The surface of the Earth is 509 million square kilometres – but unfortunately, life is just too short to explore it all.
Thankfully, Google Street View is on hand to show you some of the far corners of the world – all from the comfort of your home, and for free.
Google Street View is a 360-degree explorer service which allows you to navigate around roads, forests and even inside some public spaces, from Buckingham Palace to the Liwa Desert in Abu Dhabi.
To create Street View, Google attaches sophisticated cameras to cars, bikes and backpacks that shoot 360-degree images of their surroundings. To date, these cameras have travelled more than 7 million miles.
The images are then stitched together and uploaded online, where we can all explore through them using our internet browser or the Google Maps app for smartphones and tablets.
Street View is an extension of Google Maps, but it can sometimes be tricky to find. Here we show you how to get started, whether you’re using a computer or a mobile device. Watch our video above to find out more.
How to use Google Street View on a computer
Step 1: Launch Street View
First, go to Google Maps.
Type in the name of the place you want to look around in the top left box – for example, we visited Trafalgar Square.
In the bottom right corner, you should see a yellow man.
Clicking on the yellow man will turn the roads you are able to explore blue. Blue dots indicate off-road areas you can also look around.
To explore, drag the yellow man to a spot on map and let go.
Step 2: Go exploring
Your view will now change from a map to real photos of the area.
To navigate around, simply click, hold and drag the mouse in the desired direction (or use the arrow keys on your keyboard if you prefer).
An arrow may appear on the ground, which you can click to move forward.
You can also use your mouse’s scroll button to zoom in and out.
Step 3: Go back in time
Google are constantly updating Street View to keep images fresh. But you can also take step back in time and glance at older images as far back as 2007.
If older Street View images are available, you will see a small clock icon in the top left box.
Click on this and use the timeline that appears, with a slider to choose the date you want. Once you’ve decided, click the image above it and explore as normal.
If at any point you want to return to a normal map view, click on back arrow in the top left-hand corner.
How to use Google Street View on a smartphone or tablet
Step 1: Launch Street View
Find the Google Maps app. If you don’t have it already, download it from Google Playfor Android or the App Store for iOS.
Search the location you want to explore in the top box, then tap the right suggestion listed below.
When the map appears, tap and hold on an area until a red pointer appears.
Flick the bottom information box upwards and you should see a Street View image. Click it to explore from your phone or tablet.
Step 2: Go exploring
Use your finger to look around the area and tap the arrows to move in a different direction.
To zoom in and out, do a pinch gesture.
If you want to return to the map view, simply press the Back button on the bottom left of your screen.
http://home.bt.com/
