Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Google World Wonders Project takes you to Earth's treasures in glorious Street View vision (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/google-world-wonders-project/http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/google-world-wonders-project/http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/google-world-wonders-project/#comments Image

Google has already been taking us to exotic locations through Street View, but now it's hoping to enshrine the most famous places on Earth through the World Wonders Project, one car (or trike) at a time. A total of 132 sites, ranging from natural landmarks like Yosemite to much more synthetic constructions like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, have both an on-the-ground view as well as 3D renderings, videos and loads of history from UNESCO and the World Monuments Fund, among others. The educational bent is so conspicuous that Google is offering up some of the content in downloadable bundles for schools along with the usual web-based look. All of it promises a much more fascinating, hands-on approach than a dry textbook, and it's a unique way of bringing encyclopedic knowledge to an era of Chromebooks and the cloud.

Continue reading Google World Wonders Project takes you to Earth's treasures in glorious Street View vision (video)

Google World Wonders Project takes you to Earth's treasures in glorious Street View vision (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>educationeducationalgooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewinternetstreet viewStreetViewUNESCOWorld Monument Fundworld monuments fundworld wondersworld wonders projectWorldMonumentFundWorldMonumentsFundWorldWondersWorldWondersProjectFri, 01 Jun 2012 02:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Justice Department clears Google of WiFi wiretapping violations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/28/justice-department-clears-google-of-wifi-wiretapping/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/28/justice-department-clears-google-of-wifi-wiretapping/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/28/justice-department-clears-google-of-wifi-wiretapping/#comments Justice Department clears Google of WiFi wiretapping violations

Two years ago, Google drove its way into a fair amount of hot water when it accidentally (as was claimed) scooped up private data over WiFi while collecting Street View and location data. Now, the Justice Department has cleared the prolific mapsters of the wiretapping violations. The DOJ made its decision not to push for prosecution based on reports from employees and investigating key documents reports Wired. The Wiretap Act (which is the relevant one here) was argued to only pertain to "traditional radio services," by US District Judge James Ware, but neither the DOJ or FCC said they could find any evidence that Google accessed the date it snared. In an extra move of openness, the search giant has also released the entire FCC report on the Street View investigation (redacted to protect identities) which can be found in the more coverage link. So, next time you see the famous camera-topped wagons roll around, you can leave your tin hat in the closet.

Justice Department clears Google of WiFi wiretapping violations originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cleareddepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeDOJFCCgooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewJustice DepartmentJusticeDepartmentprivacyrulingsecuritysnoopsnoopingstreet viewStreetViewwardrivingwifiwifi snoopingWifiSnoopingSat, 28 Apr 2012 15:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Google takes you on a tour of the White House, still no sign of Lincoln's gold]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/google-takes-you-on-a-tour-of-the-white-house-still-no-sign-of/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/google-takes-you-on-a-tour-of-the-white-house-still-no-sign-of/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/google-takes-you-on-a-tour-of-the-white-house-still-no-sign-of/#comments ImageWith all of the hubbub around the race for the White House, have you ever wondered what actually lies behind the doors of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? With some help from Google, the first family is taking users on a tour of the famous residence without having to jump on the 'ole Megabus to the District of Columbia. Google Art Project has documented the White House's public areas with a 360-degree Street View-like tour of the presidential home. The White House is the latest tour in a list that includes 46 top galleries around the globe. You can check out a video introduction courtesy of Michelle Obama after the break, and click the source link to check out her digs.

Continue reading Google takes you on a tour of the White House, still no sign of Lincoln's gold

Google takes you on a tour of the White House, still no sign of Lincoln's gold originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art projectArtProjectgooglegoogle art projectGoogleArtProjectmapmichelle obamaMichelleObamaobamastreet viewStreetViewtourvideowhite houseWhiteHouseWed, 04 Apr 2012 16:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Google reCAPTCHAs now featuring Street View addresses, 221b Baker St. to get even more famous]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/google-recaptchas-now-featuring-street-view-addresses-221b-bake/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/google-recaptchas-now-featuring-street-view-addresses-221b-bake/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/google-recaptchas-now-featuring-street-view-addresses-221b-bake/#comments ImageIf you've enjoyed decrypting the often frustratingly skewed (and occasionally humorously juxtaposed) reCAPTCHAs, you might be a bit sad to learn that Google is mixing things up with some rather more boring numerals. The combinations of two words are typically used as part of a registration form to ensure the registrant is, indeed, human. Google is now replacing one of the words in some of its reCAPTCHA forms with photos gleaned from Street View service. Google says it uses these numbers internally to improve the accuracy of Street View and that pulling them into reCAPTCHAs is part of an "experiment" to "determine if using imagery might also be an effective way to further refine our tools for fighting machine and bot-related abuse online."

In other words, Google's bots are already capable of decoding these numbers, which makes this all sound like a bit of a challenge to the rest of the OCR-loving coders in the world. Any takers?

[Image Credit: dirtbag]

Google reCAPTCHAs now featuring Street View addresses, 221b Baker St. to get even more famous originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botcaptchagooglehackocroptical character recognitionOpticalCharacterRecognitionrecaptchastreet viewStreetViewturingturing testTuringTestFri, 30 Mar 2012 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Street View takes you to the Amazon, without all the pesky piranhas]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/google-street-view-takes-you-to-the-amazon-without-all-the-pesk/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/google-street-view-takes-you-to-the-amazon-without-all-the-pesk/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/google-street-view-takes-you-to-the-amazon-without-all-the-pesk/#comments ImageSo, before a company of the same name started making your e-readers, the Amazon was a river. And now, thanks to Google, you can take a boat ride down that body of water, without having to deal with all of those scary river monsters. In celebration of World Forest Day, Google has added a tour of the Amazon to the Street View functionality of Maps. Interested parties can travel down the river and hike along trails with 360 degree panoramic views, courtesy of some 50,000 photos nabbed with help from the Street View trike.

Google Street View takes you to the Amazon, without all the pesky piranhas originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon riverAmazonRivergooglegoogle mapsgoogle street viewGoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewmapsstreet viewStreetViewThu, 22 Mar 2012 06:27:00 EST<![CDATA[National Parks Street View-style trails goes live, avoids the Google cars (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/national-parks-street-view-style-trails-goes-live-avoids-the-go/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/national-parks-street-view-style-trails-goes-live-avoids-the-go/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/national-parks-street-view-style-trails-goes-live-avoids-the-go/#comments National Parks Street View-style tour goes live, avoids the Google cars

After tooling up a team of hikers with an impressive camera tripod and unleashing them on the likes of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Park, Nature Valley has published its fully rotational Trail Views online. You'll be able to effortlessly follow several routes across the great American countryside and for those too lazy to even click the forward arrow, there's an autoplay mode. Three different locations -- with multiple trails -- are online now and you can check out how the granola-grinding company captured it all right after the break.

