Google Maps is an up-to-date tool for finding places, exploring the world, and getting information on certain locations, and the most recent announcement is helping the app to expand even further. The Mountain View-based search engine recently declared "the biggest expansion" of the Lens integration in Maps, allowing people to discover what's around them by using their phone's camera.
Years ago, Google created a feature called Search with Live View, allowing users to turn on the function in Google Maps and get details on the places nearby by moving their phone camera around. By scanning the environment, Google Maps was able to locate businesses, eateries, landmarks, and other points on the map and display them on top of the images taken by the camera using augmented reality. This way, users could see the name of a restaurant, its Google rating, and opening hours just by pointing their phone's camera at it.
The feature was later renamed to Lens, and Google added a dedicated icon in the Google Maps search box for easier activation. Google initially made Lens integration available in a limited number of areas, but the company is now bringing it to more than 50 cities as part of what it calls "the biggest expansion of this feature yet." The feature is now available in cities such as Austin, Las Vegas, Rome, Sao Paulo, Taipei, and others. To find out if it's available for you, the simplest way is to launch Google Maps and look for the Lens icon in the search box.
The Lens integration in Google Maps is part of a major update that the search engine announced this week. This update includes important new features, such as Immersive View for routes, which allows users to explore their Google Maps in a realistic 3D view before starting their journey. Immersive View uses satellite imagery and Street View photos combined with traffic and weather data to generate a simulated version of the world.
Drivers can preview their routes and become familiar with each turn while obtaining a more accurate and convenient look at the expected traffic conditions. The weather report helps drivers understand how the route could look when they set out and how it might affect the traffic. Immersive View for routes is currently available in a limited number of areas, but Google has promised to expand it to more places, likely in the first half of 2024.
