Fashionistas. We don't need ya!

The other day I was reading MaximumPC Online and came across an article which highlighted a new feature to Google Maps. I kinda sorta freaked the fuck out when I played with said new feature. Apparently now you have the ability to scroll along streetlevel navigation in Googlemaps. I believe the first city to use this new feature was/is London, England. Other cities that I know of, which include this new feature, are Paris, France and New York City (Toronto is currently excluded). The benefits of this app go well-beyond just sussing out a neighbourhood to live in. Think big!

In the above animated GIF, I've included a short stroll along Kingston Rd. in London England. It should be stated for the record that I chose this randomly and yet, require to live there. I must apologize for the grainy image quality, Animated gifs are a lost art that developed nowhere and is limited to 256 colours. Anyway, what's not seen in the images I've shown is the amazing ability to pan around in 360 degrees of view. At each frame-step you can move around a high-resolution image of your location. You can also zoom in and out of any view you're at. It's actually mindblowing how Google has incorporated this awesome new feature. I can't begin to imagine how long it must have been to develop this feature. Being the consummate geek that I am, I can only imagine I'd be tickled pink having a stroll around the I.T./Server side of Google H.Q.. Trillions of terabytes upon trillions of terabyets of networked information intertwined inside, maybe, the most amazing network/server configurations that we I.T. geeks have never even heard of. Anyway, let me just say that Google has most definitely got their shit together. Their stock hovers just over 300 a share and despite the current *insert whatever fashionable/headline-worthy word[s] to describe the "Global Economic Crisis" here* they remain strong. I can easily imagine that this time next year, this streetlevel navigation will expand into the ability to seamlessly traverse along the streets of London and elsewhere -- realtime flyby animation. Fucking incredible.

To see this feature for yourself go to Google Maps and type in: "London England". Zoom into some borough or London proper and you'll notice in the top left corner of your viewer a Yellow Person. Drag the Yellow man/woman/transgender onto the street of your choosing in the map. It will then automatically load the Streetlevel interface. Waste HOURS wandering.

Embarrassingly enough, I've spent too much time trying to upload this clip. Youtube is being somewhat of whore to me and is prohibiting me from embedding the clip due to copyright infringement. Cows. So you'll just have to [ click here ] to view the clip. Skins is soooo retarded and I'm so ashamed for watching this show but I had to show this clip. It basically shows how weird and random the writers can get. It makes NO sense but I fucking swear I almost pissed myself when I watched this scene. Oh dear ME.

And lastly I'd like to point out that I am indeed obsessed with this band/song. If Jesus and Santa had conceived a child, it would enter this life in the form of this melody. Brilliant. Epic Win. Double fisted victory salutes to the heavens.

Current Mood: g33ky
Current Music: Maps -- Elouise

Advertisement