Whirlpool

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,24130293-5014108,00.html

Apparently Google Street view has now been launched in Australia. It seems to cover most of the Australian population areas.

Havn't been able to access it yet though.

http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/

edit: seems to be fully working now.

Yeah, doesn't look like its online yet.

Love how the article was posted on the news site at 12:01AM. Haha

yeah because posting it at 11.59pm and saying that its launched "tomorrow" is not as cool :P

Don't know about anybody else, but the first thing i'll try is have a look around my house and all my friends houses to see if I can find anything dodgy going on :P

skylar writes...

Don't know about anybody else, but the first thing i'll try is have a look around my house and all my friends houses to see if I can find anything dodgy going on

This is gonna open a whole can of worms...I can imagine nosey ppl looking up their colleagues addresses too, I for one will do that hehehehe :P

Holy crap, just checking out Miami is amazing. So much fun can be had with this. Wonder how much they paid for petrol to drive up and down all those streets.

Well it does seem to be working in some places, just looked through Inkerman Road in Melbourne:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=inkerman+rd+melbourne+victoria&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=30.86122,67.675781&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr

EDIT: Seems alot of streets are on there. Kind of creepy, if the quality was better I'd be able to see into my own bedroom

I love it, works great, will be using it regularly

It looks like it covers the whole country, zoom out to view all of Australia...

Just imagine how much petrol they would have used!

amazing, they really have some smart people at google

Well this is certainly impressive. I looked up where I used to live in a country town down a small court and its there! Bit of a wow moment.....

Its so great to see my house looking so spectacular with its green manicured yard..pity bout the neigbours :( lol This is rather scary!

Now I can show my relatives where I live, without having them visiting! LOL

What fun.Just checked out my siblings places and where i used to live in the US of A.

hi

guy from google will be on rant radio after 7.30
3aw – 693 am (or online)

looks great
neighbours bins are out still so must be tuesday (or wed) in my street

D

skylar wrote: http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/

Hey guys why not show/talk about the Oz version, which has a much better localised video for the service...

Check it out here: http://maps.google.com.au/help/maps/streetview/

the localised version wasnt up when I posted the original post.

This seriously is amazing... Lucky it isn't real time though, it would be stalkers delight, haha.
*Closes his curtains, locks his doors and hides behind his PC*

ViperAMD writes...

Pictures seem to be around Christmas time, not 100% on that tho.

Nah, no Xmas decorations up at my folks place. Looks pretty cool though. :-)

Wow! Had a look at my house and street, and it's fairly clear! Even our car is in the driveway. Going on the car parked on the neighbour's front grass though, I'd say the picture is about 5-6 months old. It's also taken on a Tuesday, as our bins are out as well :-P

Not all faces are blurred!

What about Car License plates? They don't seem blurred, but are hard to work out anyway.

MitH writes...

guy from google will be on rant radio after 7.30

3aw – 693 am (or online)

mmm
http://www.mytalk.com.au/Stations/Talk/3AW/Pages/default.aspx

dog doing a ..... in the pic outside their place
can anyone find it in street view
i think they live in brighton or malvern

crappy pix

edit
http://www.mytalk.com.au/MyTalkAdmin/images/ross-house100-2.jpg

D

Craig writes...

Going on the car parked on the neighbour's front grass though, I'd say the picture is about 5-6 months old.

Yeah it's definitely between end of spring to early autumn as the snowy mountains are snowless.

I can see my car at the address I left at the end of January (in Sydney)

although if it took them that long, odds are each city has been done at a different time. I wonder how many people they had working on it.

i cant believe they did the WHOLE of Australia :|

iB3nji writes...

i cant believe they did the WHOLE of Australia :|

They haven't (yet). eg: probably 5 % of Canberra hasn't been photographed.

is this available on google earth or just google maps?

I've just found my place... not sure I like having my number plate visible O_o

i cant believe they did the WHOLE of Australia :|

AND THEY DIDN'T!

Lazy Google, they left a friend of mine out, and a large chunk of Newport in Melbourne.

