Photo: autoevolution
Google Maps has received plenty of improvements this year, including several new capabilities supposed to help us deal with the global health crisis easier. Still, for many people, the detailed street maps the parent company announced in August are the number one enhancement.
And it happens for a good reason: this update includes substantially polished maps, with one of the most helpful additions clearly being support for crosswalks.
As one could easily figure out, crosswalks are first and foremost helpful for pedestrians, but at the same time, they also come in handy to drivers who want to know in advance where they might need to slow down.
Google announced this week that its Google Maps street map overhaul is now launching in more regions, including New York City, San Francisco, London, and Tokyo. There’s nothing users here must do in order to get the new maps, as they are automatically enabled with a server-side switch by the search giant.
The detailed street maps went live in the summer together with more colorful high-definition satellite imagery. Google said it covered no fewer than 220 countries and territories with this refresh.
“With a new color-mapping algorithmic technique, we’re able to take this imagery and translate it into an even more comprehensive, vibrant map of an area at global scale. Exploring a place gives you a look at its natural features—so you can easily distinguish tan, arid beaches and deserts from blue lakes, rivers, oceans and ravines. You can know at a glance how lush and green a place is with vegetation, and even see if there are snow caps on the peaks of mountaintops,” the company said back in August.
The refreshed Google Maps data is available in all supported countries on the web and mobile devices, including Android smartphones and iPhones. Google says it’s already working on bringing the new maps to more cities, but for now, no other specifics are available.
As one could easily figure out, crosswalks are first and foremost helpful for pedestrians, but at the same time, they also come in handy to drivers who want to know in advance where they might need to slow down.
Google announced this week that its Google Maps street map overhaul is now launching in more regions, including New York City, San Francisco, London, and Tokyo. There’s nothing users here must do in order to get the new maps, as they are automatically enabled with a server-side switch by the search giant.
The detailed street maps went live in the summer together with more colorful high-definition satellite imagery. Google said it covered no fewer than 220 countries and territories with this refresh.
“With a new color-mapping algorithmic technique, we’re able to take this imagery and translate it into an even more comprehensive, vibrant map of an area at global scale. Exploring a place gives you a look at its natural features—so you can easily distinguish tan, arid beaches and deserts from blue lakes, rivers, oceans and ravines. You can know at a glance how lush and green a place is with vegetation, and even see if there are snow caps on the peaks of mountaintops,” the company said back in August.
The refreshed Google Maps data is available in all supported countries on the web and mobile devices, including Android smartphones and iPhones. Google says it’s already working on bringing the new maps to more cities, but for now, no other specifics are available.
Detailed street maps are rolling out in NYC, San Francisco, London and Tokyo this week to help you get around more easily. Learn more → https://t.co/hZtWXd8R3v pic.twitter.com/R7hKKmCAL2
— Google Maps (@googlemaps) December 8, 2020
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