Is Draw Something Really So Drawsome?

Draw Something, the insanely popular overnight hit.

For the uninitiated, Draw Something is a mobile app which allows you to...well, draw something. (Full tour of the app)

Since OMGPOP released it on 24th Feb 2012, the game has surpassed 50 million downloads in 50 days. That makes it the fastest growing mobile games to date.

It is not surprising why Zynga was willing to pay OMGPOP a staggering US$200 million for Draw Something, just a month after its release.

Zynga paid $200mill for Draw Something. (pic source)

What is Draw Something?

It is a simple game which fuses the features of Pictionary and anagram. Players take turn to draw and guess. They earn coins for each correct guess and use them to purchase 'bombs' or 'colors'.

'Bombs' take away some letters making it easier to unscramble. Adding colors to the palette presumably will make doodles more expressive and fanciful.

Downloads are free. However, the paid version is ad-free and has more words. 

Millions are hooked on the games. (Raiders: pic source)

Is it really so 'Drawsome'?

I am one of the millions of players, attracted to the game and getting endless amusement from doodles of varying quality.

Drawing has never been my forte. However, Draw Something has attracted every other person on the street to come on board. I don't feel out of place nor intimidated playing it with my limited doodling ability.

Simple caveman drawing is good enough. (Karate: pic source)

Personally, I find the game so simple that it hurts. Anyone who can draw like a caveman qualifies. However, as an online game, Draw Something is actually quite suckish.

Here's why.

1. No one wins

There are no winners or losers in this game. It just goes on and on through the motion of drawing and guessing. After awhile, it gets stale.

This seems to defy the meaning of 'game' when the competitive element is missing.

2. Lack commercial motives

Many online games lure addicted players to part with their real money. In return, they get a greater ability to perform in the game. This is not the case for Draw Something. You only earn virtual money to buy bombs or colors and there are no in-app purchases.

I suspect Zynga have something up their sleeves. I am waiting to see how the game will be revamped for greater sustainability.

3. Lack player motivation

There is no level-up in this game. You keep earning coins rounds after rounds. You can only use them to buy bombs or colors which you don't really need.

The game keeps some statistics such as 'longest streak', 'average guess speed' and 'average draw speed'. Interestingly, the 'longest streak' does not go beyond 99.

Those stats are not really capable of motivating players to want to do more or better. They offer some bragging rights, at most.

4. It is buggy

There are some bugs awaiting fixes. However, this is common with new online games. For example, your opponent may receive your drawing with letters from a different game. 

Use colors for a reason. (pic source)

Be 'Drawsome'

If you are new to Draw Something or feeling a little bored with it, here are some tips for you.

1. Use colors (for a reason)

Use them to emphasize or differentiate. Unnecessary use of colors can only distract your opponent.

2. Don't act like you are Picasso

It is a game, not a drawing contest. The idea is to get your opponent to understand you through your doodle. There is really nothing wrong with just drawing stick men. Unless you wish to irritate your opponent, don't spend time perfecting your drawing to match your desired art quality.

3. Don't write

The game is named Draw Something, not 'Write Something'. Respect your opponent's ability to guess and don't resort to writing anything on your drawing.

Use arrows to guide. (Poop: pic source)

4. Draw arrows

Use arrows to bring the point across. Point to the part of the drawing which lead to the answer. Use a different color for the arrows so that they do not look like part of the drawing.

5. Break up the words

Some words are easier to draw if you break them up. For example, draw a 'cow' and a 'girl' in separate drawings, instead of a 'cowgirl'.

6. Get online help

Clueless with the drawing? Take a screen shot and post it on social network platform such as Facebook. Help will flow in.

Don't write something. Draw! (pic source)

7. Watch those letters

Tired of shuffling and run out of bombs? Take a screen shot of the given letters. Close the game and log back in. You will get a new set of letters. Repeat this a few times and look out for recurring letters. The answers would be from these letters.