Look up: Challis St, Newport, 3015

What happen to the area roughly between Mason St., Maddox Rd.,Market St.,???

So disappointed. Where do I complain :-(

Craig writes...

They haven't (yet). eg: probably 5 % of Canberra hasn't been photographe

well i guess you can say they havent but they done what i would consider pretty much the whole of Australia.

I always only thought they would do the CBD of Sydney

They even got lil magnetic island in townsville, lol.
This is very cool though :D

how did they do that? did they send someone around australia with a massive storage capacity camera?? I know what day the photo was taken at my place – the next door neighbours have a card day and that's the only day they have cars in their drive.

spooky

and it was taken probably three months ago on a thursday LOL

hi

you can use google maps help to ask for house etc to be removed
i guess get in now and then watch a lot drop off as people contact them

anyone got good locations of faces etc
plates shouldnt be visable

contact them re this too if needed

Google: What we restrict – http://www.mytalk.com.au/aspx/pages/mediaplayer.aspx?t=audio&w=11968

D

sandiessg writes...

how did they do that? did they send someone around australia with a massive storage capacity camera??

they drive around in a car with 8 cameras mounted on top of it. find a building with a reflective front and you'll see it.

live right in the city of brisbane...AND THEY DONT HAVE MY STREET.!?!

sandiessg writes...

how did they do that? did they send someone around australia with a massive storage capacity camera??

lol
no 3d cam and gps
http://www.conversionrate.com.au/158/the-google-maps-van-is-in-town-and-i-snapped-it/google-maps-street-view-the-car-in-melbourne/

and
http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/googles-candid-camera-snaps-australia/2007/11/23/1195753275851.html

also listen to the 3aw stuff i linked above

D

I found myself on Street View. You can't see me but it is me in my car. I drove past the Google car, coming out of my street, a few months ago, so I figured my car would be on Street View. Because I am about 20 meters away and side on, there is nothing to really identify. I was hoping there might be a close up of me, gawking at the Google car as it slowly drove past :)

abm writes...

I found myself on Street View.

you cant post that without posting a link to the image :P

clawster writes...

they drive around in a car with 8 cameras mounted on top of it.

so cool and so spooky that they'd bother with so many small places.

who funded this?

why did they fund it?

my first bet is the USA military – nice to know where vehicles are if needed or where edible fruit trees are if needed... are we due to be invaded by someone?

Didn't the Germans, British and French have cameramen racing around each others countries just beofre world war one??

There's some junkies live up the road – I bet they are dead paranoid about this – - one of the delivery cars is in the driveway – and I won't post the link because that tells you their address and that's likely to start a serious problem.

and dear little hubby made it into a pic – - haven't figured out how to post the link
yes I have

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=seaview+terrace+&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=64.441624,113.203125&ie=UTF8&ll=-26.788635,153.14295&spn=0.00203,0.003455&z=18&layer=c&cbll=-26.78959,153.142175&panoid=GaQjbXEUDj2fucMkxJcS1g&cbp=1,27.0354316077902,,0,4.798243047703058

Street view no longer showing for us here at the office. Probably everyone telling this co-workers to look up their houses :p

For some reason our little block was left out, I can view just about every street in Melbourne except our street and a few streets around us, strange. Also found a street (Cubitt St, Cremorne, VIC 3123) where half way down the street you are suddenly going sideways in the Burnley tunnel then you pop out in the street again. Funny thing is that it does it in a part that the Burnley tunnel is not under, lots of fun things will be found I am sure over the next few days!

Also noticed that one frame to the next may be a completely different day or time of the day.

My face isnt blurred out.
I remember seeing the google car drive past our house early this year and i was looking straight at it wondering what it was, i seen it driving up the street with the pole and cameras on the roof from a distance and didnt know it was google till it was to late to look away.

Yeah, I think everyone in Australia is on Google maps at the moment! They need to lash out and get some better hosting I think...

Google Fail!

haha. streetview overload. it aint working properly atm for me.

will have to wait till later!

DaveMark writes...

They don't seem blurred, but are hard to work out anyway.

