Google has launched a huge update to Street View here in the UK, the biggest of its kind since the controversial mapping service launched some four years ago.
The internet giant has had its fleet of camera-armed Street View cars out roaming the isles of Britain, recording new roads, areas, and even inside buildings. We don’t think the cars actually went inside buildings though, don’t worry.
The update will bring in 15% more UK roads, taking the total number of UK roads covered to 65%. Google’s Street View guys even stepped out of the cars and used specialised backpack cameras – similar to those used to map the Grand Canyon in Street View – to capture canal tow paths, narrow streets and even inside buildings.
BBC Radio One is one such building that has been Street View’d inside, so to speak. You can bring up the building on Google Maps, switch to StreetView and wander around inside, which we think is pretty cool. The same service has been around in the US for a few months now, allowing users to explore inside malls and shops from the comfort of their computers.
It would seem that since the initial uproar caused by Google’s Street View service, the general consensus in the UK is that people now don’t really mind. However, across Europe the service is still causing controversy in countries like Germany, where residents have complained about the service intruding on their privacy.