Comments on: Detroit before D.C., Google Maps? Really?

By: Vox Populi » Frenchies frolic; DC still not on Google Street View

Vox Populi » Frenchies frolic; DC still not on Google Street View — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:39:53 +0000

[…] April, we complained that cities across the country were getting Google Street View while Washington, one of the nation’s most interesting-looking cities, went unphotographed. […]

By: Will Sommer

Will Sommer — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:54:29 +0000

Good point, Jojo. I guess if it means we get more awesome features I can wait a little for DC Street View.

By: Mapper99

Mapper99 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:46:48 +0000

Good points…Take a look at these Google Street View privacy invasions:

http://streetviewgallery.corank.com

By: jojo

jojo — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:12:34 +0000

For those of you disappointed about the wait, try not to be. Check it out. The technology for Google Street Maps continues to advance. If you look at the first 5 released cities, there is a limitation you can move around the scenery, 365 degrees and a little bit of tilting up and down as well as zooming in and out and moving up and down the roads but with the more recent cities photographed you can tilt the view up and into the sky if you wish. This helps when you are sight seeing in a city with tall skyscrapers. As amazing as Google’s current technology is, I can hardly imagine what Google’s further advances in technology has in store for us concerning Google Street View.

By: SEB

SEB — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:14:21 +0000

I come from DC and I currently live in nearby Baltimore. I, too, am disappointed that Google has not included either city yet, and that the closest place that is covered are a few streets in Elkton, MD as part of the Philadelphia area icon. During 2007, when only major cities were being added, I kept thinking, if it wasn’t added now, maybe it’ll come in another two months. But I came to believe something different when in February, I saw obscure places like Boise, Idaho and Juneau Alaska. Then, March 27 came (earlier than I thought the next release would be), and along with it, two more cities in Alaska. Come on now! DC is one of the most important cities in our nation. Baltimore is one of the nation’s most major cities, with several million people in the city and its surrounding suburbs. And you still think Rockford, Illinois (population 150,000) and Manchester, NH (110,000) matter more?

Though, I have not found definitive proof, I have seen blog speculations like the one above that it has to do with security concerns. Maryland is, after all, home to some security sensitive areas, like Ft. Meade, the NSA, and the Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

But then, in early April, everyscape.com, a competing service, did indeed make DC available. No suburbs. Not even most of the city. But it does include the core portion, the US Capitol, many federal buildings, and some residential areas, too. When I first discovered this, I “visited” some familar, and I got the shock of my life. The house where my grandparents once lived that my father grew up in was demolished!

Most of all, this put aside the theory I have heard about “security” issues. Unless Everyscape went ahead and did this boldly and got away with it.

As for Baltimore, I did recently spot an Immersive Media car in the well-known Fells Point area, which tells me they are still working on it.

By: Will Sommer

Will Sommer — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:03:42 +0000

Cool blog. You know more about this subject than I do, but what security threats are there of showing pictures anyone can see on the street? A terrorist could drive around with a camera himself if he wanted to see what Washington looks like.

By: FlagFreak

FlagFreak — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:10:23 +0000

I’d love to see Washington on Street View, but due to major possible security threats, the posting of these images has been delayed.

Albuquerque is the largest city is New Mexico, aka the Desert State. Not much to see there, but there enough, just like any other city. LOL

See my Street View blog (streetviewstuff.blogspot.com) for upcoming Street View predictions.