RIP app for Google Street View. There is no eternal kingdom in technology, and the popular app developed by Mountain View to travel halfway around the world at the click of a button will be no exception. Autumn is a month of losses at Google, and after Stadia or Hangouts shut down, it’s time for the Street View exclusive app. According to 9to5 Google, the multinational has decided to suppress it and end its support. And in short: 21 March 2023.

The decision means goodbye to an app that has been around for years and was factory-installed on most mobile devices until a little over five years ago, but it doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of its services to “move” anymore. “for remote locations. The service easily adapts to a different scenario than what was available when the application was released.

To understand this, it is necessary to review the recent history of the application. Until 2015, Google Street View was widespread on mobile devices, which is a standard installed tool and serves as an important complement if we want to use the service in the Google Maps application on Android. Things changed when Google Street View 2.0 was released seven years ago.

Goodbye… preserving functions

Maps continued to integrate a modified version of Street View, the app of which became a standalone tool. Among other things, it allowed us to explore cities as if we were walking their streets. Stream 360º images. Some people have managed to get more out of Google’s options; For example, fans of GeoGuessr, a game that involves identifying any place in the world by looking at pictures quickly—the faster, the better. There are real champions and celebrities on the field like Trevor Rainbolt.

Others, indulged in nostalgia, delved into historical images archived by Google, searching for places that had long since disappeared and even deceased relatives; and lately even the Police knew how to take advantage of this to identify and arrest an Italian gangster who took refuge in Galapagar.

The thing is, the specific Street View app concept has been losing relevance in recent years. It continued to receive improvements affecting its interface and camera usage, but its user base isn’t huge for one very simple reason: the Google Maps app already comes with integrated Street View, which makes the app less appealing. application. Presence of both available for download, be a little confusing For users.

Now Google has decided to go ahead, which means the Street View app on mobile will be gone by the spring of 2023.

Those who want to continue exploring Street View or upload photos should use Google Maps directly, and those who want to stream 360º videos Street View Studio web will be at their fingertips.

The change is noticeable in certain functions in any case: Closing the app means losing the “Photo Path” or “Photo Path” option, but the truth is that the options offered by Street View for most users Will continue with Google Maps.

Via: Xataka Android

Cover image: Suzy Brooks (Unsplash)