After more than a year since the Google Street View van was spotted on the streets of Singapore, Google Street View Singapore is finally live. Woohoo!!! Singapore is the first country in South East Asia to get Google Street View. We are the fourth in Asia Pacific, after Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

For the uninitiated, Google Street View is a feature of Google Maps and Google Earth that provides 360° horizontal and 290° vertical panoramic views from a row of positions along the street. There are many uses for Street View. One of the most common use for Street View is to help you find the exact location of the place you are going.

Google put in lots of effort to ensure that individual’s privacy is respected. The photos on Street View are no different from what a person can readily see or capture walking down the street. Google also blur out the faces and car license plate on all the photos in Street View. If users find any images objectionable, they can easily report it by clicking on the “Report a Problem” button. Google will access the feedback on case by case basis.

The Singapore Street View photos are mostly taken late last year and early this year. Some of the areas are outdated already. But don’t worry. Google will be updating Singapore Street View sometime next year. Note that all the photos we see now are from the Google Steet View Van. The photos from the Google Trike will only be available next year. Speaking of Google Trike, the results from the voting is out. Chinatown, Pagoda Street and Mosque Street is the winner for the “Cultural Areas” category. The Southern Ridge, Henderson Wave Bridge, Hort Park and Kent Ridge is the winner for the “Hidden Gems” category. Sentosa beaches and trails is the winner for the “Natural Wonders” category. Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and fullerton is the winner for “The City” category. The most voted spot goes to Sentosa. These spots will be visited by the Google Trike first. (Good luck to the Google Trike rider for the Southern Ridge)

There are many ways you can access Street View. The easiest way is using Google Map. When Street View is available in the area, you will notice a orange man (Called Pegman) above the zoom bar. Just drag and drop the Pegman to the location you want to view Street View. Alternatively, you can zoom in all the way down to enter Street View.

You can also access Street View on your mobile phone. iPhone, Android, Symbian BlackBerry and Windows Mobile Google Map apps all support Street View.

For iPhone users, go to Map and tap at the icon on the bottom right hand corner. Select Drop Pin and drag the pin to the location where you want to see Street View. Then tap on the Pegman on the left side of the dialog box to enter Street View.

For Android users, go to Map. Do a long press (press and hold) on the location where you want to see Street View until a dialog box with the address appears. Click on the address to access the menu. Select Street View to enter Street View.

For Symbian users, go to Goole Map apps. Do a long press (press and hold) on the location where you want to see Street View until a dialog box appears. Select Street View to enter Street View.

Don’t ask me about BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. Don’t have a unit on hand to test out. (will update once I got my hands on 1)

I’m still waiting for someone to find something funny/interesting on Singapore Google Street View. There are a lot of interesting stories about Google Street View in other countries. Google Street View was used to solve a crime in Netherlands. Someone spotted an image on Street View that shows that the Street View Van knock down a baby deer. A guy even used Street View to propose to his girlfriend.

I guess the most amazing photo on Google Street View is this.

Related posts:

1. Lookout for Google Street View Van before you commit your crime
2. Google street view driver hit a baby deer
3. Google Street View – Coming to Singapore
4. Google Trike in Singapore
5. Sesame Street theme song