Google Blogoscoped

Forum

Google Maps Europe...

dpneal [PersonRank 10]

Friday, April 21, 2006
18 years ago36,778 views

It's quite possible that Google will release other European versions of Google maps very soon(i reckon within the month). There have been recent moves to greatly increase the satellite coverage of Maps/Earth and also and more significantly, European places names. This post gives an example...

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/391010/an/latest/page/0#391010

It also seems that they have new European partners to enable them to accomplish this.

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

We hope that since so long time ago...
I hope your predictions will become reality!

PS : On Google Earth, you have already the name of all the roads of France (and some other countries) >> they just have to adapt that on Google Local ;-)

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Well it would be about time wouldn't it?

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Read this http://www.zorgloob.com/2006/04/google-maps-bientt-pour-leurope-la.asp
(I think you don't need to translate this in English for understand what it is about...)

Elias KAI [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

All Local Directories, yellow pages in europe have tried, just take as sample SWEDEN. You got eniro.se hitta.se who are trying hard and do TV campaigns about their Satellite maps , but unfortunately ,top of keywords queried concerning google are google, google EARTH *in sweden./

dpneal [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

I don't understand why they would have french maps for google maps mobile, but not for google maps.

Pierre S [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

More hints in the FAQ it's indeed coming to France.Note the strange redirect if you attempt to click.
http://maps.google.com/support/bin/search.py?query=france&Action.Search=Search

Search Results

Où Google Local se procure-t-il ces informations ?
Google Local en France compile des informations provenant de nombreuses sources afin d'effectuer une recherche locale la plus performante qui soit. Nos fiches contiennent des informations provenant des recherches sur le Web...
En savoir plus

Comment puis-je trouver une pizzeria proche de mon domicile avec Google Maps ?
Par exemple, vous pouvez taper [pizza près de Lyon, France]. Google Local affiche ensuite les résultats de la recherche en les localisant sur une carte...
Recherche

Puis-je utiliser Google Local sur mon téléphone portable ou autre appareil mobile ?
Messagerie texte : vous pouvez envoyer un message texte contenant votre demande de recherche et votre adresse, par exemple [café Dijon, France], au 46645 ('GOOGL' sur la plupart des téléphones...
Recherche

Pierre S [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

http://www.google.fr/help/maps/tour/
It's now on google.fr but still in English.

Pierre S [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

When you look at Europe, you notice a new copyright for imagery: © 2006 Google-imagery

Is Google Satellite already active?
Are Google Planes taking pictures ?

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Also at:

http://www.google.de/help/maps/tour/

http://www.google.pl/help/maps/tour/

http://www.google.it/help/maps/tour/

Which all makes it sound promising for the European roll out but:

http://www.google.com.co/help/maps/tour/ { Columbia }

http://www.google.com.au/help/maps/tour/ { Australia }

In fact I think it is at *all* of the Google domains. But I would be surprised if Google is about to roll out maps for all of them.

Ravikant [PersonRank 0]

18 years ago #

Is it here Something for India?

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Well-judged!
For the www.google.XXX/help it's normal I think because the redirection on the "help" directory is active on all TLDs.
But for the querry [France] on google maps support, it's a real proof!

Pierre, I have disabled JavaScript and Metaredirections for this French help of Google Local :
Où Google Local se procure-t-il ces informations ?

Google Local en France compile des informations provenant de nombreuses sources afin d'effectuer une recherche locale la plus performante qui soit. Nos fiches contiennent des informations provenant des recherches sur le Web, de données fournies directement par des dirigeants d'entreprises locales et des sources telles que les annuaires Pages jaunes accessibles au public. Notez que nous ne sommes actuellement pas en mesure de fournir la liste complète des sources des Pages jaunes en France.

Les données cartographiques sur Google Local proviennent en grande partie de NAVTEQ et TeleAtlas. De même, la plupart des images du mode " Satellite " proviennent de DigitalGlobe et EarthSat. Bien que la fréquence des mises à jour puisse varier, nous nous efforçons d'actualiser régulièrement nos données cartographiques.
==================================
Comment puis-je trouver une pizzeria proche de mon domicile avec Google Maps ?

