Google Maps has been a revolution for the whole world, giving an incredibly detailed world map, where some areas are even photographed for a three-dimensional exploration. Not only do the maps allow you to take virtual walks around the world, but you can also check the traffic situation in real time, see the cycle paths or search for any type of shop as it is better than with the yellow pages.
The view of the world so deep and close could also create some concern which, as we will see, is entirely legitimate since we are practically under their eyes constantly.
Regardless of how you live this great camera on the world, Google Maps (and its cousin Google Earth) remain powerful and versatile tools, with many things that you can try, discover, search and find inside, in the online version of the site web.
READ ALSO: How to use Google Maps and tricks to search for roads
1) Travel through time with Google Maps
Google Street View has amassed a large collection of street images and photos that are renewed every two or three years depending on the area.
Google Maps gives you the opportunity to see what a place or road was like in the past, like in a virtual time machine, accessible from the Street View view, by clicking on the small stopwatch icon at the top left.
2) Create private maps
Anyone can create their own Google Map and fill it with personalized information (see how to create personalized maps and maps with Google Maps)
From Google Maps, click on the search bar at the top left and open "my maps" to see those already created and create a new one.
Once you have entered My Maps you can add dots of information cards, highlight entire sections or create customized indications.
Each map can then be shared online.
3) History of movements of each person
This is the most disturbing part of Google Maps, capable of recording every movement of those who use an Android smartphone.
I have already talked about this aspect, very curious, useful and perhaps not very welcome for some, explaining how to manage your Google Maps position history and how to disable it .
You can look at this detailed diary by going to google.com/locationhistory.
You can also view and clear recent searches from Google Maps history.
4) Random searches for places
If you are looking for a bar in the area, just try to search for "bars", both on the website and on the mobile application, to find all the bars nearby.
The search function is very intelligent and you can also search using words such as " bar near piazza sempione " to find those in another area.
5) Lite mode
On older computers, for those who have difficulty loading Google Maps pages or for those who would like them to load faster, there is Google Maps Lite, a special site mode, lighter, without 3D elements.
5) Google Earth view
There is no longer a separation between Google Maps and Google Earth.
You can easily enter the "Earth" view by clicking in the lower left corner (available when you are not in Lite mode).
The view of the Earth mixes satellite images with Street View photos and you can switch between them simply with the zoom.
You can then click on the icon on the right side (it looks like the Windows logo) to tilt the world and fly virtually as if you were on a hang glider.
Hold down the Ctrl key (on PC) to rotate around an axis with the mouse.
Touch any building or point of interest to identify it and see an information sheet.
6) Traffic
In the desktop version of Maps, you can see the road traffic in real time by clicking on the traffic link that appears by moving the mouse over the search box at the top right.
By clicking on "typical traffic" you can estimate the level of traffic for a day of the week and a precise time, to have a forecast based on the history.
7) Change the indications with drag and drop
If you are looking for directions to go from one point to another on the map, you can ask to avoid or to go to an intermediate point by clicking with the mouse on the blue colored itinerary and moving it, holding down, on the point from which you want to pass .
This only works with directions for walking, by car or bicycle, while it does not work with indications for public transport.
8) Find directions with a single click
To find the directions on the Google Maps website, just write the street or the name of the place where you want to go or, even faster, right-click on the point of the map and, from the drop-down menu, find the directions to or from that position.
9) Measure distances
You can measure distance from one point to another in Google Maps, as explained in another article.
Just click with the right mouse button on a point to see the " Measure Distance " option.
10) Maps inside buildings
Google Maps has mapped the interior of some buildings and shopping malls.
It is possible to find a complete list of buildings mapped also in Italy from this page.
To enter the building, frame it and zoom in until you enter it.
11) Use Pegman
The image of the orange man in the lower right is called Pegman and allows you to enter StreetView mode on any point of the map.
To use it, try dragging Pegman with the mouse on the map.
12) Special places
Street View was born to have images of the streets, but Google has also used the same technology to create virtual itineraries of places that are difficult to access and very special such as the desert, the Grand Canyon, the canals of Venice and many other places.
To explore these places, open the Street View gallery or go to the article on the strangest and most mysterious areas on Google Maps and Google Earth.
13) Seriously
Google Maps is full of Easter Eggs, which are hidden jokes.
For example, ask for directions from "Fort Augustus" to "Urquhart Castle" via public transportation to find the Loch Ness monster; between " Snowdon " and " Brecon Beacons " there is the way of the Dragon of Game Of Thrones; look for area 51 in Nevada and drag Pegman onto it to see it become a spaceship.
In another article, the games based on Google Maps .
READ ALSO: Cheats and hidden functions in Google Maps
