Autoblog

Isuzu Trail View is Google Street View for off road

Zach Bowman — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Videos, Off-Road, MISC

Isuzu has taken to advertising its not-for-North-America KB pickup truck with a unique initiative. The company wanted to apply the Google Street View philosophy to some of South Africa's more remote off-road trails, and the result is Isuzu Trail View. Using multiple action cameras situated in a 3D-printed housing strapped to the top of the truck, the crew began bouncing along dirt and rock paths, recording all the while. They also shot additional video and worked with experts to provide excellent clips on how to navigate common off-road obstacles.

You can watch the making-of video below, and you can head over to the Trail View site to poke around a few South African trails for yourself. All we want to know is, how long before Jeep does the same here in the US?

Continue reading Isuzu Trail View is Google Street View for off road

Isuzu Trail View is Google Street View for off road originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota uses IQ minicar to help improve Google Street View

Chris Shunk — Thu, 31 May 2012 12:43:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Videos, Hatchback, Toyota

Google Street View vehicles have logged millions of miles in an effort to display video of every street imaginable, but unfortunately the G-Mobile is too big for a few European roads. But instead of leaving the thin and narrow out of Street View, Team Google has employed the diminutive Toyota iQ onto the smallest streets in Belgium to to go where Google Street View previously could not travel.

Scroll down to watch the little iQ do its thing. Some of the roads only look big enough for a Schwinn, but the smallest Toyota does the trick just fine.

Continue reading Toyota uses IQ minicar to help improve Google Street View

Toyota uses IQ minicar to help improve Google Street View originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 May 2012 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Street View documents Japan tsunami devastation

Zach Bowman — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:39:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Technology

The online news cycle moves at a blistering pace. It's easy to forget that, while the story of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami that occurred last March may move from the front page, individuals are still struggling to cope with the widespread devastation on the island.

Google took it upon itself to document the structural destruction in some of the hardest hit areas in its Google Maps Street View function. The tech giant covered more than 27,000 miles to provide a 360-degree imagery archive of the communities that are still reeling from the natural disasters nine months later.

Google has even started a new web site to allow viewers to compare before and after images of specific areas. The Build The Memory site is a stark reminder that, while the world marches on, there's plenty of recovery left in Japan. Head over to the site for a closer look.

Google Street View documents Japan tsunami devastation originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Street View pedals through the world's parks

Autoblog Staff — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

In Google's relentless push to map and photograph the world's public spaces, the search giant has prepared custom trikes to bring its Street View treatment to parks.

Using these specially developed, tech-laden trikes, riders can take 360-degree photographs of trails and parks as they pedal through, providing would-be visitors a chance to see the sights without leaving the comfort of their couch.

One of the latest parks to get mapped is New York's High Line, a 1.5-mile elevated park that used to handle freight rail traffic track on Manhattan's West Side. (If you ever visit the High Line, you'll see that the park's designers actually incorporated train tracks into the walking paths, in a nod to the park's origins.) Other parks that have been similarly mapped include London's Kensington Gardens and Tokyo's Koganei Park.

Follow the jump to take a Street View tour of each park and check out a video of how Google photographed and mapped the High Line.

Continue reading Google Street View pedals through the world's parks

Google Street View pedals through the world's parks originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz extending app selection for COMAND, ready to fight Audi with gesture controls

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Infotainment

Mercedes-Benz is in the process of revamping its COMAND infotainment system for the next decade, and as you'd expect, apps, search and advanced navigation is on the way. But it's not just about what's on the screen; it's about how you interact with the system.

In addition to researching 3D displays, Mercedes engineers are looking into expanding voice commands with natural language dictation for emails, text messaging and mobile internet browsing. Drivers would simply ask "What's the weather like in New York City?" and get current conditions, along with a multi-day forecast and be able to do point-of-interest searches through Google. A new user interface - originally shown on the Concept A-Class at this year's Shanghai Motor Show - will incorporate more fluid transitions and user-configurable displays for everything from navigation functionality to climate and media control. And lest Audi have all the fun, Mercedes is looking into handwriting recognition and gesture controls for interior lighting.

