Apple Maps is working to bring its Look Around feature to more countries

What you need to know

• Apple Maps is working to bring its Look Around feature to more countries.
• Cars are driving around Austria, Switzerland, and more as they collect the data needed for the feature.

A host of new countries look set to get the Street View-like feature this year.

Apple's cars are driving around streets in Austria, Switzerland, and Hong Kong in an effort to collect the data needed to roll the Apple Maps Look Around feature out there. Belgium will also see a return of the cars as Apple looks to expand on its surveying from last year.

As noted by MacRumors, Apple has updated a running list of areas where cars are working to include the additional locations.

The Apple Maps Look Around feature gives users the chance to see locations as if they were there without actually making a trip. It can be invaluable when planning nights out or just working out where to park. Apple blurs out things like faces to make sure people can't be identified, just as Google does with its Street View feature.

Accessing Look Around is as easy as tapping the binoculars icon in the top-right corner of the Maps app — when you're in a location where it is supported, of course. Those include the united States, Canada, the UK, and much of Europe as well as other locations around the world.

Apple Maps still isn't the best iPhone app for local map data, however. Google Maps is still a strong option despite the way Maps integrates with other services and apps within Apple's ecosystem.