The interior of Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Orlando, Florida, as seen on Google Maps
Google has now made it easier for users to discover which buildings in Google Maps have panoramic images of their interiors that can be explored using the service.
Google’s Business Photos programme has been in development since April 2010 and in May of this year the service became available in Ireland. Business owners can hire a Google-approved photographer to photograph the interior of their building and these photos are then used to create a 360-degree image for users to browse on Google, Google Maps and Google+ Local.
Previously, these images were only highlighted in the Google Maps sidebar and in Google+ Local, but now it will be clear when viewing a map which buildings users can take an inside look at thanks to an orange circle indicator. Users simply drag and drop the orange Pegman on the left-hand side of screen onto one of these orange circles on the map to pan around, zoom in and out, and explore the interior of these buildings.
Image via Google Maps blog
Though users won’t be able to try on products or pick up a take-away like the lad in this video has magically managed to do, the service will help users familiarise themselves with a venue without ever having to set foot in the place, which could be useful when it comes to booking a hotel stay or deciding on a restaurant.
