14 DAY TRIAL // A few days ago, the Mountain View company debuted an innovative feature for Google Maps that brings detailed street pictures with several US locations. Because Google Maps is a web-based service that shows satellite maps, numerous users were curios about the procedure used by the search giant to capture the photos. According to PR Differently, the Mountain View company used a car, that seems to be a US version of the Volkswagen Beetle, made in 2005, equipped with 11-lens camera mounted on its top. The car was taking photos with the entire city, most of these pictures being included in the web-based service Google Maps.
As you can see in the photo attached to the article, the car has an Immersive Media logo, "an advanced digital video imaging company that will change your perspective." Although there was no official partnership between the Mountain View company Google and this firm, it seems that the media firm is helping the search giant improve its map solutions, providing high-quality street imagery.
Now, there is only a problem: some users might not agree to appear on Google Maps, as the car is taking pictures with almost every person appearing on certain locations. A comment posted on PR Differently's article describes a funny case that took place a few days ago. "This is crazy. I saw one of these cars drive by me just a few minutes ago when I was getting lunch (Alexandria, VA). I got back into the office, pulled up BoingBoing and saw the same car (well, a similar one) staring at me from the page. I wonder if I'll be in one of the pictures," the message said.
Obviously, this is a major update made for Google Maps because it provides a different perspective for the imagery provided by the tool. However, we are all waiting for a similar feature compatible with Google Earth, the downloadable application that offers almost the same functions as the online product.
