Google - "Taking It Up A Notch"
In a move to outdo competitors, Google "took it up a notch" this past week when they added satellite technology to its already very popular mapping service. The new satellite feature allows users an option to view an aerial photo snapshot of the location for which they are searching... this is of course is in addition to the "general" street maps that we've come to expect (those that every mapping service provides).
Satellite imaging company Keyhole, which Google acquired last October, provided the technology that allowed the search giant to launch the new mapping feature. As with most mapping services, users can enter an address and then be able to view the area surrounding their query. Google, a company that is always looking for ways to improve the overall search and Internet experience, has given it's users the option of viewing an aerial photo of their query by simply clicking on a "Satellite" link.
I've personally spent some time playing around with this new feature of Google maps and I have enjoyed it very much. In my opinion, it brings much more to the table than what other popular mapping services, such as MapQuest and Yahoo! Maps, are currently offering. Google's satellite imaging offers several levels of "zoom", one so close that you can actually see inside open-roof ball parks and stadiums, and has an easy "drag and move" type navigation. In fact, Its only down-fall (yes every tool and service must have a down-fall) is that you aren't really able to view small towns or residential areas with the same levels of zoom that you could when viewing cities and such. When viewing these areas, either the imaging gets a little distorted or Google replaces it with section all-together with a square block that states "You are unable to view this section at the selected level of zoom".
Another aspect of this feature that Google is currently toying around with is to integrate it with their new beta Google Local Search service. Imagine the possibilities of searching for a business or a type of business, finding it on the web, and then with a click be able to see accurate aerial photos of what the business and its surrounds look like. Truly amazing in my book. Don't get me wrong. Obviously, we knew that this type of aerial-mapping existed and is currently being offered on the net already. What makes this feature so special and worth Blogging about is first it is Google that is now offering this service and second, unlike the other aerial mapping services, Google is offering their version for free.
Satellite imaging company Keyhole, which Google acquired last October, provided the technology that allowed the search giant to launch the new mapping feature. As with most mapping services, users can enter an address and then be able to view the area surrounding their query. Google, a company that is always looking for ways to improve the overall search and Internet experience, has given it's users the option of viewing an aerial photo of their query by simply clicking on a "Satellite" link.
I've personally spent some time playing around with this new feature of Google maps and I have enjoyed it very much. In my opinion, it brings much more to the table than what other popular mapping services, such as MapQuest and Yahoo! Maps, are currently offering. Google's satellite imaging offers several levels of "zoom", one so close that you can actually see inside open-roof ball parks and stadiums, and has an easy "drag and move" type navigation. In fact, Its only down-fall (yes every tool and service must have a down-fall) is that you aren't really able to view small towns or residential areas with the same levels of zoom that you could when viewing cities and such. When viewing these areas, either the imaging gets a little distorted or Google replaces it with section all-together with a square block that states "You are unable to view this section at the selected level of zoom".
Another aspect of this feature that Google is currently toying around with is to integrate it with their new beta Google Local Search service. Imagine the possibilities of searching for a business or a type of business, finding it on the web, and then with a click be able to see accurate aerial photos of what the business and its surrounds look like. Truly amazing in my book. Don't get me wrong. Obviously, we knew that this type of aerial-mapping existed and is currently being offered on the net already. What makes this feature so special and worth Blogging about is first it is Google that is now offering this service and second, unlike the other aerial mapping services, Google is offering their version for free.
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posted by Karl Ribas Sunday, April 10, 2005 Read Comments (0) | Post a Comment | Subscribe  
 
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