Continue reading National Parks Street View-style trails goes live, avoids the Google cars (video)

National Parks Street View-style trails goes live, avoids the Google cars (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grand canyonGrandCanyonhikehikingmapmapsnational parknational park serviceNationalParkNationalParkServiceNature ValleyNatureValleysmoky mountainsSmokyMountainsstreet viewStreetViewtrailTrail ViewTrailViewtravelvideoyellowstoneYellowstone National ParkYellowstoneNationalParkThu, 08 Mar 2012 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Street View now sending snapshots from Russia, with love]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/google-street-view-russia/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/google-street-view-russia/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/google-street-view-russia/#comments
We've lived vicariously through Google Maps a few times in the past, including an excursion down the Amazon River. Today, those plans for a trip to Russia can get a lot more detailed as Street View is now virtually pacing the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Points of interest that you'll be able to take a peek at include Red Square, Moscow Kremlin, Peterhof and both Tsaritsino and Kuskovo parks. Hit the source links below to get that sightseeing adventure started -- sans backpack, of course.

Google Street View now sending snapshots from Russia, with love originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle streetviewGoogleStreetviewmoscowrussiast petersburgStPetersburgstreet viewStreetViewWed, 22 Feb 2012 21:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's new Street View feature provides eerie glimpse of post-tsunami Japan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/googles-new-street-view-feature-provides-eerie-glimpse-of-post/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/googles-new-street-view-feature-provides-eerie-glimpse-of-post/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/googles-new-street-view-feature-provides-eerie-glimpse-of-post/#comments
Google has put the devastation of March's Japanese tsunami in hauntingly stark relief, with the release of a new Street View feature that covers the country's most ravaged regions. It's all part of an initiative to "digitally archive" the aftermath of this year's earthquake and tsunami, with Street View images captured across some 44,000 kilometers of Northeastern Japan. The panoramic, 360-degree photos cover both inland and coastal regions, allowing users to retroactively trace the path of destruction across Fukushima and other areas, while placing them at ground level amidst a graveyard of battered homes and abandoned buildings. Google hopes this archive will help scientists to gain a better understanding of the damage wreaked by natural disasters, while preserving the memory of those who suffered most. It's viscerally eerie, powerful and, above all, tragic. Be sure to check it out at the source link below.

Google's new Street View feature provides eerie glimpse of post-tsunami Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360 degree360Degreedevastationdigitaldigital archiveDigitalArchivedisasterearthquakefukushimagooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewimagejapan tsunamijapaneseJapanTsunaminatural disasterNaturalDisasterpanoramicphotostreet viewStreetViewtragedytsunamiTue, 13 Dec 2011 09:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's Street View hits the slopes again, stops for hot cocoa in Squaw Valley and Whistler (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/22/googles-street-view-hits-the-slopes-again-stops-for-hot-cocoa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/22/googles-street-view-hits-the-slopes-again-stops-for-hot-cocoa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/22/googles-street-view-hits-the-slopes-again-stops-for-hot-cocoa/#comments Were you worried that Google's Street View snowmobile was put out to pasture after 2010's Winter Olympics? Relax you worrywart, as Mountain View's resurrected the snow-trottin' beast, only to unleash it upon the slopes of an additional four alpine locales. Joining existing (and updated) imagery from Vancouver's Whistler resort, 2011's additions stayed stateside, testing out the snow in Squaw Valley, Breckenridge, Deer Valley and Crystal Mountain. Yet, while the additional footage is welcome, we can't help but notice it's of vastly lower quality than that taken from last year. From exploring Swiss railroads to documenting the Amazonian river, apparently not much is off limits for street view. Which begs the question, how long until it jury-rigs a lunar rover into giving us a tour of the moon?

Continue reading Google's Street View hits the slopes again, stops for hot cocoa in Squaw Valley and Whistler (video)

Google's Street View hits the slopes again, stops for hot cocoa in Squaw Valley and Whistler (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewski slopesSkiSlopessnow mobileSnowMobilestreet viewstreet view snowmobileStreetViewStreetViewSnowmobilevideoTue, 22 Nov 2011 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Street View walks through parks, so you don't have to]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/google-street-view-walks-through-parks-so-you-dont-have-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/google-street-view-walks-through-parks-so-you-dont-have-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/google-street-view-walks-through-parks-so-you-dont-have-to/#comments Need to take a walk through the park, but hate all of the fresh air, foliage and sunshine that comes with it? Good news: Google has added a number of parks to Street View, including New York City's High Line, elevated train tracks that have been converted into a 1.5 mile plant-filled walkway. Also on the list are the statue-filled Kensington Gardens in London and Tokyo's cherry blossom-lined Koganei Park. The parks and their blurry-faced visitors can be easily accessed in the source link below. There's also a video of the High Line project after the break.

Continue reading Google Street View walks through parks, so you don't have to

Google Street View walks through parks, so you don't have to originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle mapsGoogleMapshighlinelondonnew york cityNewYorkCityparkparksstreet viewStreetViewtokyovideoTue, 01 Nov 2011 14:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia City Scene is Street View for your N9, mostly works in the US where you can't get one]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nokia-city-scene-is-street-view-for-your-n9-mostly-works-in-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nokia-city-scene-is-street-view-for-your-n9-mostly-works-in-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nokia-city-scene-is-street-view-for-your-n9-mostly-works-in-the/#comments Worried that the lack of Street View functionality is going to spoil your impending N9 honeymoon? Fret not MeeGo fans, as Espoo's Labs outfit is here to save the day with Nokia City Scene. The Navteq-powered app looks much like a clone of Google's mobile offerings, except that it's tightly integrated with location based services (Foursquare, Facebook Places) highlighting venues your friends frequent. Currently restricted to "about a dozen" US cities and London -- with more European locales coming soon -- its usefulness may be limited unless you're a globetrotting jetsetter or super friendly with some gray-market importers. Hop past the break for a video demo, and then hit the source to get your download on.

