The Google Earth "Snap to" feature

[BengtENyman]

This is a suggestion.

I think that the Google Earth "Snap to" feature is a good idea that could be made even better. Instead of an ominous looking red square under the picture, and the name "Snap to", I am suggesting a friendly colored arrow or arrowhead. When hovering over this icon the text "Go to scene" could appear. I believe that this would make the feature more self explanatory and less confusing.    

[Draken]

What would exactly "go to scene" mean in your suggestion? How would it work? Go to what scene?

[BengtENyman]

In its present form I find a red square under one of my pictures. I curiously place my computer pointer on the red square. Nothing happens. No explanatory text appears. I am running Vista and Google Chrome. So I left-click. A new page appears with a collection of images similar to mine, depicting the same scene, place, object or subject, and a Google map with the camera placement and its marker in the middle of the map.

I am suggesting to use the expression "Go to scene", "Go to place", " Go to object" or "Go to subject". Anything a little more informative than "Snap to".

I associate the expression "Snap to" with the activity when we place or move a picture marker icon on a Google map.

 

[Draken]

I understand now. You would like to have a change of name and a caption when one hovers over the red square indicating where that link leads to.

[BengtENyman]

Exactly !

I also think a (green) arrow would be a more invitational icon than the red square. 

[Draken]

The Panoramio Team will now give your suggestion the consideration it deserves. However, you won't receive an answer because the Team consists of only five people. Thank you!

[BengtENyman]

Hi,

It seams the older "Look Around" has a very similar function, except without the map. How would you describe the intended difference in use between the two? 

[CliveM]

"Look around" is an automatic feature where pictures are somehow automatically grouped together by recognising parts of the same scene or object. "Snap to" is under user control. You can't choose to have your picture included in a "look around" - it just happens. You can choose to snap your picture to a location if a suitable one is available, and the system will not do it for you.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

a)Look around 

System finds overlapping photos with a different views of the same subject (mostly true). And mostly only photos made at almost identical location are included into look around.

Photos are presented in so called Look around feature - you have option to jump from one photo to another (if they overlap).

b) Snap to

You provide metadata about your photo - something, what shall be main subject (and this subject has to be important enough to exist in Google geographical and business database). But this subject could be pretty broad and general - like the name of the mountain ridge, lake, sea gulf or national park. 

Unlike photos included in "look around", photos bound (snapped) to the same place could be taken from various locations (eg. one from north side of the lake, another from south side... or anywhere in the national park).

Photos snapped to the places are presented at special Panoramio map layer and may be used in other Google services mixing photos and subject - I expect them to see in G+ Local. Metadata of main subject (geographical or business) of photo is quite valuable info for Google!