On the app front, Mercedes will be integrating Twitter and Facebook into COMAND this fall, along with Stitcher radio and Pandora. Even better, the system will begin incorporating Google's StreetView technology and Panoramio so drivers can see exactly what their destination looks like before they arrive. The new COMAND functionality is due to arrive on European SLK, C-Class, E-Class, CLS, M-Class and the new B-Class by the end of the year and should make it to the States in early 2012. Hit the jump for the full details.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz extending app selection for COMAND, ready to fight Audi with gesture controls

Mercedes-Benz extending app selection for COMAND, ready to fight Audi with gesture controls originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge says Google can be held liable in Street View wi-fi security debacle

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

It's a good thing for Google that have all of the money in the world. A federal judge has announced that the Silicon Valley giant can be sued for any damages related to the data grabbed by its Street View cars. As you may recall, earlier this year, it was determined that when the mapping machines passed by areas with unsecured WiFi networks, the hardware mounted on top of the roofs was inadvertently able to snag passwords, emails and a whole host of other information that was unknowingly ripe for the picking.

According to Wired, Google is going on the defensive and claims that unsecured WiFi networks are akin to radio communications. Anyone can grab a radio signal out there, and Google believes grabbing onto an open network is similar. Google has also stated that it was initially unaware of the data being snatched up by its roving fleet.

The implications from this case could prove very interesting for both Google and anyone using an unsecured WiFi network. We'll bring you updates as the story develops, and we'll be sure to change the password on the Autoblog router. (ProTip: Don't go with #12345, even if it matches the combination on your luggage).

Judge says Google can be held liable in Street View wi-fi security debacle originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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9-eyes.com features Google Street View's most beautiful and disturbing images

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 15 May 2011 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Tumblr is a collection of personal fetishes, with homemade sites focused on everything from cats to cars to freckles. The site 9-eyes.com, on the other hand, doesn't look through the two eyes of Jon Rafman, but rather through the numerous and far-flung eyes of Google Street View; the site is nothing but the "best" pics from Google's roving army, like the one above.

We have no idea how the suited man (or is it a mannequin?) ended up on a lonely, rural lane. Nor do we have any idea why the boy is hiding behind the garbage can, why the reindeer is running down the road, or why Rafman - who blurs every person's face - decided to blur the face of an elephant, as if we would have recognized it otherwise. But you'll find that and much more in the museum-worthy collection.

Be warned: 9-eyes contains many flipped birds and shiny moons of a decidedly non-lunar variety. If you're all right with that and you have time to kill, you know where to head.

9-eyes.com features Google Street View's most beautiful and disturbing images originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 May 2011 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could the U.S. Postal Service fleet be outfitted like Google Street View?

Zach Bowman — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

The U.S. Post Office is having a rough run of things. With expenses increasing at every corner, our nation's mail system is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Needless to say, the institution is currently looking into extra ways to rake in cash that doesn't involve hiking the price of stamps. Michael Ravnitzky, Counsel to the Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, has come up with a pretty clever plan that could turn postal vehicles into high-tech havens capable of pulling down information on everything from weather and air pollution to road conditions and public safety.

The premise is simple: slap a cheap set of data recording equipment on the roof of each mail truck and then sell the collected data to interested parties. The trucks could be calibrated to warn of biological or radiological attacks to alert the defense department or simply provide a larger sample group for meteorological study. The post office could even lease space on its vehicles for whatever sort of data collection equipment government agencies or private entities could dream up, and Ravnitzky says that it could even be used to fill in blank spots in cell phone coverage. Of course, the likelihood of this coming to fruition seems pretty slim. After all, this is the federal government we're talking about...

