Microsoft introduced today a new feature to its Bing Maps: traffic cameras. Now you can get a real sense of how your commute will be.
This is what Microsoft had to say on its official blog post:
Seeing is believing. Here at Bing Maps we know the value of traffic information. However, there is something to be said about being able to see the current road conditions. We are proud to announce that you can now view more than 35,000 traffic cameras across 11 countries in Bing Maps.
Accessing the cameras is not as straightforward as you´d think. First, you need to open Bing on your desktop browser, as both mobile browser and app don´t display such information. Then you need to use the new Maps preview, by selecting the “Try” option located at the left of the screen (you can opt out later on if you hate it.)
Search for a city that supports traffic cameras, like New York or London, and tap the “Traffic” icon in the top yellow menu. Zoom in with the “+” on the right side of the map to see all the tiny camera available.
If you click on a camera Maps will display a box on the left with a still traffic image. Even better, if you select “Return to summary” Bing will bring all your recent cameras so you can watch them simultaneously in one place.
Traffic cameras could potentially get more people using Bing Maps over Google´s. I just wished Microsoft would´ve enabled the new feature on its mobile app, or at least on the map´s mobile version, as it would make Bing more compelling.
What do you think of Bing´s new traffic cameras? Will you use Bing Maps before leaving to work? Please leave your comments below.
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