[Thanks, Martin]

Continue reading Nokia City Scene is Street View for your N9, mostly works in the US where you can't get one

Nokia City Scene is Street View for your N9, mostly works in the US where you can't get one originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>augmented realityAugmentedRealitycity sceneCityScenefacebookfoursquaremeegomobilepostmininokianokia beta labsnokia city scenenokia labsnokia meegonokia n9NokiaBetaLabsNokiaCitySceneNokiaLabsNokiaMeegoNokiaN9street viewStreetViewThu, 27 Oct 2011 13:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Nature Valley creating Street View-style tour of National Parks, chews through countless granola bars to do so]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nature-valley-creating-street-view-style-tour-of-national-parks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nature-valley-creating-street-view-style-tour-of-national-parks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nature-valley-creating-street-view-style-tour-of-national-parks/#comments "There's a good reason why Street View is done in cars." That's a quote from Mat Bisher, associate creative director at McCann, who is teaming up with granola connoisseur Nature Valley in order to deliver a "Street View-style tour" of America's National Parks. Fast Company reports that the two have embarked on quite the ambitious initiative (dubbed Trail View), sending a cadre of well-trained hikers to some of America's most gorgeous locales with specially-rigged camera setups in tow. The goal? To capture views from near-limitless hiking trails, and bring them to your web browser starting in February 2012. Sadly, it won't be integrated into any of the platforms already in existence; it'll be its own standalone thing, but hopefully the likes of Microsoft or Google will take notice and either contribute or convert it. We're told that "layers for user-generated content, social networking and mobility, and perhaps form partnerships with travel sites" are on tap, and yes, Woodrow Wilson's ghost has purportedly approved.

Update: We've added a few shots of the actual capturing in the gallery below.

Gallery: Nature Valley Street View-style capturing of National Parks

Nature Valley creating Street View-style tour of National Parks, chews through countless granola bars to do so originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conceptgrand canyonGrandCanyonhikehikingmapmapsMcCann EricksonMccannEricksonnational parknational park serviceNationalParkNationalParkServiceNature ValleyNatureValleystreet viewStreetViewtrailTrail ViewTrailViewtraveltravelingususaWoodrow WilsonWoodrowWilsonThu, 27 Oct 2011 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's Street View takes to the rails in Switzerland]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/googles-street-view-takes-to-the-rails-in-switzerland/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/googles-street-view-takes-to-the-rails-in-switzerland/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/googles-street-view-takes-to-the-rails-in-switzerland/#comments
Google's Street View has made its way around the world and gone off the beaten path in a few places, but until now it hasn't hitched a ride to capture some scenery by rail. That picturesque view above comes from a section of the Albula / Bernina railway in Switzerland -- a UNESCO World Heritage site -- all 122 kilometers of which were recently mapped out and photographed by Google using its usual Street View camera gear. Unfortunately, while that part of the process is done, the results haven't yet made their way onto the internet -- you can apparently look for that to hit Google Maps in the coming months. In the meantime, you can check out the source link below for some more shots of the capturing in progress.

[Thanks, Hanspeter]

Google's Street View takes to the rails in Switzerland originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle europegoogle mapsgoogle street viewGoogleEuropeGoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewrailrailwaystreet viewStreetViewswitzerlandWed, 19 Oct 2011 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Street View heads to the Amazon, enables virtual river excursions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/google-street-view-heads-to-the-amazon-enables-virtual-river-ex/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/google-street-view-heads-to-the-amazon-enables-virtual-river-ex/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/google-street-view-heads-to-the-amazon-enables-virtual-river-ex/#comments If being able to see the Colosseum of Rome or trek around Stonehenge from the comfort of your La-Z-boy is your cup of tea, Google has another living room adventure for you. Pretty soon, you'll be able to keep dry on the sofa while floating down Brazil's Amazon and Rio Negro Rivers via Street View. That's right, folks... an expedition to one of the most remote, yet biologically diverse locales on the globe will become a reality for many who feared it'd remain elusive forever -- if you don't mind exploring remotely using your favorite web-enabled device, of course. Teams are currently gathering images from the adjacent forests and local villages using the trike, floating cameras down the river by boat and even training locals to use the equipment. The project is a joint effort between Brazil and U.S. Street View teams alongside the Foundation for a Sustainable Amazon (FAS). Check out the full rundown by hitting the source link below and begin planning your trip -- to the couch, that is.

Google Street View heads to the Amazon, enables virtual river excursions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon riverAmazonRiverbrazilgooglegoogle mapsgoogle maps street viewgoogle street viewGoogleMapsGoogleMapsStreetViewGoogleStreetViewimagerylandmarksmappingmapsnavigationrio negrorio negro riverRioNegroRioNegroRiverstreet viewStreetViewThu, 18 Aug 2011 09:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fit balance board hack takes a virtual Segway ride around Google's mapped world (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/wii-fit-balance-board-hack-takes-a-virtual-segway-ride-around-go/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/wii-fit-balance-board-hack-takes-a-virtual-segway-ride-around-go/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/wii-fit-balance-board-hack-takes-a-virtual-segway-ride-around-go/#comments You can do a lot in seven hours -- fly coast-to-coast, slow-cook a pot roast, create a Google Maps-navigating, Wii Fit-controlled virtual Segway. Wait, what? Yes, that Nintendo-branded, dust-collecting relic of holidays past has been given a new lease on life thanks to an intrepid troop of Ivy-educated geeks, and a seven-hour hackathon. The marathon modding session, held by Stanford University's SVI Hackspace, banded together a like-minded set of overachieving modders to produce a balance board-guided Street View romp through Google Maps. The students' hack connects the Wii Fit board to OS X via the Osculator app, with a Node.js server processing the data and Socket.io handling board-to-browser communication. A Google Earth plug-in and pre-rendered Segway were all that was left to complete this foot-mapped joy ride through our digitized world. Video demo awaits you after the break.

Continue reading Wii Fit balance board hack takes a virtual Segway ride around Google's mapped world (video)

Wii Fit balance board hack takes a virtual Segway ride around Google's mapped world (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GoogleGoogle EarthGoogle Mapsgoogle maps street viewGoogleEarthGoogleMapsGoogleMapsStreetViewhackhackinghackspacemodNintendonintendo wii fitNintendoWiiFitnode.jsOsculatorSegwaysocket.ioStanford UniversityStanfordUniversityStreet ViewStreetViewstudentsSVI HackspaceSviHackspacevideovirtual segwayVirtualSegwaywii fitWiiFitWed, 03 Aug 2011 10:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Google, MapQuest, Microsoft and Aol sued for allegedly infringing 3D mapping patent]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/google-mapquest-microsoft-and-aol-sued-for-allegedly-infringin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/google-mapquest-microsoft-and-aol-sued-for-allegedly-infringin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/google-mapquest-microsoft-and-aol-sued-for-allegedly-infringin/#comments The saga continues for Google's voyeuristic mapping service, but this time Microsoft Streetside and Aol's MapQuest 360 View may be the Bonnie to Street View's Clyde. Transcenic, Inc. is suing the tech giants for acquiring the tools necessary to offer 3D mapping by less-than-legitimate means. The Louisiana-based company alleges that all named parties borrowed, without permission, a bit from a patent it owns on a 3D cartography technology that captures spatial reference images and uses a database to navigate them on command. Google has been in hot water for its maps before, but it no doubt hopes this legal tiff ends as well as its one for trespassing, where it only paid a pack of gum's worth of damages. If you're into reading all the current legalese, check out the source for the full complaint. Meanwhile, we'll find out if Cousin Vinny's on the case.

