Google Street Views is a enhancement of the popular Google Maps launched in May 2007. It is a 3D view of the surrounding as seen by anyone standing on the street. The launch was slowed down by security & privacy issues.

Google later had to include technologies like face-blurring technology to obscure identities. Many of the civil & military high security facilities are also excluded from these street maps.

You can use Google Street Views to see panoramic 360 degrees views of city landscapes. You can also use Street View to:

• View street level photographs (select cities)
• Take virtual walks; pan, rotate and zoom
• Explore cityscapes, landmarks, points of interest
• Find shops, restaurants, parks, hotels and more

A Google Vehicle goes around the streets, photographing, surveying & digitizing the streets.  This report from Europe talks of Italians mistake Google Street View car for prowling Gestapo. For a complete list of locations available, follow the Google’s Street View blog.

 

 

Although Street Views is street based maps, Google has also included a number of historical sites, locations & even state parks. Images of Yellowstone National Park, Sequoia National Park, and eight other wilderness areas have become available.

Google updated it’s old images with newer ones & with better coloring , more realistic geometry & good lighting technologies. You can start viewing street views here.

 

Free Downloads

• Free Crawler MP3 Radio Player
• Digsby IM to combine MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ, Jabber, Facebook & Google accounts into one
• Great American Photo Contest to WIN $2,500
• Create Custom Avatars for MySpace Hi5 Blogger profiles with Zwinky
• Free Photos, Exclusive 3-D Animations & Popular Screensavers