Hard but not impossible (at least for some). For vehicles parked 90 degrees you can read most of the number plates.

The maps in states seem to have the number plates blurred.

i found my house! my gf house was off limits though...

abm writes...

I was hoping there might be a close up of me, gawking at the Google car as it slowly drove past :)

Guess what? I've just played around with the views and I found a much closer image of me in my car, only a few meters away. The resolution is not great but the license plate is plainly visible. I'll have to work on improving the resolution to see my face through the windscreen.

I was counting down the days when they can be viewed in Australia!

Brillant job Goog. Even better coverage than your satellite service

How can you guys say that the "whole of Australia is done"????

They didn't even do one street in Darwin NT... but they did Alice Springs... wt???

Will admit though its an awesome application. We are moving from Sydney to Adelaide and looking at places to live just became a whole lot easier.

Instead of looking at a house through the eyes of the real estate, you get to see the house from the out side, the street and they whole suburb.

Best house in crap street will be found out before even arriving there.

Cheers
Coops

My face isnt blurred out.

Smile you're on Google Cam!

DaveMark writes...

Lazy Google, they left a friend of mine out, and a large chunk of Newport in Melbourne.

You think that's bad. I know a guy who lives 2 miles from Google Global HQ in San Jose, and they haven't done his street yet :)

Hmmm...cannot seem to access street view now. Was able to earlier this morning. Anyone else having similar issues, or did my company decide to block access???

working here

now to get eastlink maps updated
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=-37.96352,145.196965&spn=0.008543,0.016479&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=-37.967797,145.196269&panoid=alpRtI71RSbj2FcsrH4xuA&cbp=1,292.1851714806061,,0,5

D

Well this truly is incredible. Dunno if I like my house displayed on there, but it is cool to see a snapshot of the place on a particular day!

ah kewl....about bloddy time!!

Seen 3 Go-Go-Google mobiles taking happy snaps in the past 18 months. Amazing considering my location.

Alex R. writes...

Well this truly is incredible. Dunno if I like my house displayed on there, but it is cool to see a snapshot of the place on a particular day!

Lol same, found my house on there and I was a little shellshocked, even my car out the front!

SnakeHed writes...

Lol same, found my house on there and I was a little shellshocked, even my car out the front!

OH man now im pissed!!!

Im walking out the front of my house.....Google has me quite clearly.

Are google allowed to show an image of me like that?

Sector 7 writes...

OH man now im pissed!!!

Im walking out the front of my house.....Google has me quite clearly.

Are google allowed to show an image of me like that?

If you don't want the image shown, report it to them and Google will remove it. It's up to you.

Click 'Street View Help' at the top of the street view picture you don't want shown, and then 'Report Inappropriate Image'.

Verdana writes...

"
If you don't want the image shown, report it to them and Google will remove it. It's up to you.

Thats ok. I think its kewl now.

I just checked a heap of other addresses. They are either non existant or google mobile has not been there yet.

Afaik I have seen the car on 3 seperate occasions.

On the day they caught me walking home i think it went past me 3 times.( different locations.)

Now i have proof i do walk....sometimes.

I'm going to check out the other locations.

:)

Does anyone have a picture of the google camera car??

Does anyone know how often will the go-go-google mobile update pictures?(existing views)

Gotta be six months old or something. My parents new house is still an empty block :S

Yep, at least cause its warm and sunny and the grass is not so green in most of the Adelaide shots. At present its cold and crap and the grass is green.

I wonder when google will take snaps of the streets they missed out on, they didnt drive down my street but drove down most of the ones surrounding =(

chriswoo writes...

Does anyone have a picture of the google camera car??

read the thread?

D

Not sure about pictures in Australia, but if you google for the pictures of the cars, you get to see the ones in America. Probably very similar here.

