Add Your Food Pics to…Google Maps?
Add Your Food Pics to…Google Maps?
Google Maps is reportedly testing a new feature on its Android app that lets users upload food-related photos.
Based on the now-defunct Tablescape service, Google is encouraging people to share “foodographs” (pictures of food) on the mobile mapping app.
The experimental Tablescape launched in February, and synced with Google+ to collect images in categories like “naughty,” “cheesy,” and “vegetarian.” It also featured foodography tips, according to Android Police.
By June, the program was closed—but not forever: Google at the time warned testers that the shutdown “doesn’t mean we’re giving up on food photography,” and promised that users would see “the influence of Tablescape in future apps.”
Two months later, the tech giant appears to have resurrected the program, this time for Google Maps.
As Android Police reported, Google is rolling out a new feature to level three or higher local guides (who have written 50 or more local reviews), who are invited to snap pictures at restaurants and bars of meals and drinks.
If Google deems the subject “interesting to other people” (and you have Location History turned on), you’ll receive an on-screen alert offering to attach the image to a location.
“Before posting a photo, make sure that it follows Google’s user content policy,” the support page said, also suggesting that photos be in focus and not blurry, show what most people experience (food, ambiance, drinks), and, perhaps most importantly, not be a selfie or group photo.
A Google spokeswoman confirmed to PCMag that this function is “part of our Local Guides Program, which intends to share relevant local content to our users around the world.”
“We hope this photo feature, along with other locally relevant info that is gathered and shared through the Local Guides Program helps people find the useful and accurate information about places so they can make the best decision on where to go,” the spokeswoman said. “The Local Guides program allows people to share reviews, photos and more on Google Maps, which makes the map more useful, accurate and comprehensive.”
For more, see PCMag’s review of Google Maps for Android.
malikmuddser