Without much fanfare, Google Maps has introduced a new feature which will ease your riding experience when using turn to turn navigation, with the help of integrated Street View images on the directions screen. While the app already provides you with information regarding upcoming turns along with the distance in between, the newly introduced feature will provide you with a tap option for glancing into associated Street View imagery at the same time.
Android Police was the first one to notice this change, and believes that this feature rolled out in a broader fashion in recent days itself. Google has confirmed that this feature is broadly available since early May, and is accessible worldwide by Android users.
This feature has not been launched on the iOS version of Google Maps, yet.
There is nothing special to viewing these images. All you got to do is simply enter your current and the destination address as always, and then view your route. But now, instead of only viewing only the list of turns, you will also be able to see a photo thumbnail next to many of those turns. Just tap on that thumbnail, and you can enjoy a complete 360 degree Street View experience on your entire screen, which is perfectly oriented in the direction in which you are heading.
The feature also allows you to pan around the entire screen with just a simple drag of fingers, much like Street View itself. A blue line indicates the route, and also provides you a tap option for moving further down the road, or just sticking to the main direction screen.
This is not the first attempt from Google to integrate Street View with Maps, and it has already been tried before. As per Android Police reports, a similar feature was previously introduced on web back in 2008 by Google.
