TripAdvisor loves Google again, puts Street View into iPad app

Forget the ongoing row between TripAdvisor and Google over reviews in search results, owners of the review giant’s iPad app can now check out hotels using Google Street View.

Released yesterday to the iTunes app store, TripAdvisor has incorporated the basic Google Street View system into the app but has added some interesting features.

Normally users can wander around a location on Street View and check out buildings, roads and other features.

But using the core Street View technology, TripAdvisor has added layers from its own data to populate parts of the screen with details about nearby locations, such as hotels and restaurants, with links to reviews and other information contained elsewhere in the TripAdvisor system.

In London, UK:

In Sydney, Australia:

The original Google map browsing tool is contained in a smaller screen within the Street View tool.

Each of the labels indicate the average review for the property or activity and the distance from where the user system is currently “standing”.

In some respects this is the start of a augmented reality system (and is being touted as such), except the movement and data streaming is not live by using a camera and GPS to capture the location and direction of the user.

Presumably this will come to the camera-laden iPhone version of the app soon.

Related posts:

1. TripAdvisor modifies mobile app to bring extras for iPad users
2. Lastminute.com puts Topsee London activities app on Apple iPad
3. Google quietly tests map view within hotel advertising results