This New Google Maps View Puts You in the Center of Your Favorite City
Google Maps is so much more than a GPS app these days. Sure, it will help you navigate your commute, but you can also use it to get to know and virtually explore any city in the world. Google is taking that idea further with their latest Immersive View feature, which allows you to digitally explore the city like never before.
Immersive View is the ultimate intersection of Google Earth and Street View. The new Google Maps view uses billions of Street View and satellite imagery to create detailed virtual representations of cities. You can fly over streets and buildings with greater realism than previously available in Google Maps satellite view. The time slider allows you to see the city at different times during the day, as well as simulate different weather conditions.
But it’s not just for exploring city streets – Immersive View also has indoor live viewing, which is similar to street view for famous restaurants and other city attractions.
As someone who spends a lot of time on Google Maps, I love it. If I’m planning a trip to San Francisco, I can look around the entire city, check recommended areas, assess walking conditions from destination to destination, and generally learn more about the area before visiting. I’m particularly intrigued by the concept of using Immersive View to find out ahead of time where I can find parking. I use public transportation, but when I’m driving, especially in a city like New York, I want to know what parking options I have before I navigate the maze of one-way streets. Immersive View should allow me to check out the area I’m visiting to find likely street parking spots, and stake out nearby garages as a backup.
Google originally announced this feature in September , and has since added Immersive Views to Tokyo Tower and the Acropolis of Athens. But as of this writing, the feature is officially available on Google Maps for iPhone and Android. According to The Verge , Google will bring Immersive View to PC soon. This feature is fairly limited at launch, starting with five cities: London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo. However, Google will soon add Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence and Venice, with more to come in the future.
How to Use Immersive View in Google Maps
To use the immersive view when it hits Google Maps on your device, start by searching for the city you want to view. When you do this, you will see a new Immersive View card on the city details page. Now just touch it to start your journey to New York, Los Angeles, London, San Francisco or Tokyo.