8. Skip game without pass

If you are stuck and want to move on to play with another player, you don't have to pass. Follow these steps:

1. Click Home Button then double click Home Button.
2. Your app tray will go up and show some icons below.
3. Touch the Draw Something icon and hold for 5s.
4. Touch the red dot to close the app.
5. Double click Home Button.
6. Start the app again.

9. Get new words

Struggling to chose one the three equally difficult words? You don't have to use a bomb to get new words. Follow the steps in (8). The set of words will be refreshed.


10. Get Anagram help

Don't be too quick to use the bomb. Try an anagram solver and you may just hit the answer. There are many anagram solvers on the web. 'Draw Something Words' and 'Drawsome Words' seem to be made for this game.

11. Use a stylus

Sick of drawing with your fat finger on the tiny smartphone screen? Try a stylus. Steve Jobs didn't believe in stylus. However, like it or not, stylus is making a comeback, thanks to Draw Something.

Stylus for touch screen (pic source)

I consider tips 7 to 10 cheats. However, you may say that it's only a game. I shall leave it to you to clear your conscience.

I don't find Draw Something great in any spectacular way. However, 50 million players can't be that wrong. For now, there is no doubt that it has created a storm. The real question is in its sustainability. We shall wait for Zynga to do something to keep Draw Something going!

Before you go, take a look at these great drawings shared by some proud players. Have a good laugh and get some inspiration.

I wish you a 'drawsome' day!

Update:
4 May 2012: Draw Something Loses 5M Users a Month After Zynga Purchase
16 Jun 2012: CBS And Zynga Want To Turn Draw Something Into A Primetime Game Show

"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination." (Albert Einstein)

Public Apology - The New Media Way

Traditionally, public apologies are done through
advertisements in newspapers. [Pic]

Just how should you say sorry?

Last week, an active Malaysian blogger, Fahmi Fadzil was ordered to apologize not once but 100 times. Besides having to say sorry numerous times, Fahmi had to do it in a rather unusual way.

It all started in January this year when Fahmi tweeted about a pregnant female friend whom he said had been treated badly by her employers at Female Magazine.

Today, public apologies can be made via the new media. [Pic]

The magazine publisher Blu Inc Media was not amused and threatened to take legal action. Somehow, the defamation row reached a settlement in March and Fahmi agreed to make a public apology.

However, Fahmi was unable to pay for an advertisement in the newspapers but Blu Inc Media, a subsidiary of SPH Magazines, was not relenting. So the parties agreed to move on to the new media.

Fahmi was ordered to apologize 100 times in Twitter over three days at regular intervals. That means his apology updates had to come on every 35 minutes. He said in one of his tweets 'No sleep till 100!'.

Fahmi reached an unusual settlement for a defamation row
with publisher Blu Inc Media.

He started his 1/100 tweet on 2 Jun at 9.00 A.M., saying "I've DEFAMED Blu Inc Media and Female Magazine. My tweets on their HR Policies are untrue. I retract those words and hereby apologize".

At the end of day one (2 Jun), he managed 26 tweets and continued into day two (3 Jun). He was mid way at 50/100 on 3 Jun at 1.35 P.M and started his day three (4 Jun) with his 68/100 tweet. He finally completed his 100/100 tweet on 4 Jun at 6.45 P.M.

Fahmi apologized 100 times over three days.

Out of court settlements are usually seen as a win-win outcome. In this case, Blu Inc Media received the apology they felt they deserve. As for Fahmi, besides avoiding a court proceeding and possibly some legal punishments, he also gained some unintended prominence from his 100 tweets. Over the three days, he earned at least 1,000 followers. As a social activist, Fahmi has certainly 'benefited' from the amicable settlement as well.

While I am somewhat amused by this bizarre and yet innovative settlement, I am reminded that we are in an era, transiting from the old to the new media. Many old school thinking and teaching are now being challenged and some are already in trash bins.