Vous pouvez trouver des emplacements spécifiques sur Google Local de plusieurs manières :

   * Dans la page principale de Google Local, il vous suffit d'inclure les mots " dans " ou " près de " en indiquant une ville ou un emplacement dans votre requête. Par exemple, vous pouvez taper [pizza près de Lyon, France]. Google Local affiche ensuite les résultats de la recherche en les localisant sur une carte.

   * Cliquez sur " Recherche de proximité " en regard du champ de recherche principal et saisissez l'entreprise recherchée et son emplacement général. (Dans cet exemple, vous saisiriez [pizza] dans la zone " Quoi " et " Lyon, France " dans la zone " Où ").
========================================
Puis-je utiliser Google Local sur mon téléphone portable ou autre appareil mobile ?

Oui, bien sûr. Si vous n'êtes pas connecté à votre ordinateur, vous pouvez toujours accéder à Google Local à l'aide de votre téléphone portable ou de tout autre appareil mobile. Les trois options suivantes vous sont proposées :

   * Télécharger : Visitez http://www.google.fr/glm/index.html pour en savoir plus sur le téléchargement de Google Local sur votre téléphone mobile. Google Local pour mobiles fournit des cartes, des itinéraires, des listes locales et des images satellites directement sur votre téléphone mobile.

   * Navigation sur le Web mobile : visitez http://mobile.google.fr/local sur le navigateur Web de votre téléphone. Saisissez votre requête dans le champ " Quoi " et votre adresse dans le champ " Où " pour les listes locales ou cliquez sur " Itinéraire " et saisissez l'adresse de départ et celle d'arrivée. En savoir plus.

   * Messagerie texte : vous pouvez envoyer un message texte contenant votre demande de recherche et votre adresse, par exemple [café Dijon, France], au 46645 ('GOOGL' sur la plupart des téléphones) pour obtenir les listes locales. Vous pouvez également envoyer votre adresse de départ et celle d'arrivée pour obtenir l'itinéraire correspondant.
=======================================

L'adresse que je recherche est introuvable. Comment puis-je la trouver ?

Merci de votre remarque. Nous sommes conscients qu'il existe bon nombre de méthodes différentes pour rechercher une adresse et nous mettons tout en œuvre pour rendre le processus aussi intuitif que possible. Nous vous remercions de votre patience pendant que nous travaillons à l'amélioration de ce service.

Entre-temps, vous pouvez affiner les termes de votre recherche pour trouver une localité spécifique en utilisant le format suivant :

" Adresse, ville, " ou " Adresse, ville, code postal "

Par exemple, " 54-56 avenue Hoche, Paris" ou " 54-56 avenue Hoche, Paris, 75008 ".

============================

dpneal [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

TOMHTML >
How did you get that help page to come up? I can't seem to emulate it.

Pierre S [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

I have installed an extension to disable meta redirections in FF, but is there an easier way to do it ?

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

dpneal > I go on this page :
http://maps.google.com/support/bin/search.py?query=france&Action.Search=Search&hl=fr
(for france)
and I use the extension "Web Developer" for Firefox to disable meta redirections, and I click on the links

for GERMANY :
http://maps.google.com/support/bin/search.py?query=berlin&Action.Search=Search&hl=de

for ITALY : (I don't find the town used in example)
http://maps.google.com/support/bin/search.py?query=pizza&Action.Search=Search&hl=it

don't work for Spain, Netherlands and Danemark

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Other scoop made in TOMHTML :
Google Maps (directions, locations, ...) works for Europe!
Placenames are not on the map, but directions yes ^^

news on Zorgloob.com in few minutes

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=london&daddr=paris&om=1

LOL!

Well scooped Tom. It is funny seeing the line just over barren (unroaded) land.

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

This example shows it working in holland, belgium, switzerland, germany, & france.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=bern&daddr=amsterdam&ll=50.078295,7.646484&spn=6.826471,14.985352&om=1

And Spain / Portugal are also working:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=lisbon&daddr=amsterdam&ll=45.552525,-2.021484&spn=14.895303,29.970703&om=1

Guesses for the launch date? I'd say Tuesday.

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

http://www.zorgloob.com/2006/04/google-maps-en-france-et-en-europe.asp

I don't find roads in Belgium, Switzerland and Portugal. Only Cities.

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Just click the links above?!