[Disclosure: Aol is the parent company of Engadget.]

Google, MapQuest, Microsoft and Aol sued for allegedly infringing 3D mapping patent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 05:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360 view360View3d mapping3d maps3dMapping3dMapsAOLgooglegoogle mapsgoogle street viewGoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewlawsuitlegallitigationmapquestmapquest 360 viewMapquest360Viewmicrosoftmicrosoft streetsideMicrosoftStreetsidepatentpatent infringementPatentInfringementpatentsstreet viewstreetsideStreetViewtranscenictranscenic incTranscenicIncWed, 06 Jul 2011 05:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft offers up 'managed driving' source code, gets back to location-based business]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/05/microsoft-offers-up-managed-driving-source-code-gets-back-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/05/microsoft-offers-up-managed-driving-source-code-gets-back-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/05/microsoft-offers-up-managed-driving-source-code-gets-back-to/#comments WiFi-sniffing -- all the major tech giant's are doing it. But it's for your own better-targeted, location-based good... they swear. It's a familiar story that saw Google get served in France and the UK for its fleet of data-collecting Street View cars, and had Apple accidentally storing users' geographic info unencrypted on their phones. Given the history, it's not surprising to see Microsoft take the offensive by offering up source code from its own 'managed driving' program: the cars that collect WiFi, GPS and cell tower data. With the code out in the open, MS can easily side-step allegations of personal data-mining and continue its focus on improving local search services. The move is further evidence that the Ballmer-led company intends to take user privacy very seriously, having already stopped the tracking of individual Windows Phone handsets last May. Location aware devices are an inevitable part of our search-assisted lives, we just wish they all came with a giant opt-out button.

[Image credit via WinRumors]

Microsoft offers up 'managed driving' source code, gets back to location-based business originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell tower dataCellTowerDataGoogle Street ViewGoogleStreetViewlocation awarenesslocation basedlocation based servicesLocationAwarenessLocationBasedLocationBasedServicesmanaged drivingmanaged driving source codeManagedDrivingManagedDrivingSourceCodeMicrosoftMSsource codeSourceCodeStreet ViewStreetViewWiFiWiFi sniffingWiFi snoopingWifiSniffingWifiSnoopingWindows PhoneWindowsPhoneWPTue, 05 Jul 2011 08:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Screen Grabs: Google Street View car rolls on to set of Burn Notice]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/screen-grabs-google-street-view-car-rolls-on-to-set-of-burn-not/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/screen-grabs-google-street-view-car-rolls-on-to-set-of-burn-not/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/screen-grabs-google-street-view-car-rolls-on-to-set-of-burn-not/#commentsScreen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com.

Screen Grabs: Google Street View car rolls on to set of Burn Notice
It looks like somebody's got a new publicist. Sure, the Google Street View car's received its fair share of bad press lately -- what with all those invasion of privacy claims -- but we wouldn't feel too sorry for the little guy. A recent episode of Burn Notice saw the camera-equipped auto make its national TV debut. It probably won't win an Emmy for its role -- it didn't have any speaking lines, after all -- but at least it's getting some positive attention.

[Thanks, Pat]

Screen Grabs: Google Street View car rolls on to set of Burn Notice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burn noticeBurnNoticegooglegoogle street viewgoogle street view carGoogleStreetViewGoogleStreetViewCarscreen grabscreen grabsScreenGrabScreenGrabsstreet viewstreet view carStreetViewStreetViewCartelevisiontvusausa networkUsaNetworkFri, 01 Jul 2011 23:53:00 EST<![CDATA[TomTom working on its own Street View-like service?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/tomtom-working-on-its-own-street-view-like-service/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/tomtom-working-on-its-own-street-view-like-service/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/tomtom-working-on-its-own-street-view-like-service/#comments TomTom's already seen Google muscle in on its turf in a big way, and it looks like it might now be trying to return the favor. If camera-toting vans like the one above are any indication, it would appear that the company is currently working to bolster its navigation options with its own Street View-like service. So far, all of the van sightings seem to be confined to Europe (France and Belgium, specifically), and they of course don't necessarily confirm that TomTom is indeed working on a Street View competitor -- although we have to wonder what the vans are for if it's not. It's also worth noting that TomTom did acquire TeleAtlas, which uses vans equipped with cameras, lasers and GPS in the actual creation of its maps, but the higher, 360-degree camera used on these vans seems much closer to those used on Google's Street View cars. Seen one yourself? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

TomTom working on its own Street View-like service? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 May 2011 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gpsmapmappingmapsnavigationstreetstreet viewstreetsStreetViewtomtomvanvansSun, 29 May 2011 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA's Liberty City recreated in Google Street View, reveals your nearest Ammu-Nation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/gtas-liberty-city-recreated-in-google-street-view-reveals-your/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/gtas-liberty-city-recreated-in-google-street-view-reveals-your/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/gtas-liberty-city-recreated-in-google-street-view-reveals-your/#comments Type "Liberty City" into Google Maps and it whisks you to some place east of Wichita, Kansas. Yup, Wichita, for Pete's sake. No self-respecting Grand Theft Auto fan can stand for an omission like that, and thankfully now they don't have to. Those hardcore Niko-lovers at gta4.net have not only recreated the real fictional Liberty City using the Google Maps API, they've even cobbled together 80,000 screenshots to provide full-blown Street View too. Man, we haven't seen this much Gay Tony passion since the Trashmaster. Oh, wait a minute -- apparently this so-called Street View leaves out a couple of ramps that gta4.net considered to be "not very interesting." Hush, and you call yourselves fans?

GTA's Liberty City recreated in Google Street View, reveals your nearest Ammu-Nation originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 May 2011 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>APIcartographygoogle mapsgoogle street viewGoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewGrand Theft AutoGrandTheftAutogtaGTA 4GTA IVgta-ivGta4GTAIVLiberty CityLibertyCitymapmappingmapspanoramapanoramicstreet viewStreetViewSun, 29 May 2011 19:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Street View invades historic landmarks, makes it unnecessary for you to ever leave the house]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/google-street-view-invades-historic-landmarks-makes-it-unnecess/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/google-street-view-invades-historic-landmarks-makes-it-unnecess/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/google-street-view-invades-historic-landmarks-makes-it-unnecess/#comments The vagabonds of Google's Street View team have struck again, this time conquering classical French and Italian landmarks for their mothership's immense pictorial collection. As of today, you're able to drop your little yellow avatar in Google Maps right atop such famous locales as the Colosseum of Rome or Florence's Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, whereupon you'll be transported right to it (or, in the case of the Colosseum, inside it) in the same way as if they were any old street addresses. This follows, of course, Google's introduction of an intriguing indoor version of Street View for some of the world's most prestigious museums recently and continues the company's trend of bringing the arts, in this case classical architecture, to a wider audience. We just wonder what reason said audience will have to ever step outside with all this splendor at its fingertips indoors.

