Apple made a significant move five months ago by launching Apple Maps for the web. Initially, it was in beta with limited features. However, as the company has been steadily enhancing it, it has now added Look Around, which is its own version of Street View. This allows users to explore their surroundings through panoramic imagery collected by camera-equipped cars. 9to5Mac reported on this exciting development.

Unlock Your Surroundings with Apple Maps' Look Around

Introduction to Look Around on Apple Maps for the Web

You can easily access the Look Around feature on Apple Maps for the web by simply selecting the binoculars icon located at the top right of the display. Just like in the Apple Maps desktop app, you can click on the image to smoothly move along the street or drag the picture around to survey your surroundings. When you first launch it, the Look Around view only occupies a part of the display. As you progress along the street, you can keep track of your current position by checking the binoculars icon. Additionally, you have the option to go full-screen by selecting the arrows on the Look Around viewer.

Changing Location on Apple Maps for the Web

Changing your location on Apple Maps for the web is a straightforward process. You just need to drag the map and place the binoculars icon in a new spot. From there, you can start exploring the new area. It provides a seamless way to navigate and discover different locations.

Functioning and Availability of Look Around

The Look Around feature for Apple Maps on the web works quite well. However, it's important to note that not all locations are supported. You can determine if a particular location has Look Around available by zooming into that place and observing if the binocular icon darkens. If it does, you're ready to explore. You can try it in major cities across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, and many other places. A full list of supported locations can be found on Apple's website.

Comparison with Google Street View

Look Around is a great feature, but it does have one notable disadvantage compared to Google's Street View. Google's Street View has a historical imagery feature that enables users to go back in time and see how a specific location has changed over the years. Google has been able to incorporate this in numerous locations because it started gathering Street View data in 2005 and has been visiting spots multiple times since then. Apple started gathering Look Around data in 2015. While it may not have the historical imagery feature yet, there is a possibility that it could launch a similar one in the future if it starts returning to locations multiple times.

Advantages of Apple Maps over Google Maps

Although Google Maps has long been the preferred map tool for many people, Apple Maps has made remarkable improvements in recent years. It offers some advantages over its competitor, especially in terms of privacy. Apple gathers less personal data from its users, which is an important consideration for many. This makes Apple Maps a more secure and private option for those who value their privacy.