Google Maps Now Cover Whole World 357
GregBryant writes "They haven't blogged it yet, but maps.google.com has added some additional scaling-out, and maps of the entire world are available. Only country names so far (except in the US, Canada & UK) but it's still nice to finally click back & forth between the Satellite imagery and some real maps, even if their proportions don't quite match."
Professionally, I Love This (Score:5, Interesting)
As a geologist it is nice to have aerial tools on line, especially when some of the other taxpayer funded sources of data have been taken offline by private companies. While I don't object to paying for data produced by private companies, I get a bit steamed with the idea that I have to pay *twice* for government-generated data. I understand the necessity to save the taxpayers money, but in the case of topographic, DEM, and DLG sources generated by the government, we have already paid for most of the cost of production; hosting is a fraction of cost for agencies such as the USGS.
Even if hosting were a significant cost, paid advertising could cover the cost and provide a good income for any company interested in providing the service for the government. The fees that some of these charge for taxpayer-subsidized data is rediculous.
Thanks again to Google.
I agree. (Score:5, Interesting)
On a side note, am I the only one who notices that dragging the zoom bar's handle has a smooth (fatbits or whatever one calls it) zooming effect* now?
Firefox users need not apply; I see it on IE only so far, so I'm guessing it uses script and their zoom "Microsoft extension to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)." (rough translation: it's a non-standardized property) [microsoft.com]
Re:I agree. (Score:2)
Re:I agree. (Score:2)
Hmmm. Works for me on Netscape 7.0 on Solaris/Sparc (unsupported browser version on an unsupported OS on an unsupported architecture). I did have to click the "load Google maps anyway" button.
Re:I agree. (Score:2)
Re:I agree. (Score:2, Interesting)
There's some confusion here... (Score:2)
...judging from all the child posts below yours. I refer to dragging the zoom bar up or down without releasing the mouse button.
Does the map zoom in/out as you move the mouse in Firefox? If so, then I hang my head down in shame, as an utter liar. In IE, the whole map gets all pixelly; once you release the mouse button, it returns to a normal, smooth image (a set of them actually, but I digress).
Re:I agree. (Score:2)
Professionally? (Score:3, Interesting)
What I'm trying to say, professionals might have a use for this, but it shouldn't benefit them that much. On the other hand, if you are about to go hi
Re:Professionally? (Score:3, Interesting)
I do. Re-read the original post.
The cost of the data should be inconsequential if you have any kind of a budget.
One of my customers is the federal government.
I think many of the folks who post here object to the notion that I should think of my budget as "inconsequential".
Having to pay twice for data from tax-funded sources is outrageous, but it doesn't make your life harder.
Wrong again. If I buy the data for
Re:Professionally? (Score:2)
No. I spend much time designing electronics and software. I don't go bonkers every time a surplus electronics shop opens next door. I can't use surplus stuff for real work. Google maps doesn't seem to have been meant as a source of data for professionals - which is why it's so amusing that Google maps are so interesting to you - I'd thought you had your own, better, sources!
Re:Professionally? (Score:3, Interesting)
Fine. Give me the URL for free USGS data.
It doesn't exist. It hasn't existed for nearly five years.
Re:Professionally? (Score:3, Informative)
I don't remember all the features, but when I last looked at it, it had a good zoom, which I like better than Google Maps. It also provides data from LandSat and USGS.
Unfortunately, it's Windows only, and now that I switched to Linux, I have to use Google Maps.
Re:Professionally? (Score:2)
http://nmviewogc.cr.usgs.gov/viewer.htm [usgs.gov]
or maybe this:
http://nationalatlas.gov/ [nationalatlas.gov]
Or is that not enough?
I know they're not overly professional, but it's still not bad for something free to the public available through an internet browser.
Re:Professionally? (Score:3, Interesting)
http://nmviewogc.cr.usgs.gov/viewer.htm [usgs.gov]
or maybe this:
http://nationalatlas.gov/ [nationalatlas.gov]
Or is that not enough?
I know they're not overly professional, but it's still not bad for something free to the public available through an internet browser.
While those are some great and informative links, they are useless for actual geologic applications. The grandparent poster isn't talking about the pretty aerial photograph (orthoimagery) you see available in programs such as World Wind [google.com] and the Natio [usgs.gov]
Re:Professionally? (Score:3, Informative)
http://nmviewogc.cr.usgs.gov/viewer.htm [usgs.gov]
Re:Professionally? (Score:2, Informative)
Here is free USGS topographic data from the USGS:
http://edcdaac.usgs.gov/gtopo30/gtopo30.asp [usgs.gov]
That's the raw data files, buddy. Can't really ask for much more than that can ya. BTW, if you check out the NASA worldwind project you will find that there is an incredible amount of freely availble GIS data being served up on wms servers all over the world.