Is it appropriate to make a public apology
over Facebook or Twitter? [Pic]

The art of public apology has to be unlearned and relearned. It is no longer good enough to fall back on issuing a media release and hoping that the public would pick up the message fast enough before further damage is caused. 

Company public relation experts know well that public apology is important especially in crisis situations. However, not everyone has learned to handle it well, especially over the new media. Many organizations are still seeing social media as a less formal platform to interact with their customers. They are still deliberating if it would be appropriate to make a public apology via popular social media such as Facebook or Twitter.

Personally, how an apology is delivered is not as important as how effectively it is received. If saying sorry over Facebook or Twitter helps to pacify upset customers better and faster, why hesitate? One thing we cannot ignore about social media is its viral effect. We either make it work for us or let it destroy us.

Most things are designed to work for us. We just have to learn how to use them the right way.

"It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory." ~W Edwards Deming~

Fahmi's Twitter feed is at http://twitter.com/fahmi_fadzil.

News reports:

Malaysian to tweet apology 100 times in defamation deal

Apologising activist gains 1,000 followers

Don't Become a 'Typewriter'

Lifelong learning is not optional [pic]

Whether or not you know what a typewriter is, this post is for you.

Typewriter, a term unfamiliar to many young people, existed in a useful way since 1870. It wasn't too long ago that it was still an essential item in our lives. Today, it is displayed in some museums.

Sometimes, when I pause and think about how quickly technology becomes passe, it scares me. With iPhone5 around the corner, those with iPhone3 in their hands are lamenting that they feel so dated. Looking back, the first iPhone was launched on 9 Jan 2007 and that does sound like a long time ago on the new technology time scale.

Is it just about owning it? [pic]

The blind pursuit of technology

People should just get used to the fact that there is no such thing as owning new technology. You cannot own it because new technology does not stay long enough to be owned. Instead, we should just emphasize on knowing new technology rather than owning it.

New technology always promises new possibilities and that is just great. However, in our pursuit for the latest gizmo, we often forget that we are born with the most advanced 'technological' gadget ever created. That's right, the almighty brain.

No other brains can match ours [pic]

Your brain rules

Our brain has an infinite capacity to learn. Unlike computers or whatever bombastic gadgets you have, it never says "Harddisk full". It has the most incredible ability to become intelligent and creative. It is totally scalable, upgradable and it is capable of storing the most amazing 'software'.

New technology or not, the immense potential of our brain remains unchanged. No technology can ever take over that super-machine in you (at least not during my lifetime). The gadgets in your hands are merely tools. They are there to let you enhance your potential in many ways. They are not there to replace your brain.

There is always something to learn. [pic]

Don't stop learning

Our brain is powerful right from the start and there is never a need to launch Brain 2.0 after Brain 1.0. Regrettably, it is the most under-utilized machine in the world as most of us hardly tap much into its potential.

When we were in school, we were constantly pushed and challenged to improve ourselves. I can still remember the brain-bursting feeling during exams. However, the moment we stepped out of school, we were on our own to learn.

As adults, you are learners just like when you were in school. Except that this time, you are the pupil, the teacher as well as the headmaster. You decide what, when and how to learn. You also decide on the pace and the place.

In "Lifelong Learning - My Way", I shared that as adults, we often do not learn actively and suggested a few ways to pursue lifelong learning. In "What's There to Learn?", I said that lifelong learning is a non-stop process and there is no such thing such as "nothing to learn".

Technology helps you learn [pic]

Lifelong learning and technology

Lifelong learning is not optional and there are many tests along the way. No one is going to inform you beforehand and no one will ask you if you are prepared. Sometimes, you get to retake the tests but sometimes, you simply have to pay the price of failure. 

New technology has brought along new ways to learn. We no longer need to browse volumes of encyclopedia or visit the library in person. We can pick up reliable information on the go in a timely manner. We also can connect with people and ideas with a push of button. In short, new technology has made lifelong learning easier.

