between traditional satellite view and Google Street View, it will now be possible to opt for a hybrid solution presenting a 3D image that shows the entire route.
The cities concerned are Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Florence, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paris, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tokyo and Venice.
If you plan your trip in advance, a slider allows you to view the route at different times of the day, and depending on the forecast weather, all thanks to AI. This feature is quite similar to Google Street View, but since it is based on a combination of different types of photos, the new view is fresher and more customizable.
Make it easier to search on Google Maps
Other features have been added to Google Maps, making the application more like a search engine. From now on, it is no longer necessary to search for a specific place or address: you can enter “cultural activity nearby” or “café specializing in slat near “. In the first case, a drop-down carousel will be displayed, with local points of interest categorized. In the second, Google will search among the photos sent by users to offer you the most relevant places, which it will display in the form of pins on the map.
If you want to use the immersive view on Google Maps, open the app, on Android or iOS, then search for a location and click the “Immersive view” button. Please note, this feature is currently only available in the 15 cities mentioned above.
Additionally, Lens in Maps augmented reality search is available in more than 50 new cities. With this feature (previously available in a more limited format and called “Live View Search”), you can quickly take a look at your surroundings by tapping the lens icon in the search bar and lifting your phone to look around you. If you are in a supported location, you will see ATMs, bus or train stations, shops, restaurants, cafes, etc.
Source: “ZDNet.com”