Google Maps: 10 years ago, history with pictures

Google Maps is one of the first helpful services of the Google search engine, 10 years ago there was no YouTube (Google path), Google+, Chrome, Android and even Drive, but there was Maps. This famous digital mapping tool is one of the most widely used in the world and one of the most complete. Simple mapping in its early days and now with Street View and Satellite View we have pretty much it all.

Yes, you got it, Google Maps is celebrating its 10th anniversary! Happy birthday and everything that comes with it, let’s get back to the story of that instead. In 2005, Google is not a startup company, far from it, it is already the world’s #1 search engine and intends to diversify its activities. his first idea digital mapping service.

It’s a bit like a search engine, not an invention of the Mountain View giant, no, there was already a service with 8 years of additional experience in this field. This historic service is MapQuest, the latter of which has faded into the background against Google Maps for years. At that time, Google was not in a position to compete with its rival.

The firm began building its Maps empire by acquiring Where 2 Technology, a company specializing in its field. Then Keyhole, which specializes in 3D to create StreetView, and finally ZipDash, a real-time road traffic service. All this allows us to have a very complete service today for navigation, business research or even a 3D tour of a city on the other side of the world.

Beginning

we are here, February 8, 2005 is the launch of Google Maps in a desktop version accessible directly from your computer’s browser. Not long after, Google expanded the service to mobile phones in April 2005, a privilege that then only belonged to Americans.

Next month, Google Earth is now available, a satellite cartography that allows you to see all places on the planet in (real) images. 2005 was a year when Google Maps (and Earth included) was firmly and long-term imprinted on people’s minds.

The advent of 3D

After the dead silence of 2006, we move on to May 2007, as Google still continues to map the planet to its finest detail. StreetView is about to land. It’s nice to see the planet in images from above, but to see it in sight”person” directly on the streets and better in 3D. Google is revolutionizing the genre and always offering the first-of-its-kind experience for free.

June 2008, we moved to a more open system, the moment came when anyone could update geographic information in Google Earth, a community effort that has proven to be very effective as well as Google Maps.

• On the same subject: How to use Google Maps offline?

sailing at the meeting place

Here we are, the release of the version GPS from Google Maps for mobile phones, the start of a very powerful navigation tool. At the time, the options were quite limited, but today, when we see what the app has to offer, we know that Google has done a good job.

2010 was a year of quite impressive fact, in September Google officially announced that 7 continents of the planet are visible in Google Maps with Street View!

Find multiple ways

In September 2011, we took it to another level with Google Maps, it’s not just a world map, it’s a complete service to find what you need most from a destination. Because that’s when Google bought Zagat, a powerful tool to find the best places like bars or restaurants in your city. This initial purchase has grown since then, you can now find a lot of stuff on Maps.

Trekker, which means Randonneur in French, is a new system invented by Google for mapping places that cannot be reached by car. The firm wants everything, there are no vacancies and it allows itself.

December 2012, Google Maps launched on iOS, Apple product users can finally enjoy Google’s comprehensive map service on their device. in June 2013, Google buys WazeA very complete community GPS app that lets you know traffic in real time, among other things.

• Also read: How to share Google Maps route?

The whole world photographed

The famous Google Randonneur sails on all the waves of the planet, and in November 2013 he took pictures of all of Venice, cruising the city’s various canals. An important step forward that Google Maps goes everywhere without exception.

The most recent event for the well-known service, Google acquired Skybox Imaging firm in August 2014. This initiative in California was originally intended to deploy its own constellation of satellites to obtain high-resolution images. agriculture or mining.

An acquisition that complements Google Maps’s panel of possibilities and is part of Google’s long-term goal. It is compatible with the Loon project, which consists of providing internet even in the most remote areas by broadcasting radio waves between the balloon fleet deployed at an altitude of 20 kilometers and towards the ground.

• To read : Top 5 GPS Alternatives to Google Maps

This is the story of Google Maps, 10 years of innovation and progress in cartography. Celebrating its first 10-year anniversary, this service today allows us to tour the entire planet in real images and in 3D without any connected media restrictions, helping us with our daily travels and finding the best place to eat nearby. your location.

The Google Maps team does not intend to stop here and is very “excited” to continue the adventure in search of the perfect map. Therefore, we are confident that we will see the navigation tool improve and become more and more efficient in many areas. And are you a Google Maps user?

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