This is so cool it is scary...

repost?


http://earth.google.com/earth.html

holy shit

Wow. That is very cool.

I'm not certain, but I think this is what they have done with the technology they got when they acquired Keyhole. Keyhole used to be the top secret spy satellite system that the NSA, CIA, et. al. used.

edit: Yep, this is what they have done with Keyhole. When I went to install Google Earth, it told me it detected an older version of the Keyhole software.

Wish I could download all the graphics locally, I bet the pay versions do that.

Wow, thats crazy cool.

I just realized they added the map/directions function to it. That is damn impressive.

holy shit

What he said.

holy holy shit. sweeet

they're one block away from showing my house in a high res picture :(

google map can do satellite too.

google earth shows on the satellite image the names of roads and some places of note

google is on a roll this week, what with their rollout of google video as well.

oh my shit

there still seem to be pretty big holes (most of SC is just green), its not too bad. A few things are bit off (Pizza hut around the corner is placed at the wrong building), but very quick and works a little better than their internet search.

Since this is a downloadable file, I'll have to check it out at home. I hope it's better than their map service, though - the satellite images are like years old, and the maps seem to be about as old. In our neighborhood, the streets are not complete on the map, and the satellite images are pretty well useless for pinpointing an actual house, since they show the area 5 years ago before much was built.

Not to mention, I couldn't find the option (if it exists) to track driving directions by major highways/streets, so the last time I needed directions, it was, again, pretty useless, since the directions it gave me were side streets and such.

, and the satellite images are pretty well useless for pinpointing an actual house, since they show the area 5 years ago before much was built.

Do you really expect to have real-time satellite images available via google?

Do you really expect to have real-time satellite images available via google?
Wait, so you can't look into Sorority Houses and watch them shower? :D :mad: Useless crap, I want real time Satellite Amateur Porn.

I expect that if they are going to offer the service, it would at least be somewhat recent, yes. I even used it to look up a car dealership, and there was nothing around. The image was from 1998 or something. What good is that?

I think the idea is cool, but it's got limited appeal to me, if I can't use it to pinpoint exactly where I'm going. I'm looking for not just the place, but landmarks around it to help me recognize it when I get close. Isn't that what it's for? So if you're going to a house, how helpful is seeing pasture with a bubble over it?

I feel like a 5 year window is not completely unrealistiic, with the understanding that I'm sure this is going to improve.. They have to get the technology in there, gauge the useage, and then update the content to more recent data ...

I would hope it would improve. I guess all I'm saying is that it's not worth my time at this point, based on the several times I've tried to use it. For what it's supposed to be used, it does not do a good enough job.

its free...if you want up to date im sure you can pay for a better one...for no fee though thats damn nice

Isn't their an option to updgrade to the "Gold" package or something?

Apparently the images are supposed to be renewed every three years.

What exactly does the gold get you? How up to date are the images on it?

what the difference between google map and google earth?

dont they both give you map, driving directions and satellite

only scientologists are allowed to have Google Universe.

only scientologists are allowed to have Google Universe.
What level do you have to be on?

SI

at least 5 gets you access to Google Universe Lite.

at level 8 you get Google Universe Omnipetance Edition.

In our neighborhood, the streets are not complete on the map, and the satellite images are pretty well useless for pinpointing an actual house, since they show the area 5 years ago before much was built.
They have probably just not updated your area because I can say that the imagery for my area is from last Summer, which is think is not too bad...

FM