Quote Originally Posted by nihil
Neither street view nor satellite view have any real value to the General Public, they are entirely gratuitous and unnecessary.
I think it's helpful, especially when trying to find someone's house or when you're looking to buy a house.

Quote Originally Posted by nihil
They are very useful to criminals and terrorists[...]Over here, criminals have admitted to using Google, when arrested.
I guess I'm still failing to see how a criminal could "use Google" to rob a house? I mean, I guess they get on street view and do a "virtual scope-out" of the place? All of the images I see for the local area are several years old. It's not like they can see if anyone is home. I guess they could be looking for "loose" items? Still, I think that's pretty weak - and, ultimately, you are responsible for locking your stuff up. I seriously doubt a thief is going to pick out a steal because he sees an unlocked bicycle on your front porch via Google Maps.

Quote Originally Posted by The-Spec
This isn't some photojournalist doing something artsy, you idiot... this is a company treating people like **** while making serious bank in the process.

I guess I don't feel like I've been "treated like ****" because I didn't get notification that Google was going to drive by and take pictures of the neighborhood... that hardly makes me an "idiot"... such emotions!?

Quote Originally Posted by The-Spec
They ****ing hold copyrights of the images of YOUR HOME! How is that even possible?
Ermmm... because they took the picture maybe? Just a thought...

I just don't see it as an infringement on anyone's rights, and I certainly don't believe that's what Google set out to do. I think it's a handy little feature to have on their already awesome Maps web app. I mean, unless the pictures were taken from a private road, I don't see how they've done anything wrong.