Any alternatives to Google Streetview?

Question

I am seeking to find out if we have alternatives to Google maps' streetview? There is nothing wrong with Google streetview.

Answer 1

Bing Maps: http://www.bing.com/maps/

Map Jack: http://mapjack.com/ is another (as recommended by joyjit below).

See example: http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/?FORM=MLOMAP&PUBL=GOOGLE&crea=userid1743go6a1c1270db6e7f374a897e012428c985e#5003/s=w/5872/lat=32.797172&lon=-117.243132&alt=-17.24&z=30&h=70.1&p=2.9&pid=5082

They also do arial view from planes, so better definition.

Answer 2

There is a street view from Yandex for cities like Kiev or Moscow: http://maps.yandex.ru/-/CJc.6xd

Answer 3

One alternative is MapJack.

• Pro: pictures are of higher resolution
• Con: Very poor (geographical) coverage, compared to Google Street View

From their "About" page:

Jack may look like an ordinary guy, but he sure gets around, with the help of us of course -- a small team dedicated to high quality Immersive Street-Side Imagery, and bringing mass coverage online.

Mapjack.com showcases a new level of mapping technology. What others have done with NASA budgets and Star Wars-like equipment, we've done on a shoestring budget, along with a few trips to Radio Shack. Specifically, we developed an array of proprietary electronics, hardware and software tools that enable us to capture an entire city’s streets with relative ease and excellent image quality. We have a complete low-cost scalable system encompassing the entire work-flow process needed for Immersive Street-Side Imagery, from picture gathering to post-processing to assembling on a Website.

Answer 4

Google have spent a lot of time and money on Streetview already. In the UK they've reached 96% coverage (source). And that's just one country. Wikipedia has a more global perspective.

The problem everyone else has is that they'd be playing catch-up, so unless they've got the resources like Microsoft or perhaps Apple, they couldn't afford it. Even if someone else started the first choice is still going to be Google.

It's one of those cases where being first effectively gives you a monopoly. The other providers need to find a different unique selling point (USP). In Bing's case it looks like it's aerial imagery from planes. The other alternative is to go for countries/cities where Google doesn't offer Streetview at the moment. The problem here is - will these locations generate enough traffic to pay for the service?

Answer 5

For Eastern and Central Europe: NORC.

Answer 6

For the UK Yell.com have just released a new map system;

http://www.yell.com/maps/MapAction.do

with streetcam for some major cities and a nice 3D implementation;

http://www.yell.com/maps/MapAction.do?mapSearchType=locSearch&location=buckingham+palace+london&scrambleSeed=39375287&scrambleSeed=14045093&lat=51.50107361239192&lon=-0.14178360066401402&zoomFactor=2&type=&viewerMode=3dmap&pitch=39&heading=270&height3d=500

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Maybe these websites should do other TYPES of street view like interior view like shopping malls/stores?

Trail view for hiking and camping? Water View for boating? Park view for parks and recreation spots?

Anybody else have any ideas?