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Sam > no, you have the cities, but the roads aren't in the database for the moment.
(example : for going from Paris to Lisbon : at Paris the directions are "turn right at XXX road – 200 meters". If you search for "XXX road, Paris, France" Google Maps find it. Near Lisbon : "Turn right at Campo dos Mártires da Pátria – go 31 m". It looks like to be precised, but if you seach "Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, Lisbon, Portugal" > no answer.)

I have updated the post on Zorgloob, by quoting your previous remarks.

And why they are lanching Google Maps Europe NOW ?
>>>> soccer worldcup in Germany!

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Ok so it doesn't have the roads fully sorted in the other countries (i.e. you can't search for them) but you still can use them for the directions.

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

exact, it's that why I have updated my post ;-)

This is just a small article who compares Google Maps to Mappy and ViaMichelin (2 well known french Google Maps-like)
http://3couleurs.blogspot.com/2006/04/viamichelin-et-mappy-plus-rapide-que.html
>> for the same direction >> 2 hours of difference :-P

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Isn't that just down to how the time is calibrated?

Pierre S [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

I'v got even classier
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=fr&q=de+la+rue+th%C3%A9odule+ribot+paris+%C3%A0+la+place+du+four+martigues&ll=46.118942,3.779297&spn=9.382883,20.610352&om=1
Google Maps in French, between two French cities with directions in French, answering to a request in French.
I think they'll launch tomorrow.
The overlay aren't good though.

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

or Google is just more respectful than orthers about the highway code...

but at first sight it's the same ride.

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

LOL at Tom!

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

And de: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=de

And es: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=es

And it: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=it

It is all coming very soon....

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

.... about time you posted about this I think Philipp!

dpneal [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Excellent. Launch is definitely looking imminent now. I hope they release this with some updated sat imagery too. (maybe that's wishing for too much)

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

So directions over countries such as France and Germany work already (including the native language interface), but the detailed maps are yet to come?

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

yes!

Riccardo [PersonRank 1]

18 years ago #

I'v tied some experiment whit Google Maps for Italy..
Correctly display directions for city inside italy (whit some incorrect overlay of the lines and roads -recognisible on satellit vision-), but doesn't work when I search some commercial in cities: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=it&q=hotel+vicino+a+roma,+italy&om=1 google sayme that it doesn't know the name location... (but it know it for the directions)..

Pau Tomàs [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=bar,+barcelona&t=h&om=1

That's weird, it's a pub in Barcelona (near my house) but it doesn't appear as a bussines but as an address

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Pau > maybe because "London bar" is a part of the address of this bar ?

For example, when you search [bar, Paris]
you got an address "road of Paris" in a town called "Bar-sur-Aube".

justin flavin [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

on Google Maps, all of Germany has now gone hi res.

Lots of hi-res updating for many Greek Islands and Ibiza as well.

Joe [PersonRank 0]

18 years ago #

as TOMHTML mentioned, the World Cup should be a huge driver to get GMaps for Germany + Europe released in the next couple weeks. They did it for Turino Italy for the Olympics, and a couple weeks ago they gave hi-res satellite imagry for Germany, so I hope street maps and directions are to follow.

justin flavin [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

the greek island and Balearic updates are interesting – maybe, again, its in anticipation of the World Cup ? Lots of people without tickets will be flying out to the Greece and Spanish resorts to watch it on a big screen at one of the many bars out there.

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Joe >> I'm in full acquiescence with you!

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Hey Sam! I just realized that I made an error. I thought I gave thanks you on the post, but it's not the case
If blogger works, I try to correct that ;-)

toml [PersonRank 6]

18 years ago #

there are some new hi res updates in poland, but no directions.

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

> on Google Maps, all of Germany has now gone hi res.

Justin I can't see that?

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Yes, the most part of Germany is in Hi-resolution since one month ago in Google Earth, since few days in Google Maps.

eh, it's ready for the FIFA Worldcup 2006!
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=fr&q=Olympiastadion,+Berlin&ll=52.515411,13.239555&spn=0.010342,0.054245&t=k&om=1

Joe [PersonRank 0]

18 years ago #

I'll throw in my vote for the (as of yet uncompleted, in this photo) Allianz Stadium in my current home-away-from-home, Munich
http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&om=1&ll=48.218968,11.624651&spn=0.004361,0.007296

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Tom: Don't worry about it, but thanks for the mention!

I am still betting on it all going live on Tuesday.

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Supposition :
It's because we discover all that news about Google Maps we think it's going live soon.

