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APK Teardown Points to Nano Banana Tests in Google Maps Street View

The hidden feature appears limited to preset styles and lacks a timeline for public release.

Overview

  • Strings found in Google Maps version 26.09.00.873668274 reference Gemini’s Nano Banana generating styled images of places in Street View.
  • The feature wording suggests users could “make an image of [their] favorite places” by choosing from preset styles rather than entering custom prompts.
  • Evidence resides in backend code, indicating internal testing rather than a rollout to users, with availability and scope still unconfirmed.
  • Related UI changes surfaced in the same teardown, including a possible rename of the “3D” layer to “Raised buildings” and a rounded-corner Map type sheet.
  • The findings were reported by Android Authority’s APK insight and corroborated by 9to5Google, with no official comment or launch details from Google.