News reports say number plates have been blurred. But they haven't.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cnr+Corralyn+Ave+and+Leron+Ave+Enfield&sll=-34.868574,138.610125&sspn=0.010792,0.015471&layer=c&ie=UTF8&ll=-34.868204,138.605275&spn=0.010792,0.015471&z=16&cbll=-34.872477,138.60445&panoid=zZl159wCQB_ts436l56deA&cbp=1,354.9014778325124,,0,20.886699507389164

If that link doesn't work, just search for cnr Corralyn Ave and Leron Ave Enfield and look at the white car on the corner.

edit: note the car is parked illegally close to the corner and obstructing the footpath. Watch for a fine in the mail! Haha.

All the ones i saw were small white hatchbacks (simialar in shape and size to toyota starlets) The all had a rectangular google sticker on each front door.

Have you noticed that it seems to blur out car wheels which must appear to be faces to the google program?

chriswoo writes...

Does anyone have a picture of the google camera car??

See this link:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/googles-candid-camera-snaps-australia/2007/11/23/1195753275851.html

from this thread:

/forum-replies.cfm?t=888974

Alex R. writes...

Have you noticed that it seems to blur out car wheels
yeah

D

rant radio (3aw) are going to do another thing on it shortly

interesting to see all the plates that are visable

D

MitH writes...

rant radio (3aw)

lol I'm listening as wel... I love my rant radio.

my license plate isnt blurred out enough
i personally think its creepy... cool.. but creepy

MitH writes...

interesting to see all the plates that are visable

Our car has been snapped in our driveway, but interestingly you can't make out the number plate.

you can see the google car in this one – http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=50+griffiths+st+bald+hills&sll=-27.318666,153.013351&sspn=0.011153,0.022745&layer=c&ie=UTF8&ll=-27.318666,153.013415&spn=0.011153,0.022745&t=h&z=16&cbll=-27.323175,153.012804&panoid=n1ZTRV126Ofce2ujXn9MnQ&cbp=1,140.95182231882657,,0,47.958993780579505

you need to be at the end of the cul-de-sac, I think that link should be ok. Look down and you can view the vehicle.

I've already busted 1 guy coming out of the local adult bookshop. Caught right as he's walking out the door – this app is cool :-)

Romerio writes...

I've already busted 1 guy coming out of the local adult bookshop

link?
(top right of page)

D

chriswoo writes...

Does anyone have a picture of the google camera car??

You can see its shadow going accross the Nullabor...

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=-32.454301,123.840723&spn=0.042007,0.071754&z=14&layer=c&cbll=-32.465706,123.834588&panoid=dd_MqxZKA5pa9XJUotQW-g&cbp=1,270.8821046435398,,0,12.883256296127783

http://www.theage.com.au/news/biztech/global-backlash-as-google-launches-street-view/2008/08/05/1217701932020.html

and blog
http://blogs.smh.com.au/mashup/archives//019642.html

D

http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=-33.907537,151.20315&spn=0.002377,0.004694&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=-33.908697,151.202569&panoid=-ynSVxOWhAKCFliRTZfRXQ&cbp=1,155.25723472668815,,0,1.3826366559485652

:-D

Detail isn't high enough to get his face. If it was in the frame before you'd have him.

Hahah this is awesome! I didn't know the street view only got launched today as I was looking on google maps this morning looking up somthing and just happed to notice street view!

I remember Microsoft doing somthing like this but only in USA so it wasn't too amazing.. but now it's here in Aus it's freaking awesome! haha I can see my house and now I can explore most of W.A so I know where to be when I go for my holidays ! Google is amazing is all I'll add in! Sure they spent months on this project but the out come was well worth it!

Whoa, i just checked, it's actually got a real nice view of my house.... both cool and worrying at the same time.

I wonder how you get a job as a google car driver?

I wonder if Google offset the carbon emissions? Crickey – How many KM's have they driven?

They've certainly covered a lot of road. I thought it was only going to be the capital cities and such, but it turns out they've gone town-to-town (almost), and captured road/freeway travel in-between.

I have to say: I'm impressed.

It's cool, but really intrusive, I think...

wow, petrol was at $1.23 per litre (in my area at the time the photos were taken)...
must be from 2006/early 2007....

but it is so cool!

MzTezza writes...

It's cool, but really intrusive, I think...

It is hardly anymore intrusive than satellite view and actually driving to the house yourself. Sheesh!

