Hi all!
Before when we had the Street View App we could upload a 360 sphere to anywhere in a map, without being inside a Google Maps listing / place. Like this one
https://goo.gl/maps/NgJCGctivy9ZQJby5
It doesn’t belong to a particular listing, and it’s located on the maps where it was taken.
How can we accomplish this same thing nowadays?
Hi @cmsgouveia
Nice aerial shot.
This is not possible anymore to add a photo sphere without attaching it to a POI!
Wow really? How are we suppose to do then? Attach it to nearest POI?
Also Google is rejecting all drone spheres… wtf…
There is more to this. My Japanese friend and 360 expert have found some new tricks on how post 360 to speciffic gps coordinates you both need to know about.
Let me tag him here @potaro67
Cheers
Morten
Something is wrong because even 360 photos taken with Insta One X2 are giving same error:
I’m doing as always did before, I have 50 spheres uploaded in last few years
@potaro67 I see you do tours inside Google Maps. What software are you using to connect the 360 photos to build the tours?
Hi dear @MortenCopenhagen
I already know what @potaro67 explained. Indeed I always follow his amazing tips 
and it is my pleasure to learn 
But the guide he prepared is about adding a photo to a POI while putting it at the exact location of the shooting rather than the place of the marker itself.
Still, it is impossible to add a photo without attaching it to a POI (the boundary is also available somehow but it is not true to add it in such a way).
If you’re talking about the aerial spheres only, then I suggest adding to a POI which is better visible in the photo. But let’s wait for guidance from @potaro67 since he is the most professional expert on SV.
@MortenCopenhagen , thank you for inviting me here.
And hello smarts.
It may not be what you want, but I’ll write what I know.
Google’s system is patchy and inconsistent. They managed to move it with human wave tactics.
You have noticed that the mechanism for uploading photos from the Google Maps app (PC, smartphone) has a UI that allows you to select and upload multiple photos at once, and a UI that only accepts uploads one by one.
When adding photos to an existing POI, you can select and upload multiple photos at once. For photos uploaded with that UI, all photo coordinates will be changed to POI coordinates.
However, when registering a new POI and when modifying POI information, it is necessary to upload one photo at a time. This UI doesn’t seem to change the EXIF location information.
Please read the article below for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoogleStreetViewTrustedPhotographers/posts/2549874231854941
Also, if you want to upload (create) Street View photos that are not associated with POIs, I know there are two ways:
(1) Delete the POI after uploading the photo associated with the POI.
(2) Using tools such as GoThru to upload photos using POIs (CIDs or Place IDs) that Google does not recognize as POIs.
It is up to you to decide whether doing so is useful or not, or the risk that it might lower your account’s rating.
Google imposes various restrictions on contributors, but in practice, the restrictions are less stringent for non-criminal contributions.
I have uploaded a lot of photos to Street View such as in schools, places where people can’t go, aerials, etc., but Google rarely refuses them based on the terms of service.
(Although Google system troubles often occur)
Great @potaro67 You always have some tips on such cases 
I don’t suggest deleting a POI rather than it being spam. So the second choice is more general.
Still, I’m not sure about an aerial view. When we have the option on iPhone to upload a photo to a boundary, is it really wrong to upload an overall view of a locality (such as an aerial shot) to its boundary? Or one of its iconic locations to it? What is your idea @MortenCopenhagen ?
Thanks for your replies.
Honestly, my expertise is not sufficient on 360 images.
I agree that a method where you create a disposable pin just to post some 360 images will end bad. Your trustscore for creating new pins might crash which will end you in a very unfortunate situation. I imagine the risk of getting sanctioned or suspended is very high.
It sounds like a lot of loops to go through to trick 360 not to get move to the pins gps coordinates. And it sounds like a loophole that might not be sustainable over time. Enjoy as long as it works
Regarding your question, @Amiran , about adding pics to a border. If you mean adding photos to geographical features like cities with no Add photo/video link or button I think this workaround should not be used. But I regret very much that Google has not yet removed this possibility.
I remember some recommendation mentioned by Paul in Melbourne (I think) that drone 360 images from higher than about 2 meters should not be added to Google Maps. I’m guessing this is could be due to the fact that arial photos are normally added via another path (like satellite and airplane photos).