[Source: The New York Times | Image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images]

Could the U.S. Postal Service fleet be outfitted like Google Street View? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Google admits Street View cars swiped emails, passwords

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

Remember when we mentioned that Google, through its Street View camera cars, had accidentally captured "bits of data" from unsecured WiFi networks? The search engine giant has now admitted that the street mapping cars captured quite a more. In fact, when the vehicles found open networks they were apparently able to snag passwords, emails and web pages.

How's that? The antennae on top of a Street View car registers the name and location of any available network as it passes through a given neighborhood. This data is then used to sell advertising. Google had initially said that the antennae only captured a small amount of data, but now it appears that that potentially millions of emails and passwords were recorded.

The company says this was all a mistake and is offering an apology. As soon as they found out their cars were capable of recording such information, the entire fleet was grounded and the authorities were alerted. Google has since changed its vehicles so that they no longer collect wireless information.

This is not enough for some. According to The Daily Mail, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office is launching an investigation and Scotland Yard is checking to see if laws were broken. Privacy advocates are calling this a massive scandal, seeking further investigation and third party audits.

[Source: The Daily Mail]

Report: Google admits Street View cars swiped emails, passwords originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best reaction to an oncoming Google Street View car ever

Zach Bowman — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Technology, Humor

Click above to watch animation after the jump

There's no denying that Google StreetView has made our lives easier. There's always a difference between knowing where something is on a map and seeing the surrounding landmarks with your own virtual eyes, and Google Maps has gone a long way toward bringing the world to our living room. Of course, StreetView has also helped to remind us of just how entertaining the human race can be. Creative souls the world over have staged pranks - both elaborate and otherwise - to have themselves immortalized in the annals of Googledom.

While we've seen our fair share of superheroes, unique vehicles and the like, our hats have to go off to the crew in the animated GIF seen after the jump. There is no elaborate set up or costume, just two guys who really wanted to be on Google StreetView. Go ahead - see it for yourself.

[Source: Make Use Of]

Continue reading Best reaction to an oncoming Google Street View car ever

Best reaction to an oncoming Google Street View car ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 May 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Street View cars collected personal data over Wi-Fi, entire fleet grounded

Zach Bowman — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Technology

Big Brother is always watching. Or listening. Or maybe just nabbing some info off of your unsecured Wi-Fi network. Google has officially grounded its fleet of Street View cars after discovering that the rolling tech stations were inadvertently sampling data from open Wi-Fi networks. How did this happen? According to a post on the search giant's blog, a piece of errant code found its way into the same program that Google uses to help pinpoint businesses in your area. As a result, tiny snippets of information were stored in the halls of Googledom as the Street View cars rolled through towns and cities all over the globe. The company says that it was never looked at and that it wants to delete the information as soon as it gets the OK from authorities.

If it's any consolation, Google says that the bits of data should be very small and very fragmented. Why? For one thing, the Street View cars are moving, and the company says that the program was designed to change channels five times per second. Even so, Google will submit the software to a third party for review. The flaw was discovered following an audit from the German Data Protection Agency.

Let this be a lesson to you, kids: lock down your Wi-Fi.

[Source: Engadget via Google]

Google Street View cars collected personal data over Wi-Fi, entire fleet grounded originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 May 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps gets down with the Woodward Dream Cruise

Zach Bowman — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Technology

You have to drive something really special to stand out from the crowd at the Woodward Dream Cruise - something like a Google Street View Chevrolet Cobalt. When we spotted the Street View crew at last summer's cruise, we wondered if any shots of the vintage metal rolling around Detroit would actually make it into Google Maps or not.

Turns out that question has been answered. As of now, you can virtually tour Woodward Ave., complete with snippets of the cruise interspersed. If you were driving your own classic last August, there's a chance you can see your car tucked among the rest of the metal. Hat tip to Jed!

