Google Maps Tilt View - Derby can now be seen in 3D using new scan data!

If you are a regular user of Google Maps Earth View then you will know that the Satellite View of Derby shows old imagery from around 2006 this means that the Google Streetview images often did not tally up with the view from above. Well now in January 2015 that's finally been updated.

Google have at last re-scanned the area from above so we can now see things such as Derby Bus Station etc.

Not only have they rescanned the view from above they have now added a brand new feature to Maps, this is Tilt View. This is only available on Desktop at the moment but I dare say the Google Maps App on smartphones will be updated soon.

Victoria Street Wardwick junction as seen in the new tilt View.

The new Tilt view button has appeared on Google Maps here.....

Here are two such examples of the new tilt view of Derby, Click it to view full size. Pretty good eh ! :

Google Maps Tilt view over Derby.

Derby University as seen in the new Tilt view.

Try it out for yourself. Use my link here to get Google Maps view of Derby :
Google Maps view of Derby.

Then Click on the "Earth" button in the bottom left of the map window so it shows you satellite imagery. As you can see this is now showing new scan data over Derby.

3D Tilt View
Now for the amazing new feature of Google Maps. On the right side near the bottom you will notice a new icon below the compass that says "Tilt the View". Click on it and you will be presented with a brand new 3D rendered view of Derby. Click it again and the viewing angle drops down a bit more.
You can use the compass to rotate the view around.

You can also hold down the Shift key or the Control key while moving your mouse around to get every angle and viewpoint !

NOTE : It takes quite a while to render the full image. So initially the view looks like an old computer game but leave it render the view and it looks pretty good.

You can also fly over the 3D view using the cursor keys.

Thanks
Andy

Video of Maps app in "follow mode" running on an iPhone 3GS while on a moving train. Using ios5

This is a quick simple video showing what the Maps app on an iPhone 3GS looks like in "follow mode" when you are on a moving train. I find it interesting how accurate it follows the railway tracks.
You can see the shadow cast by bridges in the home button on the right, as you can see it coincides with the bridges on the map.

We take this technology for granted, imagine going back to the 1980's and telling someone what you can do these days they would not believe you could have such power.


If you own a smartphone and use the built-in mapping application then you will probably be aware of what it can do. On my iPhone 3GS (still on ios5) the "Maps" application allows you to see Satellite imagery for your location by simply tapping once on the arrow button (bottom left of the Map screen) it will go into "locate" mode. Your current position on the Earth is marked by that blue dot with the white circle around it.
When you do this it uses the built-in GPS to find you and show the map.

If you tap the arrow again it goes into "Follow mode", this means it will move the map arround as you move around and keep it centered.

If I had not done this video in follow mode then the blue dot would have moved down to the bottom left and gone off screen.

If you tap the arrow for a third time then it puts it into "compass mode", this is the same as follow mode but now also orientates the map so the roads are exactly as you see them now. (assuming you are holding the phone the correct way around!).

As you probably know one of the biggest features that iOS 6 removed was the Google Maps App. This is the one reason I have not bothered to update my iPhone from ios v5.1.1

If your trying to work out where the train journey is, its near Stockport in Manchester, UK. The phone is running on ios 5.1.1, The network provider is o2 PAYG using their ALL ROUNDER WEB bolt On.

The blank squares at 2:24 are because it has not managed to download the data for those sections in time so they appear blank and then fill in as they move.

If you have updated to ios6 and miss the Google Maps app then you can now download it as a free app !
Google Maps App for iPhone ios6.

Its almost the same as the ios5 maps app but you have to get a google account and sign in if you want to save addressed etc.

Hope you found this of interest.

Thanks
Andy

Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Derby by Alan Godfrey. Great for research.

For some years now I have been using old maps to help learn about how Derby used to look, I have some great maps produced by Alan Godfrey and these are very handy if you want to know where things used to be in Derby such as Roads that have gone or been diverted. The maps are ideal for local historians, transport historians, and family historians.

There are currently 3 maps for the Derby area, two dating from 1899 and one from 1913. They are very detailed. In order to help you work out what area each map covers I have created a modern map showing the precise area that is covered by the three maps, that way you know which one to buy.

