Apple Maps for the web adds Look Around, its Street View-like feature.
Five months after launching Apple Maps on the web, the tech company has recently introduced Look Around, a feature similar to Street View.
Apple has expanded the features of its Apple Maps service on the web, now adding the Look Around feature, which allows users to explore their surroundings through panoramic images taken by vehicles equipped with cameras. This new feature, which was initially launched for the mobile and desktop versions of Apple Maps in 2019, is now available on the web following a five-month beta period during which the platform was optimized to compete more effectively with Google Maps.
To access Look Around on the Apple Maps web, users need to select the binoculars icon located in the upper right corner of the screen. Once activated, the Look Around view occupies only a portion of the screen, allowing for a seamless experience as users navigate the streets by simply clicking on the image or dragging it to take a visual tour. Users can also choose a full-screen view using the arrows in the Look Around viewer.
If you want to change location, simply drag the map until the binoculars icon is positioned in a new place and continue from there. Although this service is efficient, it is important to note that not all locations are supported. To check its availability, simply zoom in on a specific location; if the binoculars icon darkens, it is ready to use. Users can experience Look Around in major cities across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, and other places. A complete list of supported locations can be found on Apple's website.
Despite the significant improvements to Apple Maps, it is relevant to mention that Google Maps still holds a notable advantage in the historical imagery feature that allows users to see how certain places have changed over time. Google has been able to add this feature in many locations thanks to its repeated activity since it began collecting data for Street View in 2005, while Apple started in 2015, suggesting that it might implement a similar feature in the future by continuing to revisit certain locations.
Over the past few years, Apple Maps has shown significant advancements and possesses several advantages compared to its main competitor, especially in terms of privacy, as it collects less personal data from its users.
