Apple Maps introduces Look Around, a feature comparable to Street View.

Apple has recently introduced improvements to its Apple Maps service, which was launched in web version five months ago, although it initially had limited features and was in beta phase. Aiming to position itself as a relevant competitor to Google Maps, the Look Around feature has now been added, allowing users to explore their surroundings through panoramic images captured by cars equipped with cameras. This feature had already been launched for mobile and desktop applications in 2019, so its arrival on the web version is an anticipated evolution.

To use Look Around in Apple Maps for the web, users must select the binoculars icon in the upper right corner. This feature allows for smooth navigation through the streets, either by clicking on the image or dragging it to observe the surroundings. When Look Around is activated, this view will occupy only part of the screen; however, the current position can be controlled through the binoculars icon. There is also the option to enable full-screen mode by selecting the arrows available in the viewer. To change locations, simply drag the map until the binoculars icon is positioned at the desired new point.

It is important to note that, although this feature works effectively, not all locations are available. To check if Look Around is accessible in a specific place, users can zoom in on the location and see if the binoculars icon darkens, indicating that they can begin exploring. This feature is available in various cities across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan, among other places, and a complete list of supported locations can be found on Apple’s official website.

Despite the advantages that Look Around offers, there is a notable difference compared to Google’s Street View service, which includes historical images that allow users to observe changes in certain locations over time. Google has been able to capitalize on this aspect since it has been collecting data since 2005, while Apple started its data collection for Look Around in 2015, suggesting that it could implement a similar feature in the future if it repeats its visits to the same areas.

Over time, Apple Maps has improved significantly and also offers advantages over Google Maps, particularly regarding privacy, as it collects less personal data from its users.