Google Maps - Now with Video

Video on maps with Baby Elephant and Guinea Pigs at Twycross Zoo, UK

On learning of the ability to add a video to google on 23 Aug 17, I’ve explored the feature in great detail.

I’ve added 71 videos to google maps and made 45 post in my Local Guides Resources Community.

I’ve also created a youtube playlist called, How to Add Video to Google Maps which contains 28 videos which are embedded below (where video 28 is the oldest video - these numbers are a guide as of time or writing, will serve for this post).

• You will find two versions of the post edited The Tarp (one using PowerDirector, the other Google Photos Create a Movie). Videos 23, 25 and 26 are a slight side step in they actually place realtime video within the Maps App as an overlay, which includes a realtime gps pushpin.
• Video 21 is the first time I realised how restrictive 30 seconds is to do anything useful, which contrasts with the Hotel Chocolat Mousse (v20).
• Video 13-19 are about product demos with video. Where video 11 is an idea on how to share places with videos - create a simple list.
• Video 4 is an idea how Maps is looking like a nice little social network while videos 1 and 2 go in search of finding videos within places on Desktop - a very hit and miss affair, yet lots of fun trying. It’s also quite gratifying to find a place like the Golden Gate Bridge and see a misty landscape video attached to the page - such a different experience than search the web or youtube for the same video.

On videos and production - I was delighted and pretty excited to see Videos finally being added to Maps. And I want to make that crystal clear in light of what I am about to say.

Google in their post on 25 Aug, have started off far too simplistically in my opinion (which their ‘tap and hold’ for 10 seconds or ‘add 30 seconds’ from your camera roll’ (ref local guides blog post). Where in the second paragraph they offer a linked post called, How to post great videos on Google Maps.

On reading this post, you get the same advice of 10secs, 30 secs and then advice to ‘shoot vertically - the tall way’. In my view this is terrible advice - sure mobile phones are held portrait and youtube are now catering for all video formats, but landscape is SO IMPORTANT in video making. It really is.

This ‘How to post’ includes fives videos all recorded in portrait than do very little to show good practice. And keen eyes will spot the final ‘personal review’ video is timed at 58 seconds - and therefore will NOt to allowed to be posted at Maps without cutting off the last 28 seconds.

I’m fully aware how Video at Maps is all a beta, but video making is NOT a beta at all - and that is why I have posted over 70 videos to Maps myself using a variety of technique and style.

What has truly amazed me, how Google Local Guides have NOT TALKED ABOUT their own superb product photos.google.com and the brilliant Photo Assistant Create a Movie tool. All you have to do is select up to 50 videos from google photos and the app does the rest even including music - it’s SO FAST and SO EASY.

For example, I was at a local 5k run last weekend, I recorded 43 video clips and Google Photos did the rest. The full length video is called, Decathlon 5k where on maps it’s split into five parts at the place page.

For another example using Google Photos Create a Movie, take a look at this local food store tour that’s been open just three weeks, Welcome to New Street Co-op. I wanted to keep this video edit to exactly what Google Photos gave me, not changing anything at all.

For video editing on Android I use PowerDirector by Cyberlink, it’s easy, fast and just marvellous. New to it or not so sure how to use it - check out my youtube playlist which has 42 videos, it’s called PowerDirector Android App Tutorials.

I also video edit on win10 using Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 13.0 - two playlists 11.0 and 13.0.

Summary - I learned about adding video to google maps four weeks ago (on 23 Aug 17), I tried it out and added 71 videos myself. I think the feature brings Maps to LIFE in a living breathing 3 dimensional way.

I sincerely hope video on maps will flourish while the googlers who codeo it, will add new features as soon as possible including linking/sharing to each video and allowing comments. I also hope the 30 seconds is lifted to allow for 60 seconds. As I have found out by experience, spending three hours at a park following a fun run, will allow me to record 46 video files - 30 seconds is just too short..

