Hi everyone,
I’m completely confused with the latest situation about how to add photo spheres from my phone (a Google Pixel 6) to Google Maps for public viewing.
Previously I just used the Street View app, took a photo sphere (moving the phone camera around 360 deg), and then published it, and a few days later it appeared as a ‘blue dot’ in Google Maps (Street View mode). This worked for anywhere, mountain tops, remote roads and paths etc. There are millions of ‘blue dot’ photo spheres all over the world, that I and others have shot!
**QUESTION 1: I took some photo spheres on a trip a few weeks ago, in remote locations. Most of them never uploaded to Google Maps, the Street View app just kept saying “Processing…” for days, and then they vanished. Really frustrating, because I was taking photo spheres to help other travellers, and I’ll never be going back to those places! Anyone been having the same problem?
Now Google say they are deleting the Street View app from March 31, 2023, and we need to use Street View Studio in future.
**QUESTION 2: I can’t find the Street View Studio app searching on the Google Play Store. Can anyone tell me where it is?
I’ve been looking online at the other changes, and it seems that we won’t be able to add photo spheres to any location which isn’t a “place”? (in other words, a store, restaurant, museum, city etc). No more mountain paths!
** QUESTION 3: Is this correct?!? Surely it can’t be correct? The ‘blue dot’ system will be badly damaged if you can’t upload a photo sphere shot at any location.
I’ve tried to find information about how to add a photo sphere from my phone in the new system, but can only find unclear and contradictory information. Google’s own info seems to suggest that we will need an expensive 360-degree special camera. It also suggests that it is possible to add photo spheres via Google Maps in a browser, but I’ve tried and couldn’t figure it out.
** QUESTION 4: Can anyone point me to a definitive, up-to-date step-by-step explanation of how to add photo spheres from my phone to Google Maps in the new system after March 31, 2023?
Thanks very much for any help!