Abstract: A route from a current location of a portable device to a destination is determined, where the route includes a sequence of directed sections. Navigation instructions to guide a user of the portable device along the route to the destination are generated. To this end, candidate navigation landmarks perceptible within a 360-degree range of the current location of the portable device are identified using (i) one or more metrics of observability, prominence, and uniqueness and (ii) a user preference related to a type of landmark, and an initial instruction in the navigation instructions is generated and provided via a user interface of the portable device. The initial instruction references the selected navigation landmark.

Abstract: A route from a current location of a portable device to a destination is determined, where the route includes a sequence of directed sections. Navigation instructions to guide a user of the portable device along the route to the destination are generated. To this end, candidate navigation landmarks perceptible within a 360-degree range of the current location of the portable device are identified, a navigation landmark disposed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first one in the sequence of directed sections is selected from among the candidate navigation landmarks, and an initial instruction in the navigation instructions is generated and provided via a user interface of the portable device. The initial instruction references the selected navigation landmark.

Abstract: A route from a current location of a portable device to a destination is determined, where the route includes a sequence of directed sections. Navigation instructions to guide a user of the portable device along the route to the destination are generated. To this end, candidate navigation landmarks perceptible within a 360-degree range of the current location of the portable device are identified, a navigation landmark disposed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first one in the sequence of directed sections is selected from among the candidate navigation landmarks, and an initial instruction in the navigation instructions is generated and provided via a user interface of the portable device. The initial instruction references the selected navigation landmark.

Abstract: A route from a current location of a portable device to a destination is determined, where the route includes a sequence of directed sections. Navigation instructions to guide a user of the portable device along the route to the destination are generated. To this end, candidate navigation landmarks perceptible within a 360-degree range of the current location of the portable device are identified, a navigation landmark disposed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first one in the sequence of directed sections is selected from among the candidate navigation landmarks, and an initial instruction in the navigation instructions is generated and provided via a user interface of the portable device. The initial instruction references the selected navigation landmark.

Abstract: An indication of a geographic area is received. Respective metrics of noteworthiness are obtained for multiple entities located in the geographic area. Using a machine-readable knowledge repository that describes semantic relations between the entities, several of the entities are selected in view of the corresponding metrics of noteworthiness, so that the selected entities share a set of attributes defining a commonality, and so that digital imagery is available for each of the selected entities. This commonality is not specified by the user. A geographic imagery tour that includes a representation of the respective digital imagery for the selected entities is generated.

Abstract: A route from a current location of a portable device to a destination is determined, where the route includes a sequence of directed sections. Navigation instructions to guide a user of the portable device along the route to the destination are generated. To this end, candidate navigation landmarks perceptible within a 360-degree range of the current location of the portable device are identified, a navigation landmark disposed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first one in the sequence of directed sections is selected from among the candidate navigation landmarks, and an initial instruction in the navigation instructions is generated and provided via a user interface of the portable device. The initial instruction references the selected navigation landmark.

Abstract: A route from a current location of a portable device to a destination is determined, where the route includes a sequence of directed sections. Navigation instructions to guide a user of the portable device along the route to the destination are generated. To this end, candidate navigation landmarks perceptible within a 360-degree range of the current location of the portable device are identified, a navigation landmark disposed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first one in the sequence of directed sections is selected from among the candidate navigation landmarks, and an initial instruction in the navigation instructions is generated and provided via a user interface of the portable device. The initial instruction references the selected navigation landmark.

Abstract: A route from a current location of a portable device to a destination is determined, where the route includes a sequence of directed sections. Navigation instructions to guide a user of the portable device along the route to the destination are generated. To this end, candidate navigation landmarks perceptible within a 360-degree range of the current location of the portable device are identified, a navigation landmark disposed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first one in the sequence of directed sections is selected from among the candidate navigation landmarks, and an initial instruction in the navigation instructions is generated and provided via a user interface of the portable device. The initial instruction references the selected navigation landmark.

Abstract: A route from a current location of a portable device to a destination is determined, where the route includes a sequence of directed sections. Navigation instructions to guide a user of the portable device along the route to the destination are generated. To this end, candidate navigation landmarks perceptible within a 360-degree range of the current location of the portable device are identified, a navigation landmark disposed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first one in the sequence of directed sections is selected from among the candidate navigation landmarks, and an initial instruction in the navigation instructions is generated and provided via a user interface of the portable device. The initial instruction references the selected navigation landmark.

Abstract: A route from a current location of a portable device to a destination is determined, where the route includes a sequence of directed sections. Navigation instructions to guide a user of the portable device along the route to the destination are generated. To this end, candidate navigation landmarks perceptible within a 360-degree range of the current location of the portable device are identified, a navigation landmark disposed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first one in the sequence of directed sections is selected from among the candidate navigation landmarks, and an initial instruction in the navigation instructions is generated and provided via a user interface of the portable device. The initial instruction references the selected navigation landmark.

Abstract: An indication of a geographic area is received. Respective metrics of noteworthiness are obtained for multiple entities located in the geographic area. Using a machine-readable knowledge repository that describes semantic relations between the entities, several of the entities are selected in view of the corresponding metrics of noteworthiness, so that the selected entities share a set of attributes defining a commonality, and so that digital imagery is available for each of the selected entities. This commonality is not specified by the user. A geographic imagery tour that includes a representation of the respective digital imagery for the selected entities is generated.

Abstract: An indication of a geographic area is received. Respective metrics of noteworthiness are obtained for multiple entities located in the geographic area. Using a machine-readable knowledge repository that describes semantic relations between the entities, several of the entities are selected in view of the corresponding metrics of noteworthiness, so that the selected entities share a set of attributes defining a commonality, and so that digital imagery is available for each of the selected entities. This commonality is not specified by the user. A geographic imagery tour that includes a representation of the respective digital imagery for the selected entities is generated.

Abstract: To orient a user within a map display, a portable device displays a panoramic view representative of the user's real-world surroundings. The portable device also displays a map representation of an adjacent area above the panoramic view so that the area displayed in the map representation appears further away than the real-world surroundings depicted in the panoramic view. The portable device may also display an intersection which includes a commonly shared boundary between the panoramic view and the map representation so that the user can identify the relationship between the two displays.

Abstract: To orient a user within a map display, a portable device displays a panoramic view representative of the user's real-world surroundings. The portable device also displays a map representation of an adjacent area above the panoramic view so that the area displayed in the map representation appears further away than the real-world surroundings depicted in the panoramic view. The portable device may also display an intersection which includes a commonly shared boundary between the panoramic view and the map representation so that the user can identify the relationship between the two displays.

Abstract: An indication of a geographic area is received. Respective metrics of noteworthiness are obtained for multiple entities located in the geographic area. Using a machine-readable knowledge repository that describes semantic relations between the entities, several of the entities are selected in view of the corresponding metrics of noteworthiness, so that the selected entities share a set of attributes defining a commonality, and so that digital imagery is available for each of the selected entities. This commonality is not specified by the user. A geographic imagery tour that includes a representation of the respective digital imagery for the selected entities is generated.