Are you at risk of becoming a 'typewriter'?
[Photo Credit: Michael Kelly]

Don't become a 'typewriter'

Just because you are a proud owner of iPhone5 does not mean that you are not at risk of becoming a 'typewriter'. Before you buy your next swanky gadget, remember to ask how it can help you learn and not whether it is the newest in town.

Lifelong learning is never about what you have. It is about what you do with what you have.

"Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn." ~ Benjamin Franklin ~

Don't Lose Your Wallet in the Cyberspace

[Pic]

Christmas is just around the corner...

There is no snow or winter in Singapore but the festive mood here is unmistakable. Traditionally, this is also the time to shop for gifts.

A decade ago, I enthusiastically shared with many that shopping would be going virtual. I received cold shoulders and skeptics walked away from that idea. They swore that they would only shop in brick-and-mortar malls.

Today, I need to convince nobody. Ya, talking about paradigm shifts.

Needless to say, at this time of the year, many would be searching for something special from online stores. To the diehards, online shopping is cool, swift and very often, satisfying. I dare to add on, addictive too.

[Pic]

What affects purchases?

According to survey, buyers place visual appearance above other factors such as smell, sound or texture. Most of them are also more persuaded by colors rather than other visual aspects. This probably explains why online stores can be successful. I am sure the web designers are well aware of that. (See infographic)

Stay safe

If you are clicking away for some unique finds, take a moment to think through before your next purchase. You would not want your online shopping to go wrong. I admit that nothing is very new here. However, think about it, how many times our common-sense simply fails us?

7. Will it be safe to give your payment information?

You do not want someone else to be shopping with your money. Just like shopping in the stores, you would want to keep vigilant guard of your wallet. Check that your online security is in place before you click 'buy'.

6. Who are you buying from?

When we shop in the real world, we go for someone whom we can trust. It gets a little tricky when we shop online because we cannot see the other person. You need to know the reliability of this guy.

5. What are you buying?

How do you know what you buy will meet your needs? Do you believe what is said on the website? There are just a few things you should know about your purchase.

[Pic]

 4. How should you pay?

The most common payment mode is by credit cards. You would want to understand the limitation of paying via this mode.

3. Do you know the legal terms of purchase?

You sure hope that nothing will go wrong. What if it does? Would you be able to return the item and get a refund? Will your purchase come with any warranty? Check the legal terms before committing the purchase.

2. How should you keep records?

In this case, you cannot ask for a receipt from the cashier. You would have to get it yourself and keep your own records. This is so that you can keep track of your purchase and hopeful not, use it to resolve a dispute.

1. Did you double check pricing?

If you are sold shortly after you hit the website, your 'warning light' should start blinking. It is always advisable to check alternative websites or call up other stores. If something is too good to be true, it usually is. Trust your instinct.

More tips

There are many tips on safe online shopping. Here are two of them: 'Online Shopping Tips' and 'Top 10 Cyber Monday tips for safe online shopping'.

[Pic]

Now that you have done what you have to do, what should you buy?

It is not surprising that in recent years, IT gadgets have been ranked top choices by many. I can almost see iPad popping out of your thought bubbles. Interestingly, it is one of the "4 Popular Tech Gifts You Should NOT Buy This Holiday". Odd isn't it? Even my cats want them. Find out why.

For those who are beating cold winter right now, check out these "6 Great Gloves for Touchscreen Gadget Lovers". I certainly won't find them useful in tropical Singapore.

This post is not about gift ideas. Those are just some quick ones for sharing. You may continue to browse your favorite online stores for something else. This time, do it safely and don't lose your wallet in the cyberspace.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

"A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist." 

~Franklin P Jones~

The Time is Always Right to Write

[Link]

I posted my 300th article here last week and I am moving on to the next.

Writing is a very age old thing and existed since the pre-historic time. Simply, it is a systematic way to communicate using symbols. The early 'writings' were done more in the form of drawing but a system of using symbols in writing gradually evolved.

