Now Available: Google Street View via API

March 27, 2008
By: Andrew Mattie
Author's Website: http://www.diversesolutions.com

Over at the official Google Maps API blog, there’s an announcement that Google’s Street View functionality is now accessible programmatically via an API (that’s Application Programming Interface, for those who either didn’t know or just took that acronym for granted). What this means for agents, brokers, and vendors is that applications can now be created that tie directly into the pictures taken by those van-mounted cameras that drive around.

Because I’m employed by an IDX vendor, most of the ideas I’m coming up with as I think this through have to do with enhancing the way consumers search for properties. However, there’s plenty of other great ideas out there on how this could be used for real estate professionals. I encourage you to check out the demo on the blog post or in their street view demo gallery.

What other ideas are out there? Have you thought of something really great that you’d love to see this new functionality used for? If you do have a good idea and you post it below, I’ll might be able to whip up another quick mashup (see Building a Simple Mashup in 24 Hours) for y’all.

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Categories: API's, Links for Geeks, Mapping

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Andrew Mattie

One small footnote. The image was supposed to say "Will trade top-notch programming work for tix to Fenway!" when you hover over it with your mouse, but it got stripped off.

Any takers? :)

RealBird

Andrew - Nice API addition by Google. Especially the feature which allows controlling the flash pano from javascript. I expect some cool mashups coming out using that interface. On the other hand I hoped for a bit more, like the ability to add hotspots, interactions and media into the panorama itself. Like clicking on a house window and playing a YouTube interior virtual tour video. That sort of things. Hopefully, Google will speed up the addition of new coverages now that developers are creating new demand.

-- Zoltan
http://realbird.typepad.com

John Schroeder

Hi Andrew,

I just blogged about this the other day at http://www.MadisonRealEstateShow.com

To paraphrase...wouldn't it be cool to go to a real estate blog/website...click on the mapping program (Street View-Google)...search a neighborhood that you are interested in...stop at a house for sale...get all detailed info about it (multiple photos, lisitng information, disclosures, etc)...check out a full motion WellcomeMat video of the interior...chat with the listing agent...set up a showing for tomorrow...head down the road to an Italian restaurant...make a reservation...head over to see what the park looks like...view a Flickr slideshow...etc, etc, etc.....all from your sunroom at home-while having breakfast!

Now that would/will be cool!!!

Can't wait till you guys get started on the Madison, WI SCWMLS!

John

RealBird

Andrew - Nice implementation ! It seems both of us are obsessed to get solutions on the market as soon as possible and both of us made it to the top of the list of links on the Google blog at http://googlemapsapi.blogspot.com/2008/03/stree...

1st and 4th link. Cool !

-- Zoltan
http://realbird.typepad.com

Drew Meyers

I'd love to see examples of this -- if anyone knows of any live examples, definitely leave a link to it in the comments.

Andrew Mattie

For some reason, the pingback to this blog from our didn't work. We already implemented it in our IDX though; here's the post: http://www.diversesolutions.com/blog/2008/03/28...

Realbird implemented it too: http://realbird.typepad.com/news/2008/03/street...

It's so very much fun to play with!

Andrew Mattie

Oh yeah, live example. Oops. Here's our demo: http://idx.diversesolutions.com .

Here's an example of RealBird's implementation: http://listings.realbird.com/Real_Estate/Proper... . I never noticed it before, but I personally like the way they have the regular map available, the hybrid available, the bird's eye a click away, and now the street view a click away. Very cool.