Google has announced significant upgrades to Google Maps, Street View, and Google Earth. These new features are designed to help users get more out of these popular mapping tools.
Historical Imagery on Google Earth
Google Earth will now offer historical imagery dating back up to 80 years in some locations. This imagery was previously available only in the paid Pro version but is now accessible to all users on the web and mobile.
“Maybe you want to travel back in time and see what your neighborhood looked like decades ago,” says Stafford Marquardt, a senior product manager at Google Maps. You can also use the feature to see how climate change and human activity have affected forests.
Cities like London, Berlin, Warsaw, and Paris now offer satellite images as far back as the 1930s, giving users a detailed view of how these places have changed over time.
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Expanded Street View Coverage
Google Maps will now offer expanded Street View imagery across 80 countries, with some countries getting Street View coverage for the first time. This is one of the biggest updates since Street View launched in 2007. Google says the total number of images has surpassed 280 billion.
Countries like Iceland, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Tasmania, Japan, Denmark, and France are included in this update. Google plans to expand Street View to even more places in the future.
Sharpened Satellite Imagery
Google is also improving satellite imagery on both Google Earth and Google Maps. Using AI and new cloud removal tools, Google has created a clearer, more accurate global view. This updated satellite imagery will offer a “refreshed global mosaic” for users.
Lane Navigation Update for Android Auto
In addition to these updates, Google recently improved the lane navigation interface in Google Maps for Android Auto. If you haven’t seen these updates on your device yet, they should be arriving soon.