The cave men wrote because they needed to communicate. They needed to tell others a story even during those times when they were not present to do so orally. Today, the reasons for writing have not changed very much.

[Link]

We write in many ways.

1. Good old pen and paper

This has existed for a long time and it will probably be around for a very long time more. However, due to the proliferation of other media, this conventional method of writing is taking a back seat today.

2. Typewriter and paper

If you have not used or seen a typewriter before, you are probably rather young. The invention of typewriter changed the way we write. Instead of inscribing the words with a pen, we 'hammer' the letters on a paper with our fingers.

[Link]

3. Type and display

When computer became a common sight in our homes and offices, we write with a keyboard, similar to those found on typewriters. Instead of paper, the writing is shown on a display screen. This way of writing changes a few established concepts. For example, we no longer correct a mistake using an eraser or a liquid corrector. Instead, we hit the 'backspace' or 'delete' button.

See article: "The Quirky QWERTY".

4. Soft type and display

Keyboards have gone virtual. Now we can 'write' by typing on computer screens which display the image of a keyboard. With this, we fuse the keyboard into the screen and thus making our gizmos more snugly. However, with virtual keyboards, it also means that we can no longer do touch typing.

5. Finger or pen-based writing

It seems that some people still like to write instead of type. So, some computers allow us to 'write' with a stylus or our fingers. By mimicking writing with a pen, we 'write' by tracing over the screen. Thanks to handwriting recognition applications.

[Link]

I am sure the way we write will further evolve and the possibilities are only limited by our imagination. Coming up soon, I expect to be able to write on projection keyboards. These are virtual keyboards which can be projected on any surface and after that, you just type on it. Now, that sounds cool.

I started blogging here two years ago for a simple reason: To write. I still write on conventional media using pen and paper. It is therapeutic to write and at the same time, I think and I learn as I reflect the day.

Occasionally, I do mirror image writing. In that way, I get to heighten my awareness. As I slow down my thoughts to keep pace with my writing, I internalize more of what I write.

See article: "It feels Right to Write".

[Link]

If you do not write on a regular basis, try it. For that, I do not mean the stiff corporate reports and business emails which you have to prepare at work. Try writing as you think and see how you gradually internalize ideas which will help you shape the habits that you have always wanted.

Besides pen and paper, there are so many other ways to write. You can practically do it on the fly. The time is always right to write

"If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it.

I might be writing in my dreams."

~ Terri Guillemets ~

 

Tumblr - Connecting with You

Blogging is so yesterday, some say.

Whether you agree or not, the way we communicate via social networking changes everyday. In 2004, Facebook was launched and Twitter followed two years later. Unless you have been living under a rock, you would have known that they have since grown to become notable giants in the arena of social networking.


In 2007, Tumblr joined in the fun and just last year, Foursquare also took the dive. The popularity of these two newcomers is growing since then.

I am just naming a few players. I know I could go on talking about many more such as MySpace (2003), LinkedIn (2003) and Bebo (2005) but I am sure you got my point. Besides, I do not know enough to discuss any deeper than this.


I guess the advent of newer social networking services makes traditional blogging a thing of the past. Do note that I use the word traditional which 'traditionally' means the ways things are done since a long time ago. However, in the context of technology, it often refers to something which took place quite recently.

In some way, blogging is passe. Increasingly, more users are going for mircoblogging, giving shorter and smaller contents. Twitter, which allows updates in 140 characters or less. is a good example of microblogging.


I am currently using Twitter (@VFlavor). You can follow me and get updates on the latest post from this blog. (See "Tweeting - One Year On" and "Let's Do The Tweet")

I have also just started using Tumblr where I share "my photos & my thoughts".


I do not blog too regularly (usually once a week) but each time I would do a long post. Certain thoughts and ideas are better said in more than just a few words. However, if you prefer a mix of long and short posts, you can follow my Tumblr site, where I share my photos and my brief thoughts more regularly.

