Google Streetview has launched in the UK today. According to Brand Republic the launch has been partnered by Visit Britain, Fancyapint.com, the Mayor of London and the Tate. Findaproperty.com are already embedding Streetview into their site so that house buyers can get more of a feel for an area, whilst Google are serving local ads alongside results.
Streetview could have a range of other practical uses for businesses, but for now I thought I would explore and see what I could find. Already bloggers are screengrabbing images (Digital Examples with a bookshop, Rick offering Carrow Road and Alex showing the Gherkin) - I have checked our house and office, but thought the following would be more interesting.
Streetview could have a range of other practical uses for businesses, but for now I thought I would explore and see what I could find. Already bloggers are screengrabbing images (Digital Examples with a bookshop, Rick offering Carrow Road and Alex showing the Gherkin) - I have checked our house and office, but thought the following would be more interesting.
Using Google Streetview to re-create album covers:
Oasis 'What's the Story Morning Glory' - Berwick Street, London
Oasis original album cover
Oasis album cover re-created with Google Streetview
Beatles - Abbey Road
Beatles - 'Abbey Road' original album cover
Abbey Road cover re-created with Google StreetviewIt's also possible to use Google Streetview for Banksy spotting:
Banksy on Newman Street
Banksy on Newman Street (painted over by the Post Office rather than the Gray Ghost)
Banksy on Newman Street immortalised by Google StreetviewBanksy's 'Maid in Camden':
Banksy's Maid in Camden in Google Streetview
Banksy's Maid in Camden with photographer caught by Google Streetview (!)Google Streetview seems to cover all the main roads in London (and only misses out small / residential roads), people are blurred enough so as to be unrecognisable and I can't find any evidence of readable car number plates.
I think this is an amazing way of bringing maps to life and will have many uses for both businesses and consumers. I guess the only question now is how Google monetise their investment.......
I think this is an amazing way of bringing maps to life and will have many uses for both businesses and consumers. I guess the only question now is how Google monetise their investment.......
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3 Comments:
I instantly thought of trying to find a Banksy, but the first one I thought of was at Old Street and was painted over ages ago.
Love the album covers idea.
The Streets have an album featuring flats on the Hackney Road on the cover but I can't find them on Streetview.
The only other cover I could think of was Wonderwall on Primrose Hill but the Streetview Car doesn't seem to have done much off-road driving through Royal Parks.
(Also the find Banksy's idea has been somewhat soiled now I have noticed that the Daily Mail have also shown this in their Streetview review.)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Pollard+St,+Tower+Hamlets,+London+E2,+United+Kingdom&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.948388,39.506836&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FQJBEgMdUQn__w&split=0&ll=51.527956,-0.063794&spn=0.006648,0.01929&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.527952,-0.063941&panoid=uXeqKCTAVJkiLam-HBMhHg&cbp=12,15.33,,1,-5.35
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