[Source: Google Street View]

Google Maps gets down with the Woodward Dream Cruise originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Street View confirms Elephantitis strikes deer population in Canada

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Humor

Let's all collectively thank the glorious bit of technology that is Google Street View for letting the world know about the rare and mostly undocumented breakout of Elephantitis in Canada's deer population. Unlike the human form of the disease which is generally characterized by the swelling of a single body part, deer Elephantitis apparently morphs the hapless affected creatures into real-life elephants. If you're driving in the area, extra caution is advisable.

It seems that this street sign was spotted by a Google Street View camera car somewhere in Vancouver. We're not sure how it got there or if it's nothing more than a funny prank, but it is most definitely real. Oh, and for the record, the proper medical term is really Elephantiasis (thanks, Wikipedia!).

[Source: Google Street View via Jalopnik]

Google Street View confirms Elephantitis strikes deer population in Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Circuit Logic: Mazda captures Laguna Seca on Google Street View

Noah Joseph — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Mazda

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Google StreetView - Click above to jump to the interactive map

Looking for a corkscrew? If it's a bottle of wine you're looking to open, we're afraid we can't help you there, pal. But if you want to take an interactive look at one of America's best race tracks, Mazda and Google have come to the rescue.

The Japanese automaker has captured the Laguna Seca race track (which it sponsors) from every which angle and placed it on Google Street View, making it the first circuit available on the online service. The interactive feature allows you to check out the track from start to finish, Andretti hairpin to the famous Corkscrew downhill kink, all from the comfort of your own home. In fact, we've placed the widget together with the press release right after the jump for your convenience, along with a brace of high-resolution images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Laguna Seca on Google StreetView

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Circuit Logic: Mazda captures Laguna Seca on Google Street View

Circuit Logic: Mazda captures Laguna Seca on Google Street View originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Google forced to re-shoot all of Japan's StreetView images [w/POLL]

John Neff — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Japan

We happen to love Google StreetView for the fun things that can be found using the free service. Ugly Buicks, Porsches testing in Colorado and even a rare split-window Corvette barn find are just a few of the many, many things uncovered by Google's free service, which snaps 360-degree images at eye level using specially equipped cars with roof-mounted cameras. Of course, there are going to be privacy concerns when you hire people to drive around with a camera on a stick and take pictures, and complaints coming out of Japan have reportedly forced Google to go back to the drawing board and reshoot the entire country.

The complaints center around the fact that the camera taking pictures is mounted high enough to see over fences and into yards, thereby violating certain expectations of privacy. Google has already shot 12 major Japanese cities, including Tokyo, but will be scrapping everything and starting over after modifications have been made to the camera mounts to lower their field of vision. Google StreetView was recently banned in Greece over privacy issues and other regions around the world have also not looked kindly on being invaded by the all-seeing swarm of Google cars. How do you see it?

View Poll

[Source: JapanToday.com, Photo by carolmond | CC2.0]

REPORT: Google forced to re-shoot all of Japan's StreetView images [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 May 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google StreetView inspires copycat Smart ForTwo police patrol in UK

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:39:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, UK

After revolutionizing search, advertising, and e-mail, Google is changing the way police in Greater Manchester keep track of motorists: Filming them a la StreetView.

After having seen Google's StreetView car doing its Cylon sweep of everything, everywhere, the local authorities were apparently inspired to outfit Smart ForTwos with high-rise cameras to capture data. The cars will focus their views near "a high occurrence of 'driver distraction' collisions and where officers have regularly observed offenses being committed."

The police aren't trying to hide anything -- the ForTwos are evidently outfitted in official livery, and besides, there's that gigantic telephone pole of a camera mast sticking out of the roof as a less-than-subtle tipoff. What the police are hoping is that you won't be able to hide anything, either.

The surveiling Smart cars are only part of a pilot program for now, but you can bet that if they're effective, you've only seen the beginning of them.

Thanks, Google...

