Saw this on digg.com and thought it was interesting: http://digg.com/technology/Google_Maps_gets_ready_for_Hi-Res_Satellite_Images
I hope they roll better resolution images out for other countries soon. NY already looked good, but I think I have only seen downtown Tokyo at that resolution in Japan.... We want more!
There has been lots of controversy by many countries that the resolution is too good and can undermine their defenses. Google is now in the business of spying LOL
Interesting. Anyone have any idea why google would add the two more levels when there are no images available for this resolution yet? Perhaps the two more levels of details have just been added for the "map"view, not for satellite images?
That's what I was thinking too, but if you flip to regular maps, the new resolution levels were not options.
These images have always been public knowledge and available. Its just amtter of having the will/desire to look for them. Now countries are bitching? its because its easier now I guess. They didnt bitch before even though anyone could get their silly pistures.
Anyone who really wants to do harm, can buy real high resolution images. I have family in the army intellegance and I once saw a image of my uncles house, where you could see the cat sitting on a chair in the Garden!
Interesting news! But I think they should hide close-ups to strategical areas such as airports and military bases. If I am not wrong this is done somewhere in the USA.. but for example here in Italy I can view in detail all the airports including the militar ones, and this actually it's no good IMHO. Anyway, is so impressive that Google manages to keep all the world photographed in its databases..