Street View in 3D - Updated

Google Street View in 3D

Get your 3D glasses out for Google Maps!

Google.org.cn have picked up on some big news from Where 2.0 that seems to have gone unnoticed elsewhere. Google Maps has released a new 3D version of Street View. The new feature is available from the Google Labs link at the top of Google Maps (which you will only see if you are signed into your Google account).

It is possible to view 3D Street View now (without going into Google Labs). Check out this 3D view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

Of course you will need to have a pair of 3D glasses handy to appreciate this new Google Maps feature.

Hat-tip: Street View Funny

Google Maps Directions Translated into Australian
The Google Maps in Australia domain has finally gotten around to providing driving directions in Australian.

Goodonya Google!

If your first language is Aussie then you should now be able to follow Google Maps driving directions without loading up Google Translate.

Conversely any English speakers visiting Australia may want to use the American or English domains for Google Maps if they want to understand driving directions whilst in the country.


Unblur Button Added to Street View

Google Sightseeing noticed today that in the UK Google Maps are being forced to add an unblur button to Google Street View.

The UK's Freedom of Information Act says that if an organisation receives a request from an individual to view data held about them then they have to comply. Therefore Google have been forced to add an unblur button to Street View so that individual's can view any original images of themselves in Street View.

Google Sightseeing have already spotted a few images that have had the unblur processing applied in UK Street View images (for example the before and after image above).


Google Canoodle

According to today's Guardian newspaper Google Maps are using Leeds in the UK to test a new river based version of Street View.

"The service will map the waterways of Great Britain using a canoe-based camera."

From the Archives

Here is some news that Google released early in April last year.

Google Pigeon Watch


Despite Google's ungoing arguments with the Chinese government I'm pleased to say that Ditu's (Google Maps in China), pigeon information carriers are still in operation.

Each pigeon carries a “Wireless rechargeable foot ring ... that makes it capable of 16 hours work.” If you are lucky enough to spot one of Ditu's winged data carriers say "coo, coo, coo" to the pigeon. Google will then show you information from the neighbourhood in which you found the bird.

gBall
Google Australia's GPS enabled football, the gBall, can now be tracked on Google Maps.

According to Google the ball,

"will be used in all school and amateur competitions - and will go on sale to the public - this weekend."

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