Valleywag
your privacy is an illusion
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your privacy is an illusion
your privacy is an illusion
Google Street View rolls into your driveway
They haven't filed a lawsuit yet, like their neighbors the Borings, but the McKees' privacy was seemingly violated by a Google Street View car that drove up their driveway, snapping pictures all the way. Janet and George McKee live in the only home on Goldenbrook Lane, a gravel path that leads directly to their driveway — where the property line is. The Google car drove up Goldenbrook and continued all the way up their driveway to the front of the McKee's three-car garage and basketball hoop. Whoops. The Smoking Gun found and contacted the McKees, who said they found the pictures "creepy." Google claims "it takes images from public streets and only shows photos of locations that are in full view". Well, most of the time. See the full collection of images after the jump. Worst position in Google's legal department right now: Google Maps counsel. More »
your privacy is an illusion
Couple sues Google over Street View pics of their house
This is the view that Aaron and Christine Boring don't want you to see. The couple — who live at 1567 Oakridge Lane, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, USA, according to their court filing — are suing Google over the company's "Street View" feature, which takes road-level pictures of neighborhoods for their mapping service. Among the complaints, the Borings — their actual name — accuse Google of an "intentional and/or grossly reckless invasion" of their privacy. More pics after the jump. More »
your privacy is an illusion
Google Street View rival exposes Marissa Mayer's posh pad
Even after a recent update, Google Street View's little yellow man wouldn't venture down Google VP Marissa Mayer's expensive alley. But MapJack's "Jack" mascot knows such privacy is an illusion. The rival to Google's 3D mapping service happily goes down Marissa Mayer's residential street. Below, see the street San Francisco cupcake delivery boys know so well. More »
perks
Google updates Street View in San Francisco, leaves Marissa Mayer's pad off the grid
We thought maybe Google barred its little yellow Street View man from Marissa Mayer's road by accident. But, as the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." Google Earth Blog reports that Google has updated its Street View feature with new maps throughout flyover country, as well as enhancements in the Bay Area. But did the camera trucks visit Mayer's little corner of Stevenson Street? See for yourself, below. More »
great moments in marketing
A straight shot down Shoreline boulevard from the Googleplex in Mountain View: Teh Market. I can see the engineers gleefully heading there to grab Mountain Dew and Doritos before their next LAN party.
Find "Teh Market" on Google Maps
A straight shot down Shoreline boulevard from the Googleplex in Mountain View: Teh Market. I can see the engineers gleefully heading there to grab Mountain Dew and Doritos before their next LAN party.
microsoft
Internet Explorer can't find a working version of Google Maps
Outside of geekdom, Internet Explorer still dominates browser market share. That means for most people, the Web works the way Microsoft wants it to. And so far, for those using the newest version of Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft's version of the Web doesn't include Google Maps. Or at least not a very useful version of it. We're sure a fix is high on Microsoft's priority list. Check out the screenshot Blogoscoped's Phillip Lenssen nabbed, below. More »
perks
Marissa Mayer gets a stoplight, and a room without Street View
A reminder: Marissa Mayer lives on the 38th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco, and you don't. With that address comes an unusual perk: Her own personal stoplight at Third and Stevenson. Mayer and the other residents of the concierge conclave have arranged to pay the city $165,000 for a traffic light at the dead-end street which leads to the hotel garage. (Remember that as you sit on a 9X Muni bus, waiting for the light to change.) Perhaps the light will make it easier for Google Maps, which Mayer oversees, to send a driver down Stevenson. Mayer has defended Google's Street View feature against charges of invading people's privacy — but Google's camera-cars have yet to venture onto her street. After the jump, minutes from the city meeting (PDF) accepting Mayer's gift: More »
your privacy is an illusion
Another place Google won't take you
The Pentagon will not allow Google Earth to show street level views of U.S. military bases, according to the AP saying it could aid terrorists. But Google is not above a bit of censorship itself. Just try and get a close look at the company's new San Francisco offices on Google Maps.
real estate
Google Street View won't show Google's new San Francisco digs
1,200 Googlers moved into their new office at 345 Spear Street San Francisco this week. We thought we'd use Google Maps Street View to show you what the place looks like, but the little yellow man won't go there. How embarrassing for him. Fortunately, Curbed SF will. Check out what $20 million can buy in four photos, below. More »
google maps
Sergey stymied: Prius doesn't work for Google Street View
In Europe, Google's on a massive hiring binge for the Street View feature of Google Maps, where camera-equipped vehicles snap photos of streetscapes. It's bringing on 300 drivers for the Switzerland-based effort. But the project has been held up by the whim of a founder. Sergey Brin, we hear, is insisting that the project use hybrid Priuses, rather than the staid Saturn Astra it used in Australia, shown here, or the Chevrolet Cobalt Googlers drive in the U.S. Brin believes Toyota's gas-sipping Priuses are better for Google's image. Just one problem.More »
Down in the dumps
Forbes reporter Brian Caulfield searched for Yahoo on Google Maps. The directions steered him to Sunnyvale's municipal dump instead of the troubled Web giant. [Forbes.com]
Forbes reporter Brian Caulfield searched for Yahoo on Google Maps. The directions steered him to Sunnyvale's municipal dump instead of the troubled Web giant. [Forbes.com]
politics
Google to display live Iowa caucus results on Google Maps
Should we be creeped out that Google's getting into electoral politics? The search engine has launched a special Iowa caucus map on Google Maps. Innocent and useful enough, we suppose. Starting tonight, the page will display real-time caucus results by county and party from across the state. All this technology almost makes you want to vote online!
Michael Arrington moderately hot in flyover country
Hotflation — HotorNot meets Google Maps — may not be the very best mashup idea we've ever heard. But that's probably only because you haven't seen TechCrunch blogger Michael Arrington's profile page yet.
Hotflation — HotorNot meets Google Maps — may not be the very best mashup idea we've ever heard. But that's probably only because you haven't seen TechCrunch blogger Michael Arrington's profile page yet.
google
Google has introduced its spy-on-your-neighbors Street View service in more cities. Now unsuspecting patrons can be spotted entering strip clubs in Dallas, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Detroit, Valleywagger Tim Faulkner's hometown of Providence and my hometown of Boston. I've been waiting for Boston to be featured in Street View since it was introduced earlier this year. It's not particularly useful, other than saying "that's my house!" But, it's fun regardless. I do have one other complaint about Google Maps though. More »
Google Street View rolls out in Boston and other places that don't matter
Google has introduced its spy-on-your-neighbors Street View service in more cities. Now unsuspecting patrons can be spotted entering strip clubs in Dallas, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Detroit, Valleywagger Tim Faulkner's hometown of Providence and my hometown of Boston. I've been waiting for Boston to be featured in Street View since it was introduced earlier this year. It's not particularly useful, other than saying "that's my house!" But, it's fun regardless. I do have one other complaint about Google Maps though. More »
GPS device maker TomTom has partnered with Google so TomTom owners can send business name and address information directly from Google Maps to their sat-nav systems wirelessly. This is similar to the Send To Car feature that Google and BMW rolled out earlier this year. [Bloomberg]
google
Avoid this Google Street View car
As Google prepares to add Australian cities to its Street View feature, Seb Ruiz has done us all a favor, publishing pictures of what a Google Street View car looks like. The vehicle is equipped with cameras to photograph streetscapes for Google Maps users. Now, if you see this car coming and would prefer not to be frozen in time at your present location — say an adult bookstore, or anywhere on the planet while carrying a Kindle — you'll have the chance to dive behind the nearest parked car. Here's the picture you'll want to memorize. More »
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