Google Street View invades historic landmarks, makes it unnecessary for you to ever leave the house originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancientAntiquityfrancegooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewhistorichistoryimageryitalylandmarksromanstreet viewStreetViewWed, 30 Mar 2011 07:19:00 EST<![CDATA[France fines Google €100,000 for Street View privacy violations, then mulls striking for no apparent reason]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/france-fines-google-100-000-for-street-view-privacy-violations/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/france-fines-google-100-000-for-street-view-privacy-violations/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/france-fines-google-100-000-for-street-view-privacy-violations/#comments Ah, France. Land of beautiful beaches, a respectable railway system, and more unexplained delays and work stoppages than anywhere else in the developed world. Oh, and a primary airport that forces you to use "tickets" to buy food from certain vendors and refuses to complete a CDG -> JFK flight on schedule. Gripes aside, it seems that at least one thing is getting done today over in The country of the Human Rights, with France's data protection regulator confirming a record €100,000 fine sent over to Google in relation to improper data collection during its Street View sweeps. Granted, El Le Goog has run into privacy issues before on this very matter, but none quite as ginormous as these. The National Commission for Computing and Civil Liberties claims that the company's infractions include "collecting passwords and email transferred wirelessly," and its highest ever fined has been levied due to the "economic advantages Google gained from these violations." We're told that the company has two months to appeal the penalty, but as of now, it seems as if Google's frightened to make any comment at all in English. Thank heavens for Translate, right?

France fines Google €100,000 for Street View privacy violations, then mulls striking for no apparent reason originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CeBITdatafinegooglegpsguidancemapmappingmapsprivacystreet viewStreetViewunfair collectionUnfairCollectionMon, 21 Mar 2011 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Art Project offers gigapixel images of art classics, indoor Street View of museums]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/google-art-project-offers-gigapixel-images-of-art-classics-ind/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/google-art-project-offers-gigapixel-images-of-art-classics-ind/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/google-art-project-offers-gigapixel-images-of-art-classics-ind/#comments Google's been hard at work over the past 18 months on something not many of us have been paying attention to lately: art. Specifically, the search giant has hooked up with 17 art museums around the world to offer tours of their internal galleries, using its familiar Street View tricycles, while also doing high-res images of 1,061 artworks that may be viewed on the newly launched Art Project web portal. Also there, you will find 17 special gigapixel images -- 7,000-megapixel versions of each participating venue's proudest possession. The resulting level of detail is nothing short of astounding and we've got videos of how it's all done after the break.

Continue reading Google Art Project offers gigapixel images of art classics, indoor Street View of museums

Google Art Project offers gigapixel images of art classics, indoor Street View of museums originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessaccess to artAccessToArtartart museumsartistsArtMuseumsartworkbrushworkclassicscollaborationdetaildetaileddetailsgalleriesgigapixelgooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewhigh resolutionhigh-resHighResolutionhistoryindoor street viewIndoorStreetViewinternetmuseumspaintingpaintingsstreet viewStreetViewvideowebTue, 01 Feb 2011 06:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Bing 2.0 brings better Facebook integration and the impressive Streetside to iPhone (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/bing-2-0-brings-better-facebook-integration-and-the-very-useful/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/bing-2-0-brings-better-facebook-integration-and-the-very-useful/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/bing-2-0-brings-better-facebook-integration-and-the-very-useful/#comments
Microsoft just released -- or should we say, Apple just approved -- version 2.0 of the Bing search app for iOS devices. In addition to several other new features including integrated Facebook Likes on search results (really!?) and in-app checkins to Facebook and Foursquare, Bing now comes packing Streetside, something that first blew us away as Street Slide when it was still in the labs at Microsoft Research. Unlike Google's Streetview that requires a lot of forward- and back-clicking and turning in order to get a feel for a location, Streetslide provides a more comprehensive view of the shops and businesses in an area by letting you strafe down the sidewalk while zooming in and out of the buildings located on each side of the street. We took it for a brief spin (literally) and came away impressed. You won't find Streetside implemented for all locations yet (for example, San Francisco's Make-out Room was found on Streetside but the Slanted Door restaurant wasn't) but they do seem to have large swaths of major cities covered based on our brief testing of Chicago, Seattle, New York, and San Francisco. Sorry, nothing yet in London and Amsterdam but maybe you'll have better success searching your own neighborhoods. See the full list of what's new after the break in addition to a Streetside demo from Bing's architect Blaise Aguera y Arcas -- unfortunately, we're not seeing the impressive Panaroma feature he mentions in this release.

Update: We've been told that Facebook Likes, like Panaroma, like totally didn't make it into the app release. It's a web search results feature only for the time being.

Continue reading Bing 2.0 brings better Facebook integration and the impressive Streetside to iPhone (video)

Bing 2.0 brings better Facebook integration and the impressive Streetside to iPhone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapp storeAppStorebingbing streetsideBingStreetsideblazecheck inCheckInfacebookfoursquaregoogleiositunesitunes app storeItunesAppStorelikelocationmapmapsmicrosoftmicrosoft researchMicrosoftResearchPanaromasearchsoftware updateSoftwareUpdatestrafestreet slidestreet viewstreetsideStreetSlideStreetViewupdatevideoThu, 16 Dec 2010 05:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Street View Shocker! Google pays Boring couple $1 for trespassing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/04/street-view-shocker-google-pays-boring-couple-1-for-trespassin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/04/street-view-shocker-google-pays-boring-couple-1-for-trespassin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/04/street-view-shocker-google-pays-boring-couple-1-for-trespassin/#comments It's hardly a surprise that there's a cadre of individuals who aren't too fond of Google's seemingly omnipresent Street View fleet, but the ending of this dispute is downright absurd. Back in 2008, Aaron and Christine Boring were looking for a little excitement, and decided to find it in a courtroom; the duo sued Google for trespassing on their property while collecting photographs for Street View. According to them, Google's Street View car ignored the "No Trespassing" sign planted out front, and while they noted that they would've accepted a simple apology letter, they had no qualms pushing for damages when that wish fell upon deaf ears. The payout? A single dollar. Let's repeat that: 100 pennies. A buck. Barely enough to buy a Whopper Jr. in Portland, and definitely not enough to do so across the way in Vancouver. We suspect both parties are eager to put the whole mess behind 'em, but if you've been looking for a story to prove that America actually isn't as aimlessly litigious as the world thinks they are... well, this one ain't it.