[Source: Daily Mail via CNET | Image: Manchester Evening News]

Google StreetView inspires copycat Smart ForTwo police patrol in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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They're Watching: Google StreetView catches Porsches testing in Colorado

Noah Joseph — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Technology, Porsche

There's no hiding these days from Big Brother. The nutcases in the tin-foil hats would tell you there never was, but now even automakers have to watch out. Development teams out testing prototypes on public roads used to have to watch out for professional spy photographers, but with the advent camera phones and now Google Street View, there's no hiding anywhere. That's what the boys at Garage419 discovered when they found shots of several Porsche prototypes on service while searching for a good driving road in Colorado.

Hard to tell much from the shots of the Boxsters, Caymans and 911s, except to say that the automakers' dev teams and the paparazzi alike have a new kid on the block to watch out for.

[Source: Garage419]

They're Watching: Google StreetView catches Porsches testing in Colorado originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps Street-View features upgraded visuals for directions

Chris Shunk — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., First Drives

Thanks to inventions like GPS Navigation and online directions, it's getting harder to get lost by the day. Google Maps has been a big hit for folks trying to navigate to new destinations, and the free service just got cooler with the integration of Street-View into driving directions. Now when you enter a destination and get step by step directions, you can also click on a camera icon on the map to get a street-level view of the roads you'll be traveling.

Street Maps allows you to rotate the view, click arrows to virtually travel the route, and even check out landmarks that you'll be passing along the way. That way you'll have a distinct visual to look out for when you're going to turn, instead of seeing the tiny street sign at the last possible minute. The photo resolution is so clear, you can check out where there are one-way streets, read parking signs, and even keep tabs on speed limits on your route. The only draw-back is that you need to be within one of the 44 regions of the US to use the feature, but most metropolitan areas have the feature.

[Source: Carscoop]

Google Maps Street-View features upgraded visuals for directions originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 May 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Street View finds one fugly Buick and more

John Neff — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:05:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Wasting time scouring Google Maps with the company's new Street View feature has become our new favorite hobby. Earlier today we showed you one of the vehicles that's used to take the street level pictures. It turns out these vehicles capture some amazing things, and since they're on the ground rather than orbiting the earth, we can actually make out some cool stuff in the pics.

For instance, some mom must be so proud that her son parks his modified Buick Regal right in front of the house for all to see. He probably leaves the doors unlocked, because there's little chance anyone would approach that paint job voluntarily.

Thanks to a commenter, we found a site that's collecting all of the interesting photos the Street View cars find, and some of them are, of course, auto related. Take, for instance, the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine van that was snapped in a Palo Alto, CA parking lot. Or how about the license plate-less Mercedes-Benz of Steve Jobs? Then there are some incriminating photos that could get the Street View in trouble with their bosses. This one caught them in the drive thruhanging out at McDonalds, and this pic shows them amidst a flow of traffic that's exceeding the posted speed limit.

If you find something interesting related to autos while using Google Maps' new Street View feature, make sure to hit the Tip button above and send us the link.

Thanks to anonymous for the tip! (You know who you are)

Google Street View finds one fugly Buick and more originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's Street View Car: Take a look at the vehicle that's looking at you!

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Technology, Volkswagen

While it was much more fun to think of the little hover-droid flying around New York City waiting to snap pictures for you of the surrounding city-scape, the reality is a bit less interesting, although more realistic. The vehicle you see in the picture above is one of Immersive Media's camera wielding cars, a Volkswagen New Beetle to be exact. These are the cars that Google is using to populate their new Street View function with pictures of major cities, or as Immersive Media themselves refer to it: 360° georeferenced spherical video. Ummm... yeah.

Since I just ruined John's fantasy of the little hover-droid, I propose this stunning possibility: Maybe this is the real Bumblebee from Transformers! He's no Camaro, he was a Bug all along. He's come to earth in an attempt to map out possible... alright, nevermind. I'll just go back to thinking of the hover-droid.

[Source: Immersive Media via Engadget]

Google's Street View Car: Take a look at the vehicle that's looking at you! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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