Google street view

[One-Fang]

So who's been mucking about with the truly awesome new tool from our friends at Google then? Geez, and I thought sat-nav'ing a street would take some toolage and time.

If you know not what I speak of, you may visit "Christchurch, New Zealand" on google maps. and click on the new Street View button. You may then discover if it's available in your own area.

Wicked. How much bandwidth does this take up? I was showing our other IT gurus at work today and we could see one of our servers being dragged to the ground when the peons all discover it en masse one day.

[Caveat Emptor]

I used it recently to look at the house where I grew up, the outside of my last apartment, and the entrance to the driveway where I'm living now. I also find it useful for directions in the "OK I turn right at the 'X' and what I want is across the street / next to 'Y'" or the frequent "is that on the right or left side of the street?" It's very nice if it's been done for where you live or where you're going.

[draggar]

I checked it out once - it was creepy. I saw myself walking my dog but the pictures of where I live now are years old - the ficus which was lost during Wilma (2005) was still up.

[PepperElf]

at least you weren't like this guy who was photographed passed out on the lawn.

tho i did find my old apartment... but the photo was taken after i moved out... i didn't have anything on the crappy ground-level balcony and there's grill stuff there now.

[JoitheArtist]

Yesterday, I used street view to show our accountant how to find our city's Chamber of Commerce.

I'm addicted to all Google applications. Maps, Reader, Trends, Mars, etc. Love it all.

[persephone]

I love this thing! Sadly, mine and hubby's parent's houses aren't on it, but the neighborhood we live in now is definitely on street view. Daughter and I looked at it last night and looked at Daddy's office and the path Mommy takes on her ghost tours. We also looked at Daughter's school.

She thinks it's lots of fun. I think it's cool to look at my friend's old houses or where they live now (it's how I've seen the house my best friend is going to be moving into next month). I also use it for directions and what things look like at street level.

Google is genius

[One-Fang]

There's minor uproar in a local forum. "Ra ra, my privacy, ra ra the Privacy Act, ra ra safety security ra ra stalkers". Flipping heck. As one of the more sensible posters pointed out, it's "a house" on google, not "your house". If the stalker doesn't already know where you live google isn't going to help them. And if they do, they can just walk down your street any time of day and see the same thing.

Someone wanted to have the image of their cars up their driveway removed. I can't quite fathom what dangers they felt lay in that image being available.

[Greenday]

Ah, they talked about Google Street View at work. If we see them while at work or if we see them anywhere nearby the base, we are to immediately call the MPs on them.

This could explain why they don't have it by me.

[One-Fang]

I imagine there are very good security reasons not to do google street maps at a military installation.

[Greenday]

It was part of my anti-terrorism training lol.

[Boozy]

Cool.

I wasn't home when they took the picture of my neighbourhood. My car wasn't in the driveway.

Edited to add: I was at work. My car was in my parking spot there. For some reason I'm creeped out by this whole thing.

[PepperElf]

yeah. i checked out one base with the street view... it stopped across the road from the gate. it did run along the side of the base, but on the opposite street, where there's nothing to look at but trees.


hmmmm i think i'll street-view the friend i sold my car to. i miss that car and wouldn't mind seeing it again.

omg yeah. He still has it lol. Car i miss you!

[powerboy]

Oh yeah, I found my car at home.

[Fenrus]

At my old house, you can see my car just pulling away from the driveway in the picture (you can tell by the decals on the back window.)

I almost got out of it!

[Antisocial_Worker]

I discovered that I was home the day they drove by my apartment complex, because my old SUV was parked out front.

Also, for anyone who's digging Google streetview, I highly -- highly -- recommend tootling down Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Just take a look at what all you see going on up and down the street.