You know the Google Maps upside-down teardrop shaped markers? It looks like they’re starting to appear in the real world, at various locations around the globe. You can see the locations that have them on this Google Maps Favorite Places page.
For example, there are apparently a bunch of these markers in San Francisco already. One (which happens to be in my neighborhood) has been caught on camera. As you can see, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has his own Google Maps marker indicating that he likes La Boulange de Polk, a restaurant in the area. Newsom’s marker features a painting of the Golden Gate Bridge, other famous people have their own markers.
The statue is listed as being for “Summer 2009″ which seems to indicate that it will expire in a few months, and Google may remove it. But for now, this looks like a very smart way for Google to promote Maps. It’s also a good way to ensure that businesses list themselves on Maps, for the possibility that they’ll receive one of these markers, which are basically a (presumably) free endorsement of the establishment.
There are plenty of other famous people participating in this program including a lot of famous chefs endorsing restaurants they like, Kevin Rose (the co-founder of Digg), musicians (Moby, the guitarist of the Decemberists), and a whole host of others around the world.
Perhaps these things showing up is like the Monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey, where it signals a shift in evolution.
Update: Here’s another market at Blue Bottle Cafe in San Francisco [photos: flickr/Jeremy Franklin]:
Update 2: Here’s another one via TwitPic:
Update 3: Google has now officially announced the feature and has release this video about it:
[thanks Matt]
Oh look, the Google fan boy is back!
And aren’t you the Techcrunch fan boy?
+1
Amit aren’t you the ultimate fan boy, with 1st and 2nd comment postings for every post? We get it..you have your own site.
Somebody is jealous ….
Saw one this morning outside Zarzuela on Hyde/Union in SF. Couldn’t figure out WTF it was.
American pigs always copy Canada eh?
We had Moose markets years ago, Googel moose statues.
Hey let us know what else you see when you walk outside, k thx.
Here is a Google Map Marker at Blue Bottle on Mint.
flickr.com/photos/jeremyfranklin/3723941871/
flickr.com/photos/jeremyfranklin/3723933213/
flickr.com/photos/jeremyfranklin/3723927323/
nice. love blue bottle.
Great coffee.
Yeah, but try to order a single latte, and see where that gets you.
http://twitpic.com/afx4a – Humphry Slocombe (awesome ice cream place)
Excellent
scary…
Bye Bye Yelp
In case you haven’t seen this one before:
http://www.toyt...php/t54681.html
(Dec, 2006)
yes, that is not at all the same.
Wow I really think this is a great idea for the business, google and whoever is listed on the plaque!
Also check out the mobile integration. Visit m.google.com/fav from your phone.
Mention of Google?! Time for me to post my google voice phone number!
805-768-4521 http://bit.ly/oBsDJ
veeeeeeerrryyy naaaiiiiiceeeeeee.
Clever marketing and one of those wish I had thought of that ideas.
Google is a joke, liberal fraud.
go away
our country is failing and google is part of this fraud.
so i lost my love for google, microsoft, g.e. and the like.
they are sell out of our liberty and support the facist Obama and fraud axelrod and emmanuel
What is the “carbon footprint” of one of these? They don’t look light.
Awesome.
San Francisco must be relatively safe as if these markers were made available in my area they wouldn’t last long until vandalised or stolen!
There’s an opportunity for street artists to innovate here, I’m sure everyone has seen the work of Banksy and Invader [Space Invaders] and there is an opening for someone to get involved here…
Let’s make this more generic…
Well, a very smart way to increase the visibility of google maps among the people , I am afraid if this concept can be implemented to a larger area.
invasive, loud, a tad distasteful, although I like the artist’s rendering in Berlin, — do we really need to be “Real-life-Google-Map-marked” (RLGMM)? I have to admit I viewed Yo-Yo Ma’s listings, lol.
uhm, okay, this is totally freakin’ awesome ( voice rises up as in ’so one time at bandcamp ) … i feel this sort of deeper connection between realSpace + what happens on the web, on tv, on radio, on drugs, on whatever … well, this is where the most powerful campaigns are going to well up from … the prior triumverate of print, tv + radioSpot will be added to by this new triumverate of web, event, geoLocation ( site specificity will do the whole ‘think global, act local’ sorta deal … ya know? ;] … making deeper connections [ if interpreted correctly to the local culture + not simply a flat mathematical translation without research + proppa respect 'n' all ] in little community pockets that add up to a happier worldwide crossMedia campaignSpectrum …
congrats! this is the fnckin’ bomb … more of this will come, i am sure, from the big playaz that ‘get it’ + know the real future direction of what our world is becoming …
peace out
We did it in our company too
http://www.flic...57621788492808/
seriously, people actually like these? i find them hideous clutter on the streets. does one actually need these to know that tartine say is popular?
I think this is absolutely brilliant and like the guy said about Moose in Canada- it’s an awesome way to mark a place. It’s nice artwork and totally ties the brand together at all points of contact for Google Maps- the web to the actual location!
Now this is what I call true synergy!