Let me stress that i feel I’m on shaky grounds because 360 is not in my focus.
Cheers
Morten
@cmsgouveia , @Amiran , and @potaro67 (and fellow trusted photographers)
I was thinking more broadly about the idea of adding images to random sets of GPS coordinates.
I understand that individuals who are used to be able to do so regret no longer being able to do so. And I understand they believe such images are helpful.
But are they really? And is it likely they will be found and viewed in the future considering how Google Maps is moving away from the Maps Maker days, focussing on making Maps as easy to use for the majority of the users, how much streetview coverage is expanding, and how the category list is being used to not accept pins not on the category list. I see these steps as consistent to make Maps more user-friendly.
Unconnected images shown on the Map is in my opinion distractions that easily can confuse rather than help the users.
I agree with the notion that to make Maps as useful as possible there needs to be a strong focus on places of interest to a lot of people. And this should not be diluted by having places if interest to only a few people on the Map. Places not on the list of categories should not be on the Map period. Trying to subvert this is in my view not being helpful to Maps users.
I have advocated for this view earlier, so my point is primarily to inform 360 photographers that there are some good arguments for why Google Maps is moving in a direction they don’t like.
Let me stress that the above arguments are solely based on my observations and not any inside information.
All the best
Morten
I think the inconsistency of Google Maps policies is also a reason for the inconvenience for map contributors and map users.
I respect @MortenCopenhagen 's point of view.
On that, I would like to express a different opinion.
My opinion is that a photograph should be placed in the correct orientation at the correct coordinates at which it was taken.
As long as the coordinates of the photos are correct, there is no problem even if the photos of other users are connected by arrows.
However, if Street View photos taken at different coordinates are placed at the same coordinates, the connection of the photos itself becomes meaningless.
But I also know that for many Localguides, the policy I advocate is unacceptable.
Now, here’s what I want you to think about.
Which POI should the photo attached to this article be associated with?
The main subject of this photo is Mt. Fuji, a mountain that represents Japan.
And this picture is actually the top image of the POI of Mt. Fuji ( https://goo.gl/maps/9KfxqrgTx7pJtyXQ8 ) currently viewed on the web version of Google Maps ( https://youtu.be/xquWXdV4ULQ ).
However, many people quickly realize that this photo was taken at Arakurayama Sengen Park (https://goo.gl/maps/3pv7PCkjRHDXuYqb8).
No one would argue that the Street View photo shown in the URL above should be associated with the POI of Arakurayama Sengen Park.
Then, to which POI should the 2D photo I posted in this article belong?
In this way, there has probably been an ongoing discussion between Street View Trusted Photographers and Localguide that they will never agree on.
Google is not at all interested in that cross-pollination.
All this time, there have been administrators who are in power at the time, revising the policies and revising the system according to their way of thinking.
And they’ve been forcing that rule to apply to both flat and 360-degree photography.
In 2017, it was arbitrarily merged with “Street View Trusted Photographers are also Localguides”.
As a result, a mere Street View photographer like me was able to add points steadily and reach Local Guide Level 10 in no time.
However, localguides’ provision forbidding multiple accounts was the worst for test accounts and Street View Trusted Photographers who effectively held that account to manage their clients’ POIs.
In 2020, it was arbitrarily separated as ‘Street View Trusted Photographers and localguides are different things’.
At that time, the entire bulletin board about Street View was completely deleted from the LOCAL GUIDES CONNECT site without backing it up.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoogleStreetViewTrustedPhotographers/permalink/1815989941910044/?comment_id=1816156378560067
Street View Trusted Photographers have been notified that if they continue with the Local Guides Program, they must abide by the terms of the Local Guides Program, or they are free to leave the Local Guides Program.
There were many people who both agreed and disagreed with Google’s decision.
If you read the article below, you will understand the confusion at that time.
https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/How-to-leave-us/m-p/2663421/highlight/true#M967843
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoogleStreetViewTrustedPhotographers/permalink/1815989941910044/?comment_id=1816156378560067
Planar photos can be arbitrarily scaled and cropped, and the photo can only show a unidirectional view.