[EDIT: IT SUX BEING SHAPED!]

Has anyone actually seen a Google car getting around the streets?

Can I patent an idea?
The ability to export a sequence of frames along a set route in a video or "flipbook" format. That would indeed be awesome!!

dypsis writes...

Has anyone actually seen a Google car getting around the streets?

Yes, mid November last year.

MzTezza writes...

It's cool, but really intrusive, I think...

+1

My house is the only one in my street that you can not see. They didn't even bother to go all the way to the end of my street.

http://darkman.is-a-geek.net/pictures/streetview.jpg

Who should I complain to?

I'm in awe! This is amazing. I can see my car! I would never have thought they'd go down my street.

MitH writes...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/biztech/global-backlash-as-google-launches-street-view/2008/08/05/1217701932020.html

"Since then, Google has developed technology to blur faces and number plates in the Street View photos, although it acknowledges the automated process is not foolproof. Privacy conscious users who notice any potentially invasive images on Street View can report them to Google using an online form."

Of course, being automated means it's going to miss blurring a percentage.

I parked my car in front of an ex's house when I was cheating on my gf at the time. My gf found out about this later on but I convinced her nothing was happening and I've never been going there.

I've just found a pic of my ex's house with my car parked in front, if she sees this, she is going to KILL me!!

Caustic Soda writes...

I've just found a pic of my ex's house with my car parked in front, if she sees this, she is going to KILL me!!

Don't cheat on your partners, simple.

Well... if you match up these Street View images with internal Real Estate website pics, you can actually find out alot of info if you were to do a robbery, rape or whatever... Kinda freaky... You could really plan out your crime really well...

darkman writes...

Don't cheat on your partners, simple.

Damn you Google!!!

MzTezza writes...

You could really plan out your crime really well...

As opposed to the old fashioned method of 'casing out the joint'.

MzTezza writes...

You could really plan out your crime really well...

Yeah they said this about Google Maps and terrorists when Google Maps was first launched.

I'd say that wanky Travel Shows use Google maps more than terrorists do....

Caustic Soda writes...

I've just found a pic of my ex's house with my car parked in front, if she sees this, she is going to KILL me!!

LMAO

MzTezza writes...

Well... if you match up these Street View images with internal Real Estate website pics, you can actually find out alot of info if you were to do a robbery, rape or whatever... Kinda freaky... You could really plan out your crime really well...

You worry too much, just enjoy the view...

Anyways, I just checked out my house and some other places in Melbourne and I must say I'M IMPRESSED!!!

Google is your best friend!

Caustic Soda writes...

I've just found a pic of my ex's house with my car parked in front, if she sees this, she is going to KILL me!!

BAHAHAHA.
I'm sorry but i was waiting for something like this. Didn't expect anything to come up on launch day though!

Lesson learned?

Yeah, I checked out my old address where I grew up, the current tenants turned my childhood home into a dump... Hmmph... I had been curious to know what I looks like, it seems soo much smaller than what I remembered...

I know for a fact they did my street on a Tuesday

spyvpsy writes...

I know for a fact they did my street on a Tuesday

the bins are out?!?!

optra1984 writes...

the bins are out?!?!

hehe yep.

MzTezza writes...

if you match up these Street View images with

already onto this

one site i work with is doing each 'site' w street view image of it

D

My street was early morning in January. The sun was just rising over the Pine Forrest and the Neighbors had an Aussie flag flying for Australia day.

optra1984 writes...

wow, petrol was at $1.23 per litre (in my area at the time the photos were taken)...
must be from 2006/early 2007....

And if it makes you feel any better I saw petrol @ $1.27 in my area this morning! :) in 2008! :P

And to think of all the time I wasted zooming in with Google Earth! :)

You already have an inherent right to take a picture of a residential building.

Certainly it makes it easier for someone to see what your house looks like, but only if they have your address. Even then, they could always just drive up to your house and take a photo.

What this does is makes your house publicly viewable on the internet. So what? Its already publicly viewable IRL.

The faces on it have been automatically blurred.

