Google-Maps

Google Maps outshines competitors with the widespread rollout of the 3D feature

Google Maps is now a next-generation tool for finding places, exploring the world, and learning about specific locales, and the latest news contributes to the application's growth in this respect.

The Mountain View-based search engine recently announced "the biggest expansion" of the Lens integration in Maps, allowing users to explore their surroundings by scanning them with their cell phone camera.

This is how it all works.

When Google introduced Search with Live View a few years ago, users could turn on the game in Google Maps and move around with the phone's camera turned on to gather information about the places around. Through environmental scanning, Google Maps was able to identify establishments, eateries, landmarks, and other locations that were available for viewing on the map. These locations were then superimposed using augmented reality on camera-captured photographs.

As such, by only pointing the phone's camera at a restaurant, customers may view its name, its Google rating, and its opening hours.

To make using the function easier, Google rebranded it to Lens and added a dedicated icon to the Google Maps search box. Although it was initially only available in a few areas, Google is now expanding Lens integration to over 50 locations in what it calls "the biggest expansion of this feature yet."

Austin, Las Vegas, Rome, Sao Paulo, Taipei, and other cities will host the feature's debut. Launching Google Maps and searching for the Lens symbol in the search box is the simplest method to find out if it's available for you.

The search engine behemoth this week unveiled a significant update that includes the Lens integration in Google Maps. Alongside the upgrade is a significant new feature called Immersive View for Routes, which allows users to examine their Google Maps in a realistic, multi-dimensional view before actually beginning to drive. With the use of Street View images and satellite photography, together with weather and traffic data, Immersive View creates a virtual environment.

By previewing their routes, drivers may receive a more accurate and convenient glance at the predicted traffic conditions and become comfortable with every turn. The weather prediction assists drivers in understanding how their route may seem and how their actions may affect traffic patterns as they set out on a journey.

Although Immersive View for routes is now only accessible in a few areas, Google has already stated that it would make the feature available in additional areas, most likely in the first half of 2024.