New Google Maps - So Detailed You Can See a Cat in the Window

[SoDesuKa]

I'm surprised at the level of detail in the new Google maps. After entering "street view" of my own address, I zoomed in until I could see Gracie in my apartment window. That's astounding! Although they used to be called "satellite images," the photographs seem to be taken from the street outside my door.

Gracie had a contented look on her face. She often looks worried, especially when a stranger is staring at her.

[petronius]

1. They are taken from street level - Google has new super-low satellites

You don't notice them going by because they have to fly really really really fast to maintain orbital velocity... :)

[LibraLiz1973]

2. omg if that were only true...

Could u even imagine the stuff you could see in peoples windows?

[petronius]

3. Actually, I don't have to imagine it - I'm a full-on peeping tom!

;)



(For the record, not really...)

[SoDesuKa]

4. You Can See Plenty Already

The photographs aren't all taken from outer space anymore. Although it's whimsical to suggest you can see the expression on a cat's face, a jealous wife can certainly recognize her husband's car outside an old girlfriend's apartment house. There's a story here.

[DS1]

5. Street view, probably

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Street_View

[undeterred]

6. google is incorrect for my address

which is fine with me

[jberryhill]

7. Don't see a cat in this one... still looking......

[SoDesuKa]

8. Great Picture

Imagine if you were trying to sell the house in the background, and you've been careful to bring buyers around in the morning or early afternoon. Bingo! There goes your chances of selling to anybody with kids.

[jberryhill]

15. Huh?

Why, the neighborhood apparently comes with itinerant babysitters.

[jberryhill]

16. The All Time Greatest Google Street View Pic

...is this one:

[Angleae]

9. Don't you mean Google Earth.

All Google Maps does is show street maps. But it is amazing. Although I couldn't see my window. I did notice I wasn't home (no car).

[begin_within]

10. In the satellite view on Google maps, there is sometimes a rectangle over part of the image,

and if you click that rectangle you get an overlay which shows you a street-level picture. Not every Google map page has a rectangle, though.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. I've seen my own house, too, and my car, very spooky.

But that was very cool, that you could see your cat. :-)

[Pryderi]

12. I want to see the inside of Dick Cheney's home office. n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

14. I'd like to, as well, but I think he lives underground...

:scared:

[Rhiannon12866]

13. These pix are taken from vehicles, which pass by your house,

with a complete view of everything. I was kind of freaked out, at first, but it isn't personal, just what they do, pass by. They missed my dog, but did see my car. :-)

[Zuiderelle]

17. I really do not like the fact that one can see my car in the driveway.

It's a bit disconcerting actually. That people are driving by taking pictures that will eventually appear on Google. :(

I guess I'm grateful that I wasn't outside mowing the lawn or something when my pic was taken.

[jberryhill]

18. DO NOT LET IT IN YOUR HOUSE:

This video demonstrates a hazard of Google Street View:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4039358416859840307

[WinkyDink]

19. Not so cool in Britain:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1027306/The-Google-Earth-gatecrashers-uninvited-dips-home-owners-swimming-pools.html