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Google Maps easter egg: street view inside the Tardis (maps.google.com)
168 points by crb on Aug 14, 2013 | hide | past | favorite | 38 comments



Adding &output=classic to the URL will temporarily force classic maps mode if you've opted in to the new maps beta:

https://www.google.com/maps?ll=51.466414,-0.151749&spn=0.300...


You enter by clicking the double arrow on the ground (move your mouse around the image if you don't see it). Should look like this: http://i.imgur.com/mrl11c8.jpg

I'm told it doesn't work on the new Maps beta, so if you're on that you'll have to opt out to see.


It works, it's just that the new Maps beta is a UI bag of suck made for flys and arachnoids : http://i.imgur.com/6j6xPIe.jpg


I was able to do it on the new Maps beta by using my keyboard instead of clicking.


I can confirm it doesn't work on the new maps beta - that's what had me confused. Incognito mode worked a charm though. Great easter egg and thanks for the help viewing it



It works in the new Google Maps version. You have to use the arrow key instead of the mouse.


You should be able to turn it off temporarily using the "Help and Feedback" button in the upper right.


I was very disappointed with the new maps, permanently went back to the old ones.


Can you show us a screenshot inside or post the link to the inside?


Look from the inside: http://i.imgur.com/esY7qxI.jpg




You can also just click on the image thumbnail in the left column. That jumps you inside.


* Street View of TARDIS.

* Remind people within earshot to watch Doctor Who (and if you have to pick one, just watch 'Blink').

* YouTube 10th -> 11th regeneration and 'Face of Bo'.

* Cry like a child at my desk at work.

The life of a Whovian.


Clicking around in the T.A.R.D.I.S. reminds me of playing Myst.


now there was a game!


Is it just me, or were other people cursing the StreetView interface. It seems to be "sticky" exactly when it would be most annoying. The number of times I unintentionally moved or zoomed was over 50% of the number of times I intentionally moved or zoomed.

This seems to be a pattern with Google interfaces. I've gone into the "flyover perspective" mode 10 times as often unintentionally as I have intentionally. The reason for this is that two finger pinch-zoom usually lets you pan as a side effect. Google Maps has hijacked this to signal the perspective thing. This is horrendous, because the ability to zoom and pan is really useful.


Shame you can't go further in to the TARDIS.


I don't think Google's servers have enough space.


Yeah, I'm missing the infinite wardrobe hallway.


And the swimming pool.


And the the giant library.


And the Eye of Harmony.



Awww... they missed a great opportunity for fun gimmicks, like putting people in different Doctor costumes facing away from the car at street level, maybe running towards some unknown fate? (Or a chip shop)

If you back up a step, you see a woman looking at the box, wondering wtf it's doing there :) And if you zoom out and re-position the man up the street and drive back down, it's a completely different set of images! Weird


Been there, seen that Police Box. Only one I've ever seen, but there used to be loads around in the 50s.


The instrument panels are all inert and the portal downstairs doesn't lead anywhere so it seems like it is just a set of images. Still, very neat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrFpjh4KF4U


What were you expecting to happen?


Nothing in particular, it is just that when you find an easter egg it sometimes pays off to see if it contains more than you see at first.

At least with 5 minutes of checking all the controls/dials nothing interactive popped up, that's not to say it isn't there.


It WOULD have been amazingly badass if you walk back out and suddenly everything outside is in sepia.


Or you get to see streetview, the 1880's version with all the cars replaced by horse & carriage.


I'll wait for the easter egg where you can go inside the NSA data center in Utah. Google should have lots of photos given their close relationship.


You can, if you figure out how to operate the Tardis.


The BND in Pullach would also be nice :)


Silly question but why are the street markings all zig-zaggy?


They mean no parking or overtaking. Typically found on the approach to crossings or outside of schools etc.


Is it me or is it bigger on the inside?




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