Google Adds Photorealistic 'Street Views'

Available for select cities, "Street View" feature provides a 360-degree view of a neighborhood. New "Mapplets" enables users to create their own maps.

1 minute read

May 31, 2007, 2:00 PM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"Street View lets users enjoy a 360-degree view of a neighborhood, walk virtually on a street, and see buildings and landmarks. The move is a response to Microsoft's Virtual Earth, which already has street views in more than 50 cities...Google has launched "Street View" in five cities-San Francisco, Denver, Las Vegas, New York and Miami-and Immersive has also mapped as many as 40,000 miles of streets in 35 United States cities...Google also today announced Mapplets, which builds on its existing Maps API, which allow users to create their own maps. Mapplets allow mash-ups of these user-generated maps, so that for example, one could see layering of real estate openings, public transportation, and crime statistics maps on top of each other."

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 in Red Herring

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3, 2025 - Governing

White park shuttles with large Zion logo on side and red rock cliffs in background in Zion National Park.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

3 hours ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Chart of federal transportation funding comparing Biden and Trump administration spending.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden

Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

4 hours ago - Transportation for America

Close-up on yellow and black TAXI sign on top of beige car in central Munich, Germany.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence

Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.

5 hours ago - Bloomberg