Street View Shocker! Google pays Boring couple $1 for trespassing originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 20:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewGPSlawsuitlegalprivacyshockerstreet viewStreetViewsuesuittrespassingSat, 04 Dec 2010 20:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Earth 6 adds 3D trees and integrated Street View]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/google-earth-6-adds-3d-trees-and-integrated-street-view/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/google-earth-6-adds-3d-trees-and-integrated-street-view/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/google-earth-6-adds-3d-trees-and-integrated-street-view/#comments It's not hard to love Google Earth: it's free, it gives great views of one of our top five favorite planets ever, and it's free. Now Google is adding in some new functionality to push the realism to the limit in Google Earth 6. Most importantly, Street View is getting seamless integration into your virtual travels, with the little yellow Pegman set right next to the navigation controls for placing any which where. Google has also "planted" millions of 3D trees to make the 3D building view a bit more realistic, and has a new easy-access method for pulling up historical imagery. It all sounds very exciting in theory, but the best part? Google Earth 6 is free, and you can download it right now to find out for yourself.

Continue reading Google Earth 6 adds 3D trees and integrated Street View

Google Earth 6 adds 3D trees and integrated Street View originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d trees3dTreesearthgooglegoogle earthGoogleEarthpegmanplanetstreet viewStreetViewvideoMon, 29 Nov 2010 23:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Google fanboys egg the homes of those who opt out of being shown on Street View]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/24/google-fanboys-egg-the-homes-of-those-who-opt-out-of-being-shown/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/24/google-fanboys-egg-the-homes-of-those-who-opt-out-of-being-shown/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/24/google-fanboys-egg-the-homes-of-those-who-opt-out-of-being-shown/#comments You might have heard by now that some German folks didn't much fancy having their homes displayed on Google's Street View service and consequently opted to have their domiciles blurred out. Only trouble with their plan, it seems, was that they didn't account for some Google-loving zealots over in Essen, who were so outraged by the action that they ended up bombarding the offensively blurry homes with eggs and some eloquent signs. What did those placards have to say? "Google's cool." Pithy. A spokesperson from Mountain View has been quick to distance Google from the silly behavior, while also noting that it has been an isolated incident... so far, anyway.

[Thanks, Milind]

Google fanboys egg the homes of those who opt out of being shown on Street View originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backlashdeutschlandessenFanboysgermanygooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewhomehomesopt outopt-outOptOutprivacyresponsestreet viewStreetViewvandalismWed, 24 Nov 2010 08:21:00 EST<![CDATA[FTC accepts Google's privacy apology, lets Street View off the hook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/27/ftc-accepts-googles-privacy-apology-lets-street-view-off-the-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/27/ftc-accepts-googles-privacy-apology-lets-street-view-off-the-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/27/ftc-accepts-googles-privacy-apology-lets-street-view-off-the-h/#comments When Google admitted its Street View cars had collected sensitive data after all, it sparked a new formal inquiry in the UK, but the very same apology was just what the Federal Trade Commission needed to drop an investigation in the USA. The FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection wrote Google a formal letter today noting "concerns about the internal policies and procedures that gave rise to this data collection," but satisfaction that the company's agreed to change all that and appoint a director of privacy. "Because of these commitments, we are ending our inquiry into this matter at this time," the document reads. Does that mean we can stop using this picture of Ross' old apartment in our posts? Only time will tell.

FTC accepts Google's privacy apology, lets Street View off the hook originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ftcgooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewprivacysecuritysnoopsnoopingstreet viewStreetViewwardrivingwifiwifi snoopingWifiSnoopingWed, 27 Oct 2010 22:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Google revises internal privacy practices, appoints director of privacy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/24/google-revises-internal-privacy-practices-appoints-director-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/24/google-revises-internal-privacy-practices-appoints-director-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/24/google-revises-internal-privacy-practices-appoints-director-of/#comments Google's run into quite a number of privacy concerns in the past, and things hit something of a tipping point earlier this year when it was revealed that the company was snooping on WiFi data while it was collecting Street View images. Now Google has finally come back with some answers to some privacy questions it says it's been studying for the past several months. First and foremost is the appointment of Alma Whitten as the company's new directory of privacy, who will manage Google's privacy efforts across both engineering and product management, and ensure that the company builds "effective privacy controls" into its products and internal practices. Backing that up is some expanded privacy training, including a new program that all employees will be required to take beginning in December, and some new internal compliance procedures, which includes a requirement that every engineering project leader maintain a privacy design document for each project they're working on. Hit up the source link below for the company's complete statement on the matter.

Google revises internal privacy practices, appoints director of privacy originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alma WhittenAlmaWhittendirector of privacyDirectorOfPrivacygooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewprivacyprivacy measuresPrivacyMeasuressecuritystreet viewStreetViewSun, 24 Oct 2010 22:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's wardriving days are over, says Canadian privacy commissioner]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/20/googles-wardriving-days-are-over-says-canadian-privacy-commiss/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/20/googles-wardriving-days-are-over-says-canadian-privacy-commiss/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/20/googles-wardriving-days-are-over-says-canadian-privacy-commiss/#comments When Google's Street View cars glide through your neighborhood next, you can leave the WPA2 encryption off -- Canada says that the company has "discontinued" the practice of snooping on unsecured WiFi networks with its mapping vehicles, and "has no plans to resume it." That's one of several findings in a report by Canada's privacy commissioner today, which also claims that the controversial data collection feature was the work of a single Google engineer, and that Google intends to use smartphones to pinpoint WiFi networks from now on. Naturally, the latter caused the commissioner concern that Android phones might capture the same data as the cars. Perhaps you'd best keep those shields up after all.

Google's wardriving days are over, says Canadian privacy commissioner originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcanadadataGooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewpersonal dataPersonalDataPrivacyprivacy commissionerPrivacyCommissionersecuritysnoopsnoopingstreet viewStreetViewwardrivingwifiwifi snoopingWifiSnoopingWed, 20 Oct 2010 00:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's Street View goes worldwide, Antarctica and all]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/googles-street-view-goes-worldwide-antarctica-and-all/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/googles-street-view-goes-worldwide-antarctica-and-all/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/googles-street-view-goes-worldwide-antarctica-and-all/#comments Google's Street View still needs to add a lot more data on the lesser traveled roads of the world, but there's no denying that the virtual vacation assistant has evolved quite nicely since launching in May of 2007. Back then, only five US cities were programmed in; today, there are street-level views of locations on every single continent, including Antarctica (shown above, as if you couldn't tell). The additions of Ireland, Brazil and Penguinland allow Google to make the claim, and we couldn't be happier about it. Though, we still aren't canceling our scheduled reader meetup at McMurdo -- details coming soon!

