Apple Maps Vehicles Begin Collecting 'Look Around' Imagery in Czech Republic

Apple Maps vehicles equipped with LiDAR technology have started surveying select regions of Czech Republic this month, collecting street-level imagery and data, according to a list of locations maintained on Apple's website. Apple also started surveying the neighboring country of Poland in May as image collection expands across Eastern Europe.

apple maps and look around
Apple will use the data collected to improve its Maps app and expand its Look Around feature beyond the five countries where it is currently supported, including parts of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Japan. Introduced in iOS 13, Look Around is similar to Google's Street View, providing a street-level view of a location with high-resolution 3D imagery that can be zoomed and panned.

In areas where Look Around is available, a binoculars icon appears in the top-right corner of the Maps app. Tapping that icon opens a street-level view in a card overlay at the top of the screen, which can then be expanded to a full-screen view. Look Around also appears in the search results for a supported city, below the Flyover and Directions buttons.

Apple Maps‌ vehicles have also surveyed all or parts of the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Croatia, Singapore, and select other countries since data collection began in 2015. In some areas where streets are not easily accessible, Apple employees collect data using portable systems, such as a backpack with LiDAR equipment.

Apple says it is committed to protecting the public's privacy while conducting these surveys. For example, Apple blurs out faces and license plates in street-level imagery that is made available through the Look Around feature.

(Thanks, Jan!)

Top Rated Comments

Martius Avatar
26 months ago
Feels like Christmas when you read something about Apple & Czech Republic.

We need:
- Siri in Czech language
- Apple Watch with LTE
- Apple Store in Prague

Thank you and sorry for bothering 99.95% of MacRumors members ?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Saludos Avatar
26 months ago
Don’t rush, Apple. There’s only one World to cover
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fromsixtozero Avatar
26 months ago
Tojo, aspon tu Siri by to uz chtelo :D
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
glsillygili Avatar
26 months ago
I've seen Apple cars in my town since 2017... still no coverage. I don't get this delayed rollout.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bug-Creator Avatar
26 months ago
Apple checks Czech Republic : yep exists

(and yes this a joke based on the one made in Maps&Poland thread)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
26 months ago
I hope we get a big update with Look Around in iOS 15. Look at all the places they’re collecting images this year-

https://maps.apple.com/imagecollection
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

google drive for desktop1

Google to Roll Out New 'Drive for Desktop' App in the Coming Weeks, Replacing Backup & Sync and Drive File Stream Clients

Tuesday July 13, 2021 1:18 am PDT by
Earlier this year, Google announced that it planned to unify its Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync apps into a single Google Drive for desktop app. The company now says the new sync client will roll out "in the coming weeks" and has released additional information about what users can expect from the transition. To recap, there are currently two desktop sync solutions for using Google...