Personally, I don't think it's worth of it (Score:2)
Re:Personally, I don't think it's worth of it (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Personally, I don't think it's worth of it (Score:3, Interesting)
Aerial views of large physiographic features is essential for watershed studies, landslide assessments, earthquake risk evaluations, etc.
Re:Personally, I don't think it's worth of it (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Personally, I don't think it's worth of it (Score:5, Interesting)
One can also compare lot sizes to get an idea of residential density, the number of homes with pools (I live in Phoenix, so pools are very common). Being able to switch easily between maps and images makes it easy to determine what that big parking lot is a part of, such as a mall or a mental health facility. Fortunately, the images for Phoenix appear to be less than a year or two old.
Some people may prefer to live next to a mental health facility, some may prefer the mall. All this info makes it easier to informed decisions about whether or not you want to live someplace before making the decision so schedule a home visit. Granted, it didn't always work out, I remember driving up to one place and telling the realtor to keep driving.
Re:Professionally, I Love This (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Professionally, I Love This (Score:2)
Actually, it seems much weirder than that. Looking at my home state of Michigan, there are super-high-resolution bits out in the middle of nowhere. Someone decided they needed high-res photos of lovely fields and a bit of expressway. Usualy, I can't find any significant features, political or geographical, to justify it. Makes me want to put on a tinfoil hat sometimes...
Re:Professionally, I Love This (Score:2)
All those burnt trees along the side of the highway (forget the @#$!ing number, haven't driven it in years) got a shot from above to determine how well the forest is recuperating.
Well (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Well (Score:2)
Re:Well (Score:2, Interesting)
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.179343,5.097656
(Take a look at the Netherlands.)
Re:Well (Score:2)
You think that's bad, check out this:& spn=20.385598,52.207031&hl=en [google.com]
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.179343,5.097656
-- Pete.
Not at all zoom levels (Score:3)
Are you sure [google.com]?
Re:Well (Score:2)
No, they have a secret base somewhere. When a secret base becomes the old secret base, it's no longer secret.
On that note, has anyone in Gainesville, Florida noticed an increase in strange lights in the sky? Or funny noises at night?
Weird.. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Weird.. (Score:2)
So.... (Score:5, Funny)
Well.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Well.. (Score:5, Funny)
Hey I can see your house! It's all bright and shiny, like if it was covered in, I don't know, tin-foil or something. Most puzzling...
Anyway, I'm so glad you pointed that out. After all, before google, we NEVER had detailed maps of the Earth with country names. I even thought the planet was flat...
Re:Well.. (Score:3, Funny)
Can't you see from your own eyes? Even that ungodly google shows it's flat!
Yes. Humour.
Re:Well.. (Score:2)
However Rosco P. Coltrane is not yet convinced of The Truth. He is a Traitor to the Masses, and so the War on Sphericalism must go on.
Upgrade to round planet available (Score:2)
The Google Maps thing is a limited HTML/Javascript image file hack. The real Keyhole application works through OpenGL, and you get real 3D. Pan, tilt, zoom, fly over 3D terrain, seamlessly.
I wish (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I wish (Score:2)
No. They don't. (Score:2)
Scroll down.
You'll see that the world ends south of the United States.
(not like we didn't know that already)
Also... (Score:2)
Zoom in.
Look at the text that says "We're sorry, but we don't have imagery at this zoom level for this region."
Looks pretty incomplete to me.
Re:Also... (Score:2)
"We're sorry..."
Re:No. They don't. (Score:2)
weeeelll, not everywhere... (Score:3, Informative)
Don't worry. (Score:2)
Once Google adds the option to turn off SafeSearch on Google Maps, you too will be able to search for hot whores.
;)
I for one, can't wait.
Re:Don't worry. (Score:2)
Have a look at the mapping provided by our kindly municipal authorities;
Have fun [asp4all.nl].
Got my hopes up! (Score:2)
Still, can't wait to see what develops!
Google Maps Now Cover Whole World (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Google Maps Now Cover Whole World (Score:2)
I'm sowwy, mommy! I pwomise I won't pwint a thousand maps from the factowy laser thingy again! I'll cween it up when I'm done watching my Girls Gone Wild tape.
They've fixed the distortion (Score:2)
Of course they couldn't really show world maps if everything was normalized for the US.
Re:They've fixed the distortion (Score:3, Interesting)
So they botched the projection and that became noticeable once you got as far north as Anchorage. I know that's a pain in the butt for you Alaskans, but somehow I find it kind of cool anyway. I've made a lot of bugs in my career, but I've never managed to let the curvature of the earth screw something up.