History - a few links as a reminder of the passage of time

Google Maps Video 25 Aug 17 - a month ago

Google Local Guides 15 Jan 15 - 2.8 years ago

Google Maps App 23 Sep 2008 - 9 years ago

Google Street View 25 May 2007 - 10 years ago

Google Maps opened  8 Feb 2005 - 12 years ago
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People, their choices in their surroundings over time

the timeline

This is a tricky post to write as it spans 1950 to 2017. It’s intended to be Part Four of the Decathlon series, yet somehow Marty McFly and Doc Emmett Brown have slipped in - rightly so as they help to tell the story.

Making Good Audio with the Moto G4 using RecForge II Pro and the Zoom H1

Zoom H1 sitting next to the Moto G4

Of the seven hundred public videos I have on youtube, the 1st, 2nd and 9th most watched video is about cleaning audio.

For example, watch the most viewed How to clean audio with Audacity: Noise Removal, Normalise and Compressor at this link.

Sounds of the Countryside while Walking

On taking a short walk on a country path through woodland, there are so many choices driven by your senses. What do you photograph or video at the time or write about later?

One option, just relax and see where the moment takes you. While out yesterday, I had nothing in mind, albeit to be 'out' in the first place. That's often the hardest step to take.

All I really wanted, to walk and see things for the first time. The Woodland in August is so different than any other time - that said, I could easily say the same about every month or season of any year.

Without really thinking my mobile came out the pocket being drawn by the Hornbeam Catkins. That was the first of seventy six photos, four audio recordings, three videos and one photosphere.

They had moved the stile, to be more exact - it had disappeared. Styles are quite iconic on a walk, they signal the end of one thing and the beginning of the next. To be fair, I know this path is on a pony route, so fair enough.

Next were the toadstools, four were sat in a row. Nine photos later then two trees.

What caught my attention, the farm machinery in the next field - something I could not see. That's what made me start recording the audio. How the tractor, the farmer's voices were all intermixed with the wind in the trees and the bird song. There were discussions on how best to attach the pickup reel to the tow mechanism.

0:00 Audio One 1:36 Audio Two
2:49 Audio Three and 3:58 Audio 4

In the video I made, you will hear four audio sets, this slide will help tell them apart and look at the waveforms. Post edit was made in Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 13.0 on Win10. Audio recorded using Moto G4, then using Audacity to Normalise and Compressor (no noise reduction).

0:00 Audio One - Tractor, Birdsong
1:36 Audio Two - Light Aircraft, Wind in Trees
2:49 Audio Three - Strong Wind in Trees, high level aircraft
3:58 Audio 4 - More high level aircraft, squeak of trees in wind

Listen here..

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Decathlon USA new store in San Francisco on Maps Pushpin for Streetview front of store versus back

how to spot a pushpin error and see if it can be improved

As a Google Community Local Guide, I have 1,611 photos on Google Maps (with view 26 million views). I also have 211 edits and have added 47 places. Anyone can be a local guide, find out more at the website.

Index of Posts Help and Support

whatsinkenilworth.com recent posts section on desktop

I've written a new page called, Index of Posts Help. This is a copy of that page as I wanted it also listed as a blog post too.

It reads..

When viewing this site on desktop there is an Recent Posts section on the right - when viewing the site on mobile it's hidden.

Therefore, this page is offers some guidance to find what you are looking for.

All Posts are a Discussion

I have made a new page called All Posts are a Discussion. This is a copy of that page as I wanted it also listed as a blog post too.

It reads..

To get the most out of this website, it worth understanding how the posts are written and what makes me write them that way.

Searching and Shopping at Decathlon Online Mobile App and In Store Part Three

hat and waistcoat on a hedge
in front chelmsford store

This is a longer post which digs as deep as I can at using a curious mind to think about and explore a retail store.

This post, like all posts on this site are a discussion where comments are open at the base of this page. In this age of realtime web publishing, an edit or update is only a click away (any I make are labelled with edit/update and  the date).

If you’re new to Decathlon, or haven’t visited in awhile let’s get an overview. There are 20 Passion Brands which are described on the corporate website as, ‘Our twenty Passion Brand teams channel all their energy into developing attractive, technical, yet simple products, always at the lowest possible prices’.