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Collect Google Street View Pics With $3,500 Insta360 Pro

Mount the camera to a vehicle, control it with the Street View app, and upload 360-degree content directly to Google's platform.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Ever wish you could be part of the Google's Street View team, traveling around the world capturing 360-degree imagery of far-flung locales? Now you can—as long as you don't mind working for free.

Google has given its stamp of approval to the pricey Insta360 Pro, which is now the only camera Google has certified as "Street View auto ready," Insta360 announced Monday. Insta360 Pro users will be able to mount the camera to a vehicle, control it with the Street View app, and upload their 360-degree content directly to Google's global imagery platform using Insta360's free Stitcher software.

The Insta360 Pro, which uses six lenses to capture 8K spherical video, is getting a new 5 FPS shooting mode, which is specifically optimized for Street View content collection. The camera will also soon support an optional USB accessory that automatically adds GPS data to 360-degree photos.

"When Google Street View kicked off in 2007, high-quality 360 photography was only available to those with the resources and know-how to build their own cameras," Street View Product Manager Charles said in a statement. "Now, thanks to the advances of companies like Insta360, anyone can create immersive 360-degree experiences and contribute them to Street View's extensive map of the world."

At $3,499, the Insta360 Pro isn't exactly cheap, but you don't necessarily have to buy the camera yourself if contributing to Street View sounds like something you'd like to do. Google includes the camera in its Street View loan program, which provides equipment to photographers, travelers, and other organizations that want to capture imagery for Street View.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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