At the end of the day, a thought is a thought. It can be conveyed through a long post, in a few lines or simply via a picture.

After all, there is no right or wrong way to say "Let's Look At It This Way".

You might also want to read:
Are You Into Social "Nutworking"?

"Communication is about being effective, not always about being proper."
~Bo Bennett~

Tweeting - One Year On

Exactly a year ago, I posted my first tweet.

On 3 May 2009, I said "I am swimming inside twitter" and I really meant it. I was quite clueless as to what I was supposed to do with Twitter. Many people told me that Twitter is relatively simple compared to other social network websites such as Facebook. It is true. It did not take me long to figure out most of its basic features.

(I shared my initial thoughts in "Let's Do The Tweet" in May last year. You can also find out how Twitter got its name in "Modern 'Brandology'")


For the less informed, Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service that allows you to post text messages of up to 140 characters. You can learn more about Twitter in "The Ultimate Guide for Everything Twitter".

I am an advocate for continuous learning and I would seize every opportunity to do it. That was the main impetus for me to sign up Twitter. I just had to try it. In the last 12 months, I have learned a great deal from the use of Twitter - much more than any 12-month period in the past since I was out from school.

It was reported that Twitter has about 75 million users and the number is growing at about 8 million per month. Even though many of these users are relatively inactive, the amount of resources from Twitter is not to be ignored.


Twitter is used in different style. Some use it for daily babbling. Some use it to spread their commercial presence. Some use it to share knowledge. Given that, Twitter can be meaningless, annoying or informative. It all depends entirely on who you follow.

I choose who I follow carefully, avoiding spammers, whiners, advertisers and those who are simply rude or crude. It is the same as how you would choose your friends in the real world. Twitter 'friends' can also have an influence on you too. Choose them wisely.

I have benefited from the use of Twitter and here are 10 DOs and DON'Ts I have learned:



1. Do share sensibly

Twitter prompts you at the 'update' box with the question "What's Happening?". Some people take it too far and share the last detail of their lives. Seriously, no one needs to know the texture of your fecal matters or number of exploding zits on your forehead. Having said that, do share a little about yourself. Your followers want and need to know that they are hearing from real people and not some bots.


2. Do be positive and happy

We are how we speak to ourselves and others. If we constantly say positive things and make happy notes, we will in turn feel that way. It is the same with Twitter. You will feel upbeat by your own happy thoughts. What is amazing is that, with Twitter, you are able to spread positive energy to your followers and that same energy can be further passed on to your followers' followers. (Re-tweets)


3. Do share useful resources

We constantly come across useful information on the Internet. In the spirit of sharing, we would want many to benefit from it too. Twitter allows you to do just that. There are many other users who are doing the same. They tweet about stuff which they find useful. Follow them and you stand to benefit from their sharing too.



4. Do pursue your passion

You can find like-minded people in Twitter. Follow them and get updates, ideas and views in your areas of passion. I get updates on conservation effort and great tips on photography.


5. Do be yourself

Our relationship with others in Twitter is virtual (unless they happen to be friends in the real world too). However, that does not mean that we should behave any differently. Be yourself and be authentic. Your followers would appreciate that.


6. Don't whine

It is not difficult to understand why this is so. We do meet whiners in the real world and they wear us down. In Twitter, it is the same. If you want to get more followers, don't whine.


7. Don't criticize

Be open-minded. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We need not agree with all of them but there is also no need to be overly critical about their point of view. If their opinions get too unacceptable and unbearable, you can always unfollow. However, if you criticize, you are telling your followers that they too will get the same from you one day.


8. Don't hold a private conversation

It is very convenient to 'reply' to a message in Twitter. In any case, you should not use Twitter like an online chat. Your follower may not be interested to know the details of how you get on to a movie date with another Twitter user.


9. Don't forget basic courtesy

We have been taught from a young age that "Please" and "Thank You" are magic words. The magic does not go away just because we interact in a virtual world. Be courteous and respect your followers in the same way as you would in the real world.