I tell junior programmers that the reason I can fix problems faster than they can is that I've already made every mistake they can possibly make.
Re:They've fixed the distortion (Score:2)
I think it was about 1.6x distorted, the city blocks looked really funky. Wish i'd grabbed a screenshot now
Not just US and UK, actually. (Score:5, Funny)
How far can you zoom in? (Score:2, Funny)
For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:5, Informative)
Re:For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:4, Interesting)
According to their website, map24 are already cooperating [map24.com] with google.
Re:For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:2)
Re:For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:2)
Re:For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:2)
Please explain how that is better than google maps which don't require anything but the browser...
Re:For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:2)
Html isnt for everything.
Re:For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:2)
Sorry, be happy with your religion, i just use a tool.
Re:For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:2)
Re:For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:2)
Re:For Europe, there is a better map site (Score:3, Informative)
For Switzerland, there is map.search.ch [search.ch] which is great (and with a simplicity which reminds very much of Google). I don't know for other European countries.
There is more detailed info for big cities... (Score:4, Interesting)
Israel will be angry... (Score:4, Funny)
No, that's what Israel lobbied for (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:No, that's what Israel lobbied for (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:No, that's what Israel lobbied for (Score:3, Interesting)
But you can look at the former USSR in considerable detail. Check out the Kremlin, where you can see cars
Re:Nice going, jerkwad (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Nice going, jerkwad (Score:4, Informative)
This is a well-known issue in the imaging world.
Making progress, but it's not Earth yet (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Making progress, but it's not Earth yet (Score:2)
http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/ [nasa.gov]
Re:Making progress, but it's not Earth yet (Score:2)
Its free, offers better (satellite) data than google maps and even has 3d hight information.
http://worldwind.nasa.gov/ [nasa.gov]
ARG (Score:2)
http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/ [nasa.gov]
Wrong. (Score:2)
You know, the microsoft approach to getting know how...
Governmental Paranoia (Score:5, Interesting)
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.889145,-77.0087
but not this:
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.897502,-77.0365
Couldn't be any worse than the blacked out areas.. (Score:3, Interesting)
You might as well put a sign on the damn imagery: "Terrorists strike HERE!"
I wish they'd at least be creative like stitching in surrounding countryside or somesuch so it's not so obvious that th
Re:Governmental Paranoia (but Stupid!) (Score:2)
Re:Governmental Paranoia (Score:3, Interesting)
political ramifications (Score:4, Interesting)
the Philippines has no name (Score:2)
Still can't use standard html (Score:2)
one way streets (Score:2)
Ocean Floor? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Ocean Floor? (Score:2)
Now all we need is a cool body suspension .... (Score:4, Funny)
EXIT numbers!? (Score:2)
They still don't show exit numbers on freeway exits, which would be really useful. Of course, a scale would be really helpful too, so I know how long a mile or km is supposed to be at a given zoom level and map distortion.
Quickest Beijing to Boston route (Score:2)
Shameless Plug (Google hacks?) (Score:4, Interesting)
It's not nearly complete yet, because I still haven't properly handled the projection google uses (so the image is off near the poles), and it breaks at high detail levels, but these should be easily fixed within the next couple days. It should easily scale to the best data Google offers in the future.
There is one screenshot at the bottom of the page. The quality is fairly low, but that's because it's being rendered on a 5 year old laptop (I'm currently away from home).
http://cs.ucsb.edu/~richards/terrain/ [ucsb.edu]
I have no idea if I'll ship this with google maps support (since it is against their TOS), but it was fun to do.
One-way street arrows! (Score:2)
*I noticed and reported a missing DLR station on their map of England - it's still not there, despite the nice directional arrows on
Has anyone else noticed this bug? (Score:2)
WTF? Anyone else experience this?
satellite censorship (Score:2, Informative)
First, I understand why this would happen, because of terrorists, etc... I would like to state right now, that I am NOT a Terrorist...
But anyways, I was zooming in on cities and thought it was cool, I could pick out what house I wanted based on how it looked from the sky, etc..
So I thought... Hmmm.. Washington DC would be cool to see... White house in reference to SIZE of other buildings ect... so I punch it up... and when I'm in full zoom, it looks as if th
Unimpressed (Score:2)
not bitching about it being beta quality, just about it being beta quality and yet being on slashdot.
Russia (Score:2)
I'm pretty sure in the *stans, Ukraine, Georgia, Chechnya would have something to say about being lumped in with Russia.
Google
Is Africa not part of the world? (Score:2)
Does Africa truly not count?
actually, there were a lot of changes (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Zooom RIGHT out (Score:3, Funny)