BUT,
theses data and fonctions are surely built in Google Maps since few weeks ago. So don't panic, maybe you have to wait many weeks, so long weeks... ^^

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Have you seen this?

http://googlemapsapi.blogspot.com/2006/04/revision-247-of-api-v2.html

We should have known about the imagery update before!

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Nothing about cities and road in Europe in this post, in this blog.
But I found that post :
http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps/browse_thread/thread/057dd7a45a5b895d/80490d155b2f5891#80490d155b2f5891
Strange (Warsaw?), but not unthinkable

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Sam > in my latest post on Zorgloob, I wrote about you, again :-P
http://www.zorgloob.com/2006/04/news-google-en-bref.asp

You bet that the lanch will be today, but on a Spanish blog I found that :
"
Hemos recibido la invitación para asistir a la presentación oficial de Google Maps España el próximo Jueves 27 de Abril por la tarde. Os mantendremos informados.
"
http://www.tecniblog.com/buscadores/herramientas/presentacion_oficial_google_maps_espana.php

>>>Thursday April, 27th

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Sam Davyson of zorggloob.com fame! Thanks Tom. But I am not sure that it will be now. It is drawing a little too close for comfort.

Before the weekend anyway... they can't keep it in its current semiworking state much longer.

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Mmm... we had the same discuss when we discovered "CL2" : "it's for tomorow!" became "it's for next week!" became "it's for the next month" and so and so forth...

But I'm intregued about the invitation for the official presentation of Google Maps España got by Tecniblog...

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

HEYYYYY
SCOOOP!
It works now!!

Pau Tomàs [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

That's so cool!

BTW They didn't waited to have full high-resolution of the whole Europe because my city is only half completed (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=castellon+de+la+plana,+spain&ll=39.988235,-0.04725&spn=0.022721,0.053902&t=h&om=1)

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Exact Pau
(i have update my post here :
http://www.zorgloob.com/2006/04/google-maps-france-europe-operationnel.asp
)
even Moscow is online!

Pau Tomàs [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=castellon+de+la+plana,+spain&t=h&om=0&ll=39.988342,-0.034493&spn=0.00568,0.013475

Also seems like the information about the roads in the maps is not updated. If you look at the place in the middle of the map, you'll see that the driving direction is clockwise, but the city hall changed the direction more than a year ago (Trivia: I think it was the only non-english place in Europe that goes that way).

justin flavin [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

cool!

today, the road network for most of Europe has been implemented in google maps.

justin flavin [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

this update is going to be great for travelling in Europe.
with the addition of road/street mapping, you can now conceivably, figure out how far your hotel is from the beach or from the train station, parks , etc etc.

if you are a bit of a beach bum, then you wont end up in a hotel/resort miles away.

dpneal [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Excellent! Good investigative work people.

Do you think it's quite possible that they read this and decided to go live? After all it is quite a coincidence that I started this topic only four days ago with odd bits of info, we discussed it and found more infomation, and now it's live.

Google listens? Or are we just just one step ahead ;)

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

"Do you think it's quite possible that they read this and decided to go live?"
Seriously ? I think you're right ;-D

Sam made a good prediction

dpneal [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Yeah! Spot on :)

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

http://digg.com/technology/Google_Maps_France_and_Europe_
An entry in digg about my article, "Discover how a rumor became reality in 3 days."
Do you realized, 3 DAYS!

gary price [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Don't forget that Ask.com has good coverage of Western Europe both with maps and aerial imagery. It's been live since March. See:
http://blog.ask.com/2006/05/askcom_maps_aer.html

Also, Mappy.com has aerial (for many months) for over 60 cities.
http://www22.mappy.com/sideFCUidMNswzMn21w/CGM?fsl=m1;csl=m1;gsl=m1;msl=m1;out=2;xsl=1;guide=1;gb=air

And don't forget the awesome street level imagery for cities in France and Spain. This has been online for many years.
http://photos.pagesjaunes.fr

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Gary I really can't find any aerial images of the UK. Where are they hiding?

Art-One [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Mappy shows the most detailed pictures for my place, but still not as good as some details in the Google pictures. It would be nice to look in my neighbours gardens though... ;-)

Forum home

Advertisement

 
Blog  |  Forum     more >> Archive | Feed | Google's blogs | About
Advertisement

 

This site unofficially covers Google™ and more with some rights reserved. Join our forum!