The official blog for Google Maps
Thank you, and welcome to the new Google Maps
February 19, 2014
Over the coming weeks, the
new Google Maps
will make its way onto desktops around the world. Many of you have been previewing it since its
debut last May
, and thanks to your helpful feedback we’re ready to make the new Maps even more widely available.
It’s now even easier to plan your next trip, check live traffic conditions, discover what’s happening around town, and learn about a new area—with
Pegman’s
help if needed. Here’s a quick refresher on what to expect in the new Google Maps:
Make smarter decisions
. Simply search for “coffee” in your neighborhood, and you’ll be able to see results and snippets right on the map. When you click on a cafe, the map will suggest related results that you may not have known about.
Get where you're going, faster.
Car? Bike? Train? Find the
most efficient route
for you, with your best options laid out on the map, including the time and distance for each route. And with the new
real-time traffic reports
and Street View previews, you’ll become a commuting ninja.
See the world from every angle
.
Rich imagery
takes you to notable landmarks, sends you flying above mountains in 3D, and gives you a sneak peek of businesses you plan to visit. The new “carousel” at the bottom of the map makes all this imagery easy to access, so you can explore the world with a click.
With any product redesign, there may be bumps along the road. We're hoping that you're as excited as we are to navigate uncharted territory in pursuit of the perfect map. As always, we want to
hear what you think
as we work to improve the new Maps over time.
Here’s to many more years of mapping together!
Posted by Brian McClendon, VP of Google Maps
From where you are to where you want to go
November 6, 2013
As you gear up for the holidays, you can easily plan your vacation with the
new Google Maps
for desktop. With the latest updates, Earth Tours will take you on a virtual trip through cities and natural wonders in full 3D, while Street View imagery and real time traffic incidents will help to ensure smooth travels.
Explore the world with Pegman
Street View’s comprehensive imagery has always been a great way to preview your destination before arriving, but it's equally helpful when deciding where you want to go. Thanks to your feedback, we’ve made it easier to find where Street View is available, so you can explore locations in
over 50 countries
around the globe.
To discover a world of imagery at your fingertips, look no further than Pegman – your guide through Street View – who you can find in the lower right corner of the screen. Click on Pegman, and areas with Street View imagery will light up in blue. For a street-level preview, hover over any highlighted road, then click to dive into that location.
To see a preview before you go, click on the highlighted map
As you zoom in, you’ll also see blue circles indicating where you can find user-uploaded photos, including Photo Spheres – immersive, 360º panoramas taken from
land
,
air
, and
sea
. Click on a yellow circle to see inside restaurants, museums, and
more
. With these features, you can explore an increasing variety of locations, inside and out.
And for the
Pegman
fans out there, you know he's a globetrotter. Jump over to
Google+
now to submit your idea for his next adventure!
New blue and yellow circles show you where to find user-uploaded images and indoor photos
Get a bird’s-eye view with Earth Tours
Explore beautiful, 3D imagery of buildings and terrain for thousands of locations from above with Earth Tours available right in your browser.* Wherever you see the Earth Tour icon, you can click, sit back, and get a virtual tour from a soaring angle. Dive into
Boston
or circle the
Alps
.
*Available on
WebGL-enabled browsers
, like Chrome.
Get a 3D experience wherever you see the Earth Tour icon
Navigate the roads with confidence
Maneuvering an unfamiliar route can be tricky when turns, exits, or tolls appear without warning. With the new step-by-step preview, you can see a street-level snapshot of each decision point to know exactly where you’re going and what to expect. Just click “Preview steps” from the directions card and advance through for a quick study of your trip, including transfers for transit.
Click on the thumbnail in the directions preview for a closer look
Save time commuting and navigate the roads accurately with traffic incident reports – available on desktop and
mobile
. When you search for driving directions, you’ll now see congestion along the route and real time incidents on the map, including data reported by
Waze
.
Know the road conditions before you leave
These tools are designed to help you explore and effectively navigate your world. If you’ve
opted into
the new Google Maps preview, these features will start rolling out today – and in the coming weeks, more of you will begin to see the new Maps experience, which you can tour below.
Posted by Kelvin Ho, Product Manager, Google Maps
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