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Google Street View released for Canada and the Czech Republic
Huzzah! Google Street View has finally been released in Canada (and the Czech Republic). This Canadian blogger is pretty excited, since it has been a long time coming. There's something surreal about finding your own house in Google Maps, then actually looking at your front door.
For people who have never used Google Street View, the functionality isn't immediately obvious. To enable it, you have to drag the icon of a man that is above the zoom slider to a place on a street. The experience is pretty surreal the first time you do it.
Though this might just seem like a whiz-bang feature that looks cool but doesn't have a real-world application, imagine you're trying to get to an important appointment in an office building you've never been to before. Imagine how much easier it would be to find your way if you already know what the building looks like.
[via Google Blogoscoped]
Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsMatsOct 11th 2009 11:33AM
You don't have to drag that icon anywhere.
Just zoom in to the max and you'll get streetview automatically.
edwardOct 11th 2009 8:49PM
This is getting lots of press up here in the great white north. Lots of people are talking about the privacy concerns. While no one is freaking out hugely about it the general consensus seems to be "its creepy" I know a few people of whom there are pictures of visible on streets (with a blurred face mind you).
2late2dieOct 11th 2009 9:38PM
I find this utterly cool. I was able to check out my work place, my own place, even my folks`place. It's a lot of fun being able to "walk through" familiar places in google maps like that.
Mapper99Oct 12th 2009 12:27AM
I'm impressed with how fast Google has been removing objectionable Google Street Views from the Canadian coverage as seen here:
http://streetviewgallery.corank.com
ApfelgluckOct 12th 2009 4:01AM
"There's something surreal about finding your own house in Google Maps, then actually looking at your front door."
So true! And viewing one's past house, door, windows as well.. I've spent a few years of my childhood in a nice little place in a nice little street in a nice Swiss city, and "street-viewing" that very house, in that very city of Lausanne, and then moving around, streets, avenues, squares, parks, as if I was actually there, almost physically, was indeed surreal. I dare say, an exceptional experience!
EvenioOct 12th 2009 8:58AM
We're right up there with the Czech Republic, eh? Sounds about right.
JenNov 17th 2009 7:41PM
Something else to spend way too much time on! My house is not visible...and still not on Google Maps...but I will be visiting my childhood home and my peeps on the East Coast! Geez I never really thought of all the places we could go! :)