Although it is possible to determine the location of a photograph by considering the parallax of multiple objects, what is commonly called the “subject” is at the center of the photograph.
However, with 360-degree photos, the coordinates at which they were taken can be identified only by the information in the image.
Therefore, information about where the photograph was taken is often more important than information about the subject of the photograph is.
The utility value of these photographs is quite different.
Google Maps is an excellent system that can be used by merging them.
But it’s not a reasonable rule for Google to require similar policies for those different types of photo contributors.
Planar and 360-degree photos should be treated with different policies.
I agree with you @MortenCopenhagen from one perspective. I also prefer photos that are attached to a POI and rogue photos aren’t appreciated by me when there is no suitable way to view them. I remember I had a real concern about such photos when Panoramio retired.
But I also agree with @potaro67 that " a photograph should be placed in the correct orientation at the correct coordinates at which it was taken". And the way he explained to add a photo with its coordinate tag is really helpful to me and indeed a must need for a 360 photo.
I think Google should simply change the main upload process to a way that doesn’t destruct the coordinate tag.
This is getting interesting, @potaro67 and @Amiran .
@potaro67 when you say right orientation do you mean the rotation orientation (north south) of a 360 sphere or 90 degree tilted flat foto? Or up-side-down photos?
Now to your question about your Mt. Fuji image. My first answer will be the following return questions:
Is there really a need for more photos of Mt. Fuji?
Does the image clearly show the place? If you are in doubt then it is obviously not showing the/one place clearly. Also, I think sharing photos of the view FROM a pin is actually not following the guideline of clearly showing the place (my interpretation).
I think that many users (and this is especially true for trusted photographers) think Google Maps was create for them to have a platform to show off their work (photos). I believe Google Maps was put in place to help the users and businesses. This is very fundamental and not something we can argue and easily convince each other to be true or false.
So my provocative answer would be that your photo should not be added to Google Maps.
The is no need for more photos of this iconic mountain (and the chance of getting your a photo featured is very close to zero).
If there are no other photos under the park showing this view - but come on. I don’t even need to check.
I do my best not to share photos showing the view FROM places when we should add photos OF the places.
I fully agree that the merge of the trusted program into the LG program was not a wise decision. Also, it was undone.
Good point that spheres are more in need of being precisely located compared to flat photos. I never had that thought of this as clearly as you presented it.
But back to the discussion about loose hanging spheres. Would you agree that unconnected 360 images are of limited value compared to the connected Streetview images? Many users have become familiar with navigating streetview on their devices. I think most users love it and are fascinated about the possibilities. How do you think a Maps user reacts when he/she for the first time ever stumble upon a loose hanging 360 image on the Map with no arrows. I believe the get stuck and don’t know what to use it for. Maybe they don’t care and just move on.
So if Google Maps decided not to add the small circular icons directly on the Map to let users find them. And if users need to right click or search what is around here to find them, I would conclude that it is not worth the effort to make and upload such images outside existing pins.
Am I correct that loose hanging 360 images are no longer (or less frequently) being displayed directly on the Map? I rarely see them any more.
Respectfully
Morten
(Sorry I hit save too early by accident while typing this)
I am challenging myself with the selection of POIs.
I took the following Street View photo of a bouquet made at the flower shop “Flower Road” in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture (Japan) displayed inside the Sanyo Tenjin Cafe in Akaiwa City, Okayama Prefecture, 700 km away from the flower shop.
I have given “Flower Road” as the listing for that photo.
I would like to raise a question here.
Is it correct to link the above photo to the POI “Flower Road” in this way?
Looking at the POIs for Mt. Fuji, it’s clear that both many contributors and Google think that “photos OF Mt. Fuji taken from a location other than Mt. Fuji” are more appropriate for the POI of Mt. Fuji than “photos taken AT Mt. Fuji.”
So I also decided to challenge adding “Flower Road,” which best represents the photo’s subject, a bouquet, as a POI.
I don’t feel the need to find the only one right answer to this question. I’m grateful that Google Maps is a great, ambiguous platform that embraces all of these ideas.
