Google's Gone Local (new satellite photo feature)

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:01 am

Anyone tried zooming in on their house? I just did. The closest I could get was about the entire block. Go to http://www.google.com/ home page and click on "Localnew" and type in your city plus some local feature like a store, restaurant, or school. First zoom in on the road map, then click on "satellite," then zoom in with the + or pan right and left the <> buttons.

Photos are about a year old so there's no real-time spying as with video cams. What good is it? It's like MapQuest on one hand, but also pinpoints the features you type in on the search. If you live out in the country, you could spy on your neighbors and get a picture of what all they're up to. I suppose if you were going kayaking down a new river, you could explore the route in advance and see where all the falls and rapids were. Possibilities are endless.

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:09 am

"For now, Google Local only searches for locations in the United States and Canada."

:roll:

jbarter · Post by **jbarter** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:09 am

Rats! Even if I use your link I still only get the UK version of Google which doesn't seem to have this feature. I really wanted to know what Martin, Gary, and Dubh were up to a year ago.

Post by **Dale** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:35 am

Cool. I can't see my house (too many trees?) but I can make out a few of the neighboring businesses. By the way, Lorenzo, looks like you've got a loose roof tile near the SE corner of your house.

Dale

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:43 am

Now that I come to think of it, I heard a rumour that the USG was contemplating 'switching off' GPS satellites, or otherwise making them unavailable for public use, on the grounds of Homeland Security. Now, I stress it was a rumour I heard, just after I bought my GPS navigator (typical!).

But it does make I wonder what 'they' think of fairly recent satellite imagery (quite detailed from the sound of it) being made publicly available like this too.

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:30 am

That's pretty cool. I've used terraserver for years but this is easier to navigate, more recent images plus better quality.

I see two cars in my driveway. One in my spot and the other in the misc spot. That means my wife wasn't home but I was and someone else was there. My daughters? My nephew? Who could it be?

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:40 am

Flyingcursor wrote:I see two cars in my driveway. One in my spot and the other in the misc spot. That means my wife wasn't home but I was and someone else was there. My daughters? My nephew? Who could it be?

Hmmm. I expect your missus will be wondering the same thing!!!

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:44 am

Lorenzo wrote:then click on "satellite,"

Going for "Charley's Guitar Shop" in Dallas, TX (which shows up with the label 'B' in the map), I don't get any link or button for "satellite". What am I doing wrong?

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:58 am

It's in the tray just under the road map. Left side will say "Larger Picture" and on the right "Satellite."

NicoMoreno · Post by **NicoMoreno** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 9:53 am

All I am seeing is larger picture and driving directions... No satellite anywhere

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:12 am

Looks like something from an electron microscope once you get up close. My street blends into the rest of the vague gray stuff.

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:41 am

NicoMoreno wrote:All I am seeing is larger picture and driving directions... No satellite anywhere

I just double checked. Just under the opening map, it actually says (on the left) "View Larger Map," and "Map - Satellite" (on the right).

I'll try Fergus, Ontario and see what options it gives. It may be different in your area.

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:45 am

You can also get to this by going to http://maps.google.com. Then center the area you want to view and zoom in. You can switch between map and satallite with the links on the upper right.

The Weekenders · Post by **The Weekenders** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 2:07 pm

I saw my house but I wasn't home.

NicoMoreno · Post by **NicoMoreno** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 2:22 pm

like most Google things, you must have IE 5.5 or higher...

Since I am using 5.1 or something similar... well you get it.

I was checking it out using another computer here at work... pretty cool!

Chiff and Fipple Forums

Google's Gone Local (new satellite photo feature)

Google's Gone Local (new satellite photo feature)

Re: Google's Gone Local (new satellite photo feature)