Google's Street View goes worldwide, Antarctica and all originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AntarcticaGooglegoogle earthgoogle mapsgoogle street viewGoogleEarthGoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewmapmappingmapsroutestreet viewStreetViewThu, 30 Sep 2010 13:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Walking Navigation beta and Street View now available for Android]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/09/google-walking-navigation-beta-and-street-view-now-available-for/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/09/google-walking-navigation-beta-and-street-view-now-available-for/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/09/google-walking-navigation-beta-and-street-view-now-available-for/#comments Man, we're starting to think Google should just host an I/O event every month. As the search giant continues to roll out new innovations, today's introduction involves none other than Android. Starting today, folks with Android phones using version 1.6 or greater have a pair of must-downloads to tackle: Walking Navigation (Beta) and Street View smart navigation. The former is bundled into Google Maps for Mobile 4.5, offering pedestrians a more robust routing option when using their own two feet to maneuver from place to place. It's still in beta, obviously, but we're definitely digging the "vibrate to turn" alert and the map's ability to rotate with you as you turn the phone. Street View smart navigation is the same stuff you're used to seeing on a bona fide desktop browser, but tailor made for operation on your smartphone. Finally, the new Google Maps search bar will make it even easier to find places you're in need of finding, and if you need some visual stimulation while your downloads progress, hop on past the break and mash play.

Continue reading Google Walking Navigation beta and Street View now available for Android

Google Walking Navigation beta and Street View now available for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbetagooglegoogle androidgoogle mapsGoogle Maps for mobile 4.5GoogleAndroidGoogleMapsGoogleMapsForMobile4.5mapsnavigationStreet ViewStreetViewvideoWalking NavigationWalkingNavigationThu, 09 Sep 2010 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Laser backpack creates instant 3D maps, Venkman reminds you to not cross the streams (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/11/laser-backpack-creates-instant-3d-maps-venkman-reminds-you-to-n/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/11/laser-backpack-creates-instant-3d-maps-venkman-reminds-you-to-n/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/11/laser-backpack-creates-instant-3d-maps-venkman-reminds-you-to-n/#commentsLaser backpack creates instant 3D maps, Venkman reminds you not to cross the streams (video) Total protonic reversal? Small price to pay for an instantaneous 3D scan of a building's interior. That's what the backpack pictured above delivers, a project from UC Berkeley students and faculty Matthew Carlberg, Avideh Zakhor, John Kua, and George Chen. The pack contains a suite of laser scanners and positional sensors that enable it to capture images of building interiors as a fleshy assistant roams their halls. Those images can then be automatically pieced back together to create a 3D representation. We're having visions of instant Doom II WADs but the real boon here could be an extension to Google Maps where you could not only get a Street View but also an interior view. You know, really scope out that little Thai joint before you schlep yourself all the way downtown.

Continue reading Laser backpack creates instant 3D maps, Venkman reminds you to not cross the streams (video)

Laser backpack creates instant 3D maps, Venkman reminds you to not cross the streams (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d laser scanner3d scanner3dLaserScanner3dScannerbackpackberkeleygoogle mapsGoogleMapslaser scannerLaserScannerstreet viewStreetViewuc berkeleyUcBerkeleyvideoWed, 11 Aug 2010 11:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's South Korean offices raided by police as part of Street View investigation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/googles-south-korean-offices-raided-by-police-as-part-of-street/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/googles-south-korean-offices-raided-by-police-as-part-of-street/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/googles-south-korean-offices-raided-by-police-as-part-of-street/#comments Google may be trying to make nice and play ball with all the thoroughly outraged governments affected by its unintentional WiFi snooping with Street View cars, but that apparently hasn't been good enough for South Korea. Earlier this morning, Google's Seoul HQ was subjected to a raid and search operation by the cyber crime unit of the Korean National Police Agency, due to suspicions that it may have collected and stored data from WiFi networks without authorization. So it's the same old complaint the rest of the world's been dealing with, only the zeal of the methodology seems to have been turned up to 11. It'll be interesting to see if this raid uncovers anything more salacious than what we already know; we'll keep you posted if it does.

[Thanks, D. Kim]

Google's South Korean offices raided by police as part of Street View investigation originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googleGoogle Koreagoogle street viewGoogleKoreaGoogleStreetViewinvestigationkorealawlegallegalityofficespoliceproberaidsearchseoulsnoopingsouth koreaSouthKoreastreet viewStreetViewwifiTue, 10 Aug 2010 06:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Graduate student erases pedestrians from Google Street View]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/graduate-student-erases-pedestrians-from-google-street-view/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/graduate-student-erases-pedestrians-from-google-street-view/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/graduate-student-erases-pedestrians-from-google-street-view/#comments We love Google, oh yes we do, but there's no question the company could use some brownie points when it comes to privacy. That's not to say Mountain View doesn't try -- the firm does blur license plates and faces in Street View when it's not unintentionally snooping our WiFi. However, a UCSD graduate student has a more thorough idea: simply make the pedestrians disappear entirely. Arturo Flores' algorithm does just that, determining what to erase and what to keep using two adjacent frames. Because Google's roaming cameras end up taking images of the same subject from multiple angles, the program can grab bits of the background (in this case, the sidewalk, lawn and building) from either side, then layer them over the pedestrian in the foreground to hide him from view. It doesn't yet work on persons who are walking the same direction as the camera, or when there are many in the frame, but these obstacles can be surmounted at a later date. Here's hoping Google's PR team gives Arturo a buzz, so we can finally enjoy architecture without all those pesky humans in the way.