See my map below. Best to click the link below the map so you can get a full size map.

These maps are available from good local book shops or online.





I have created a map showing the precise area covered by each of the Godfrey local maps so you can see which map is the correct one for your area.


View Alan Godfrey Maps - Coverage area for Derby maps. in a larger map
Best to click the link above to get a good view.

Thanks
Andy

Dovedale Stepping Stones, health and safety gone mad as stones height increased.

I'm sure you can't have missed last weeks news about Dovedale Stepping Stones.
Derbyshire County Council and the National Trust had placed new stones on top of the existing ones to make them more "accessible" for visitors.

The story even made it into the National Newpapers, as you can read here.

Daily Express Newspaper Article.

Daily Mail Newspaper Article.

The stones they have added onto the exisiting ones to make them a lot higher, see how it looks now HERE.

A Facebook page has been set up to request that the stepping stones be returned to the way they were before, Join the Facebook group and post your comments on here :


Dovedale Stepping Stones Facebook Group.

Return the Dovedale Stepping Stones to their former natural glory on Facebook.

How about fitting some handrails either side and some traffic lights so people know when its safe to go :)

Here is a 360 dregree VR Photograph I took in in early June 2010 BEFORE the stones height was increased.




To see my high resolution fullscreen version of Dovedale Stepping Stones click the link here:
Dovedale Stepping Stones High Resolution 360 photograph.


Iphone Map locators for Dovedale.
If you are viewing this blog on an iPhone then you can click the link below to launch the iPhone Maps application with a push pin location that you can use to located the stones.

Dovedale Stepping Stones iPhone Map Marker.

The link above is for walkers, if you want a location point for driving then use the following link

Dovedale Car park iPhone Map Marker.

Once you have clicked on the link above and your Map application has loaded up, simple tap the Directions button at the bottom of the iPhone. It will be prefilled in with Current location for the start and Dovedale Car Park for the end so all you have to do is tap the Route button and it will show the driving route you need.

For a large map showing all the details such as the walking paths etc click the link here:
Dovedale Stepping Stones Map.


Thanks
Andy

How to make a Drop Pin show on iPhone Maps via a web page link.

Something which I find annoying on the iPhone is when viewing an embeded custom google map in Safari, if you click on the link below the embeded map it launches the Maps application and loses all of the markings and pointers that were on the embeded map.

I have found a way to create a link on a web page that when veiwed in Safari on your iPhone it will launch the Maps application and put a drop pin onto the map which you can then use to get directions to or view streetview on your iPhone.

To see this in action you need to be veiwing this blog post on your iPhone. I imagine this will also work on an iPad, perhaps someone can let me know if thats the case.

Drop pin on iPhone Maps via html example.
Click the link below and it will close Safari and open up the Maps app and show a drop pin on it.

CLICK HERE.

Hopefully you should have seen that the Maps App was launched and a red Drop Pin was placed in the middle of the River Derwent.
If you want the html code for this simply click the link on a computer (rather than on an iPhone)

If you are wondering how on earth to find precise Lat/Long coordinates for your drop pins then I suggest using the Google API Polyline Encoder tool, its not really designed for this purpose but I often use this tool because its very quick, easy to use and very accurate.

Goto the Utility here:
Interactive Polyline Encoder Utility

How to use the tool to find Latitude and Longitude positions.
1) First type in a place you want to find in the field marked "Center map at:", this will get you a map of the area. You don't need to be really accurate at this stage.

2) Click the Hybrid button for high accuracy positioning of your pointer.
3) Drag the map view around to get it so you can see what you want to see, Zoom in to help accuare placement.
4) Click on the map where you want a mark placing. As soon as you click you will notice that a green marker will appear on the map and the Latitude and Longitude fields show accurate position data.
5) You can move the green marker around by simpy clicking on it and dragging it to where you want it. the Latitude and Longitude data will update as you move it around.
Its as simple as that, you are in full control of the marker.

This post may be of use to some people wanting to create web content that will work on an iPhone map.
If you found this of use then please leave a comment.
The next thing I need to see how much more you can do with the iPhone Maps application.

Thanks
Andy