Google maps street browser

If you haven't checked out the street view feature on Google maps you really should. Basically you can get right down to street level and look around 360 degrees, just like you were walking down the street.

There is a lot of controversy over privacy issues and that sort of thing so maybe the whole thing will get canned. But currently it is possible to check out the street level view of quite a few major cities. These include cities in the US, Japan, Australia, France and Italy. I personally don't think it should get canned. All you can see is what someone driving down the street can see. It's not like you can go snooping in someone's back garden.

See the street level view in action, by going to Google maps and click the 'Street level' button. Then find a major city in one of those countries mentioned above. The street level views are indicated as blue routes with camera icons. Zoom right down to the area you want to see and click somewhere on the blue route. You will be presented with a view of the street. You are then able to travel along the route and rotate 360 degrees.