The Little Red Dot on Google Map

Allan and Barbara Pease wrote "Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps" in 1999.

In a nutshell, the book explains the strengths and weaknesses of both genders. Obviously, among other things, the authors are saying that, well, 'women can't read maps'.


I have to admit that I am naturally not good at it and I know many who are worse. I think the GPS makers are aware of the potential market and they have got me using one too. See an earlier post on "A Device For The (Lost) Goons?".

When Google brought Google Street View to Singapore in Dec last year, I was one of the early users. I just had to find out if they have made map reading easier for me.

Google Street View is not new. When it was first launched in May 2007, it covered areas of only five cities in the USA (New York, San Francisco, Denver, Miami and Las Vegas). More areas were later added but they were all within the USA.

In July 2008, Google Street View covered the first areas outside the USA (France and Italy). By now, it has coverage in at least nine countries. Singapore is the first in the South East Asia.


I have some initial thoughts about Google Street View after using it for more than a month now. Before I go on, it is helpful to note that Google Street View in Singapore is somewhat unique.

Singapore is a tiny island state (710.2 km2 or 274.2 sq mi) and it is known as the "Little Red Dot" by the local people. Being tiny, Google was able to extend the coverage of Google Street View to almost the entire country.

The Google Street View camera cars were first spotted on the streets here in Oct 08 and a year later, it was launched on 2 Dec 09.


Google Street View is simple to use. To view a chosen part of a street, you simply drag the orange 'pegman' icon from its position onto the location on the map. You may want to scale the map first. At each position, you can navigate to view upwards or sideways to enjoy 360° horizontal and 290° vertical views.

It is very useful to have an extensive coverage in Singapore. Besides rendering aids to people who need more help to visualize maps, there are other ways Google Street View comes in handy:


1. Tourists

Singapore is a popular tourist destination. Now, tourists can visit the country virtually before arriving here. They can plan their itinerary as they visually comb (almost) the entire island.

See street view of the Esplanade (foreground) and the Singapore Flyer (background) taken from the Esplanade Drive in the picture above.


2. Singaporeans Abroad

Home sick? Our fellow Singaporeans away from home can always 'walk' around their neighborhood or visit their old schools whenever they feel like it.

Picture above shows Singapore public housing taken from Bedok North Street 2.

3. Foreign Investors

Thinking of buying a posh house here? Why not check out the property and its surrounding first?


4. Foreign Students

Planning to further your education in Singapore? With Google Street View, you can take a look at the shortlisted schools and the amenities around them.

Picture above is taken from outside the Singapore Anglo-Chinese Junior College at Dover Road.



5. Customers

Now customers have one more way to check out a new restaurant. They can take a look on Google Street View first before heading down. House hunters can check out the estate and have some ideas of the location before seeing the house.

Picture above shows a view from Damsey Road, a location filled with exciting restaurants.

6. Every User

With Google Street View, you can indicate a meeting place to friends, plan a jogging route or recce a camp site. The uses are only limited by our imagination.


So far, Google Street View sounds god-sent. However, there have been no lack of opposing voices since Google Street View hit the street in 2007. The main controversy is the privacy issue.

Images on Google Street View are taken from a camera mounted on a moving vehicle. Inevitably, images of people taken at some inappropriate places have given rise to complaints.

In May 2008, Google began using the face-blurring technology on its photos of Manhattan streets. Today this technology is also used in many other areas. In Singapore, the face-blurring technology is applied and the car license plates are also blurred.

Infringement of privacy will remain a main concern. If it is not handled satisfactorily, it may become a stumbling block for the future expansion of Google Street View.

Besides the privacy issues, Google Street View is sometimes being criticized for its photo quality. Mashable.com has some examples of such sightings. Take a look. You are allowed to laugh.

Finally, click on the Google Street View site and come 'visit' Singapore.