This would be great for the government compliance departments, perhaps there are people out there that have falsified their place of residence of whatever, they may catch you out, or have even declared that they are a single spouse but their ex's car is on the drive way... Just a thought...

MzTezza writes...

This would be great for the government compliance departments, perhaps there are people out there that have falsified their place of residence of whatever, they may catch you out, or have even declared that they are a single spouse but their ex's car is on the drive way... Just a thought...

You seriously worry too much.... relax! :)

MzTezza writes...

This would be great for the government compliance departments, perhaps there are people out there that have falsified their place of residence of whatever, they may catch you out, or have even declared that they are a single spouse but their ex's car is on the drive way... Just a thought...

No chance. Imagine trying to make one photo from one day many months ago seem like evidence for something like that.

Not to mention the man hours it would take to go through all of streetview looking for this kind of stuff. I think there are thousands of better ways to catch people out than seeing a car in a driveway on streetview.

There may be actual privacy concerns with streetview (doesnt bother me at all personally) but it seems people go out of their way to come up with crazy situations where streetview will be a big deal.

The images of my street must have been done at the end of last year. Neighbouring houses haven since undergone renovations beginning early this year and the changes aren't reflected in the street view.

Hey that's a thought, how often are they going to update the images?

What if I wanted to do extensive renovations and/or landscaping and really jazz the house up for sale, but the current picture is pretty ordinary, I need to get Google to take a new picture of my house.

I can see ramifications for the real estate industry here, all centred around the annual google van :P

Dane writes...

I can see ramifications for the real estate industry here, all centred around the annual google van :P

Good point, but also a good way to get people to take better care of thier frontage if they want to prep thier place for sale too...

Dane writes...

how often are they going to update the images?

I imagine they probably employ the cars and drivers full-time, so that their database of GPS-indexed photos is always up-to-date to some degree.

I've found my work van in 2 locations so far, at home and on the road for work... :p

Dane writes...

What if I wanted to do extensive renovations and/or landscaping and really jazz the house up for sale, but the current picture is pretty ordinary, I need to get Google to take a new picture of my house.

I can see ramifications for the real estate industry here, all centred around the annual google van :P

I'm assuming when you put your house up for sale the internet ad will include an up-to-date photo of the front of the house. If it doesn't then you could conclude that it still looks the heap of shit it did in streetview.

DML writes...

I imagine they probably employ the cars and drivers full-time, so that their database of GPS-indexed photos is always up-to-date to some degree.

A cost-effective way would've been to just stick these cameras on top of Taxis, Buses, Police Vehicles & Eddie McGuire's car.

Anyone know if the cars here were left or right handed drive?

It would make sense that they ship the cars around and use the same around the globe, hence the left/right handed drive question.

I can see my house, work, etc seem to be pretty recent pictures, within the last year.

EDIT: actually a car in the drive way can probably pinpoint the day, cause its of a mate whos only been to my house a couple of times

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=+maple+short+st+st+marys+nsw+australia&layer=c&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.749116,150.779253&spn=0.006967,0.013905&z=17&cbll=-33.750111,150.777505&panoid=b5soHJeVG9OWHM6CPmBkyQ&cbp=1,443.9800000000007,,0,4.832271142635579

what happen in this street, go forward 1 frame towards the ute and the ute disapears, a person appears and the bins lids go from closed to open

must of had a smoko break

156 maple road north st marys nsw (corner short st)

sea eagle writes...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=australia&ie=UTF8&ll=-25.244696,116.71875&spn=35.871074,111.09375&z=4&layer=c

that didn't take me to the place you were saying, instead it shows me the whole AUS...

If you want to post a direct link to the place you should see a "link" option to the right on google maps along with "print" and "send" options...

Just repost your direct link to the place :)

sea eagle writes...

what happen in this street, go forward 1 frame towards the ute and the ute disapears, a person appears and the bins lids go from closed to open

Same as in my street with a roundabout, 1 frame a car is waiting to enter it, the next frame the car is completely out of site, not even visible in the distance. I wonder if they were driving slow or had to take multiple photos of areas that they had difficulty with?