Wow, thank you so much for sharing these links. I can’t wait to go through them. I agree with everything you said. The slow mo is more ‘cinematic’ (the latest buzzword of course), and is more pleasing to watch. But then there’s the issue that if people only watch for 4 or 5 Seconds, they’re really not going to see that much. Editing videos can be time consuming, but at least trimming them to the most important part is worthwhile. I still think that the portrait mode and the Maps Square cropping is going to be problematic as I mentioned in a different post.
Hi @AZ_2021 ,
I totally agree on the six reasons to use videos in reviews, but a relevant aspect should be their brevity, showing just a glimpse about the place. In my case, since a few months ago I use short videos, 3-4 seconds, edited with free apps. Greetings
Thank you for being so gracious and taking time to read and respond. Happy to hear that it inspired you.
Great callout too. You are right how landscape can align better with showcasing certain things such as 360. I used to film in a mix of orientations. Since we got that email earlier this year, I switched all my videos to portrait since most users are mobile and I think portrait saves the users from flipping the phone.
Personally I don’t think it’s a BIG deal for anyone to flip their phone @AZ_2021 . We all do it for Youtube and I have to ask, do you think Youtube will move to portrait vids because we are moving further and further to using mobile devices?
That is a great point to add on to remember to keep the video clips uploaded to Google Maps short.
I appreciate you surfacing the potential drawbacks too @Rednewt74 , such as how the video covers of portraits will appear cropped. I hadn’t thought of that. I do like the workaround you proposed of how Capcut lets you choose the cover.
Very cinematic indeed @AdrianLunsong ! I just watched your videos and wow, you very talented with filming and I can just see your passion for detail and high quality work shine through. I love too how we echo each other on the idea of keeping our videos unedited both due to time bandwith, but also due to wanting to showcase a place in its authentic light.
Thank you too taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful comment. You always go above and beyond for us!
I learned a lot reading it. For example, I didn’t know about the Cinematic Pan Mode and how that helps with stabilization. Too funny too about the audio being distorted- yes, that would be a very funny sound- kind of like those comedy shows where a man shouts “oh, no!” but in slow-mo.
Interesting find too about how if you only add 1-2 videos per spot, that leads to more views, never knew that!
Thanks for your imputs on the videos - great! Dear friend @AdrianLunsong .
Unfortunately, the videos have not yet caught up in this part of the world… May be due to the longer time it takes to load due to poor Internet system… Now, 5 G is getting popular… Let us see…
Ohh… Yes… More detailed deliberations are required before promoting videos according to me.
Let us see what others have to Say… Irrespective of vertical or horizontal…
IMPORTANT: another important point will be the larger consumption of Internet Data - how this will affect the Maps Users (slow loading, especially in the rural areas + higher data consumption), Maps Servers and Internet Providers?
Here are the clips that I made to see the difference between Standard and Cinematic Pan mode with similar recording times (note: Cinematic Pan video length is double the recording time). Some clips work, some done (too slow or too fast). I mostly used 4s as my target recording time.
Ultimately, I agree with @JuanAudelo2024 that brevity is important; what is it am I trying to show… is that important to the viewers… how long should a clip be to show all that. Some panning is too fast that I can’t catch the details no matter how many times I replay the clip. Some panning is too slow because there’s nothing exciting to see.
@TravellerG Data is certainly an important consideration. I already find that the video quality on Maps is not great (too low a resolution and it takes a while for the video to fully buffer).
If getting the Local Guides community to take high quality photos was difficult, I think videos will be an even more difficult task!! Or perhaps, we’re just overthinking it all since Google Maps algorithms should surface the good videos for all of us to enjoy!
Firstly, very sorry for being a bit late to respond, as I was travelling…
Well, as far as your video is concerned, I understand your views clearly, though we are not able to take any final conclusion as there are many other points to be considered.
And…
Vertical or horizontal… Horizontal (Landscape) has its own advantages and vertical looks better on mobile phones.
Of course, the final decision maker being Google, the decision is out & over a period, we all including our friends, @MortenCopenhagen@AZ_2021 have to accept this conclusion.
At any cost, photos are going to remain & for quick reviews, people will be using photos… Right?
Thank you, your thoughts and comments! It does, indeed, depend of many things, and there are no concrete answers. Currently we do know that there are increasingly more users coming to Maps on mobile, so vertical videos will appeal to this large, continually growing group of users.
Also, when it comes to videos, we see that people who are trying to narrow down where to go, will look at videos together with photos and reviews. They will spend only a few seconds on video, so those first few seconds are very important in capturing their attention or conveying what you want to say. That being said, people who haven’t decided where to go yet, and are still looking for ideas, will spend longer watching videos.
Hope this helps you decide who you want to appeal to, and what kinds of videos you want to focus on!
Thanks for your kind & immediate response - very interesting…
Well, our discussions are at a global level…
Of course, there are two points:
Vertical or horizontal
How videos are going to affect the way Google Maps work.
And…
VERTICAL… Well, the trend is surely moving towards the “Portrait Mode” becomes of the handling comfort… Though, the human eye will be more comfortable with horizontal/landscape (natural) mode - that is how we SEE!
Where as the implications of videos to be promoted:
The Global Internet Bandwidth usage will increase substantially - probably, that may be another agenda?
Privacy: this is going to be the greatest challenge through the visual & audio - faces, number plate & many… I have to write an essay to explain this…
The people, especially in the rural areas will experience very slow uploading die to poor network & those who have to pay for the bandwidth, etc.
The quality is going to be of great concern for videos.
I completely agree with the points that you raised. Especially about the privacy issues and the quality issues. And I think in addition to visual privacy issues there’s the potential for audio privacy issues. I’m researching to find the easiest way to do facial blurring on videos.
Loved the comparison video you made showing cinematic vs. regular to show the differences- and how slowing it down can help to capture some details that may be missed otherwise.
Thank you @MasaWithMaps for jumping in and sharing your thoughts. Loved how you shared how first few seconds matter the most, and that those who are new will spend longer watching. Great pointers!
Appreciate you guys too @TravellerG and @Rednewt74 for chiming in too with thoughts. Love to hear the discussion among Local Guides for videos.
I spent time looking at all your videos and at the gallery and video list for each POI. Very high placement in both. It seems you have really found the correct speed for cinematic mode. I’m finding it’s harder not to go too slow than too fast. We just need to pan normally and let the mode make the speed adjustment.
I love the additional movement that you got in the Suria KLCC, Malaysia video by riding the escalator and the crane shot movement in the Ezra & Gill, UK video. I think these types of details help a lot. I also learned there are two Ezra & Gill locations in Manchester.
These videos are definitely way above the other ones I saw on the POI pages. Did you notice on the Concourse Singapore and Suria KLCC Map pages that there are several videos over a minute long? I don’t know how they got through. I know the trimming to 30 seconds happens because it has happened to me.
I do have a few questions or observations:
On the The Concourse, Singapore video the pan is right to left and the image includes the location signage which is left to right? Did you consider this?
Your beginning and endings are very smooth and well framed. Do you trim them before uploading?
Do you shoot in 4K or 1080p?
You’ve mentioned distorted audio. My Pixel 7 pro does not record audio in “Cinematic Pan” mode. It does record distorted audio if filming in the “Slow motion” mode. I don’t think no audio is a problem. I’ve listened to several videos lately with “ambient” audio and it usually sounds terrible.
I love too how we echo each other on the idea of keeping our videos unedited both due to time bandwith, but also due to wanting to showcase a place in its authentic light. 