Graduate student erases pedestrians from Google Street View originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>algorithmalgorithmsArturo FloresArturoFloresdiminished realityDiminishedRealityGoogleGoogle Street ViewGoogleStreetViewpedestrianpedestrian removerPedestrianRemoverprivacyStreet Viewstreet view privacyStreetViewStreetViewPrivacyuc san diegoUcSanDiegoUCSDSat, 07 Aug 2010 23:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Street Slide: it's electric! (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/microsoft-street-slide-its-electric-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/microsoft-street-slide-its-electric-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/microsoft-street-slide-its-electric-video/#comments
Remember the first time you used Google Street View? Amazing, right? Thing is, traversing a busy urban street in a 360-degree photographic bubble can be disorienting, especially when searching for a specific address or business. So check this: Microsoft Research has developed a rather nifty solution it calls Street Slide. Zoom out of your panoramic bubble and the street is presented as a dynamic, multi-perspective "strip" giving you an instant visual summary of the surroundings -- similar to viewing the entire street from a distance. Fortunately, Microsoft took advantage of what would otherwise be the unused letterboxed screen above and below the strip to add navigational and informational aids like clickable business logos and building numbers. Pretty impressive, and Microsoft is already working on taking Street Slide mobile with an iPhone port, and no doubt a version for the upcoming Windows Phone 7 series of devices. Unfortunately, don't expect this to be released anytime soon as the team has only processed about 2400 panoramas so far covering just 4 kilometers of streets. Check the video after the break, you'll be glad you did.

Continue reading Microsoft Street Slide: it's electric! (video)

Microsoft Street Slide: it's electric! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bingmicrosoftmicrosoft researchMicrosoftResearchstreet sidestreet slidestreet viewStreetSideStreetSlideStreetViewvideoWed, 28 Jul 2010 02:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Places' camera exposed in the convenience store wilds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/google-places-camera-exposed-in-the-convenience-store-wilds/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/google-places-camera-exposed-in-the-convenience-store-wilds/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/google-places-camera-exposed-in-the-convenience-store-wilds/#comments
That right there friends, is a real life Google employee and his trusty camera capturing the internals of a fine New York City bodega. It's all part of a pilot launched back in April to photograph the insides of businesses for Google Places. The idea here is that by seeing the actual facilities, merchandise, layout, and decor Google can help consumers make a better decision about which businesses might best suit their particular needs. First our WiFi data and now the fetid bowels of our snack shops... oh Google, is there no data left that's sacred?

Google Places' camera exposed in the convenience store wilds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle placesGooglePlacesplacesprivacystreet viewStreetViewThu, 24 Jun 2010 07:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Google to disclose WiFi snooping data to regulators amid allegations it was collected intentionally]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/google-to-disclose-wifi-snooping-data-to-regulators-amid-allegat/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/google-to-disclose-wifi-snooping-data-to-regulators-amid-allegat/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/google-to-disclose-wifi-snooping-data-to-regulators-amid-allegat/#comments And the mess gets messier. A class action lawsuit filed against Google in Oregon has now been enriched with the allegation that Google willfully collected personal data with its Street View cars, rather than doing so accidentally, as it claims. It's a bold accusation, whose primary basis is a patent application, filed by Google in November 2008, for a "computer-implemented method of estimating the location of a wireless device." A subsidiary claim references the "obtaining [of] one or more packets of data transmitted" from one wireless device to another to help estimate accuracy of location results. That's the supposedly damning verbiage that shows Google intentionally created WiFi-snooping software, and it's also what's being relied on to show that Mountain View couldn't have been ignorant of the data collection going on. Yes, it's quite a stretch, but that's what lawyers are for: mental gymnastics.

Over in Europe, Google is doing its best to placate local regulators, some of whom are contemplating criminal charges against the multinational company, by agreeing to hand over all data that was collected by its vehicles. France, Germany and Spain will be first to peruse the info, though presumably there'll be an open door to other nosy governments as well. Doesn't that strike you as weird -- having your private data protected by letting a bunch more people look at it?

Google to disclose WiFi snooping data to regulators amid allegations it was collected intentionally originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allegationclass actionClassActiondatagoogleinformationlawlawsuitlegaloregonprivacyprivatesecuritysnoopsnoopingstreet viewStreetViewwifiwifi snoopingWifiSnoopingFri, 04 Jun 2010 07:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's Street View snowmobile takes your voyeurism to the Olympic slopes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/09/googles-street-view-snowmobile-takes-your-voyeurism-to-the-olym/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/09/googles-street-view-snowmobile-takes-your-voyeurism-to-the-olym/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/09/googles-street-view-snowmobile-takes-your-voyeurism-to-the-olym/#comments There's something deliciously futuristic about the fact that Microsoft and Google are patrolling our roads, documenting their every nook and cranny with large multidirectional cameras strapped to SUVs. But what about the unpaved wilderness? Well, Google's after that too now, with its new Street View snowmobile it's unveiled just in time for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Sure, it's a bit of a gimmick, but also it's surprisingly thrilling to chase down the various slopes in use for the Olympics, and Google Earth even has most everything mapped out in 3D for your aerial viewing pleasure. Check out a video of the snowmobile in action after the break, or hit up that source link to "hit the slopes." If something gets in your way, turn.

Continue reading Google's Street View snowmobile takes your voyeurism to the Olympic slopes

Google's Street View snowmobile takes your voyeurism to the Olympic slopes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewolympicssnowmobilestreet viewstreet view snowmobileStreetViewStreetViewSnowmobilevancouver olympicsVancouverOlympicswinter olympicsWinterOlympicsTue, 09 Feb 2010 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft giving Bing Maps a 3D overhaul, tacking on apps for good measure]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/microsoft-giving-bing-maps-a-3d-overhaul-tacking-on-apps-for-go/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/microsoft-giving-bing-maps-a-3d-overhaul-tacking-on-apps-for-go/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/microsoft-giving-bing-maps-a-3d-overhaul-tacking-on-apps-for-go/#comments Google's not the only one in the game when it comes to wild mapping tech, and while Microsoft's excellent collection of bird's eye photos has never gotten it quite the attention of Google's Street View, the hope is that lasers and its much-lauded Photosynth tool can do the trick. Microsoft has done up a Street View-style canvassing of 56 US cities with cars that not only snap photos but include range-finding lasers to map out the architecture in 3D. The Silverlight-based viewer for this view (dubbed Streetside) is similar in interface to Google Maps, a tad slower, and rather visually impressive. In addition, Microsoft is leaning on its Photosynth technology to collect navigable panoramas of scenery and even building interiors. Finally, Microsoft has tacked on "apps" of sorts, little overlays that include traffic cameras, restaurants, a Twitter API and so forth. All of this coupled with an improved version of the bird's eye view is quite a visual treat, but the Silverlight requirement and non-Google-ness of it all might keep away the Bing-averse among us. But really, with all this tit-for-tat going on between Microsoft and Google, we have to wonder what sort of stone age we'd be stuck in if we didn't have these two behemoths going at each other like this. The "Beta" is live now at the source link.

[Thanks, Aimee]

Microsoft giving Bing Maps a 3D overhaul, tacking on apps for good measure originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d map3dMapbingbing mapsbing maps betaBingMapsBingMapsBetamapmapsmicrosoftphotosynthsilverlightstreet viewstreetsideStreetViewWed, 02 Dec 2009 18:46:00 EST