Google Giving Up On Street View In Germany Due To “Massive” Opt Outs.

It appears that Germans aren’t too fond of Google’s Street View no matter how helpful it may seem. Reports are circulating that after opt out requests surpassed 250,000+, Google basically pulled the plug on continuing their German tour aimed at increasing their Street View database. Considering that Germany has over 8.5 million houses currently cataloged, we’re not quite sure what Google is thinking. Yeah — there will be some considerable blurring in certain areas. But is ~250,000 out of 8.5 million (and previously counting) really so much to just give up?

Apparently to Google it is. But to be clear, Google has only stated that they are no longer pursuing Street View captures. They have not, however, stated exactly why they are pulling out. Looks like Microsoft’s recently announced “Street Side” is going to face some skepticism.

Any German readers happy/sad with the news?

Photoshop #Fail: Verizon Photoshops iOS Maps App Onto Droid X Flyer.

There are certain instances in life where you should take extra special care to make sure you’ve dotted all your i’s and crossed all of your t’s. In the above Droid X holiday promotional banner, Verizon did not do so. An epic Photoshop fail if we ever saw one.

Cue Verizon iPhone rumors in 3…2…

Angry German, Pro-Google Posse Throwing Eggs at Blurred Houses. #weirdnews

If there’s one thing Germans really like, it’s Google’s Street View technologies and services. Unfortunately, the latest wave of crackdowns in European nations are forcing Google to blur domiciles that don’t want to be featured online. Apparently, some people have a problem with this. But instead of lobbying government (rarely works), the disgruntled group choose eggs instead — hurling eggs to be more exact. Attached to those little eggs were notes that simply stated “Google’s Cool”. Confused?

Free turn-by-turn navigation coming to iPhone “and friends”. [Google]

The GPS industry has already had a handful in recent months with Google’s completely free and generally completely awesome mobile navigation/turn-by-turn mobile app that debuted on the Android platform. But the Goog’s has plenty more to dish out as they are planning on releasing Google Navigation for iPhone “and plenty of other mobile platforms“, they announced today at a London Tech conference.

NYC transformed into an 8-bit “1980′s Google Maps” masterpiece.

Getting bored with modern mapping and navigation technology or do you just want something cool to look at? Traversing the planet via direction from a normal map is what it is. But what if you had to stare at something a bit more old school. What if Google Maps was around in 1982? What would it look like? A quick stop by 8bitnyc.com will help you with that one. The pixelated image above showcases 8bitnyc in all it’s classic gloy, compliments of the synapses of Brett Camper.

“I created 8-Bit NYC, mixing the lo-fi overhead world maps of 1980s role-playing and adventure games with the kind of geographical data that drives today’s web maps and GPS navigation. It’s interactive (like Google Maps), letting you zoom from a view of the whole city, down to an individual street — any address, anywhere in the city.”

What could be seen as a one-off goof off project has some actual traction, with Brent seeking funding to construct 15 more of these 8-bit city maps. While they wouldn’t be much help in the way of nitty gritty details for new trips to destinations unknown, they’d at least make the trip more fun. Heck, walking around my city (if it were 8-bit-ified) would be like a whole new adventure.

Am I weird?

TechCrunch

Google: “If EU mandates 6-month data retention policy, we’re packin’ up and high steppin’ it outta here”

EU residents may want to write/call/email/text their local governments and let them know any bill or law that drops data retention limits from 12 months to 6 is a bad idea. Especially so because if it does pass, Google Street View will be no more. They’re stating that if data retention limits are lowered for the original unblurred images from twelve to six months, the accuracy, integrity, and overall usefulness will be dimished. After those 6-months, if Google wants fresh unblurred images, they’ll have to drive all over kingdom come again, resnapping life as it happens. The short answer would be to hire more Street View drivers to scan more often. But is that really the answer?

I just can’t see the reasoning behind the “privacy” motives if the images will still be online for many months at a time. What’s the difference in a screen capture from Street View whether it’s six or twelve months? Am I missing something here?

Bloomberg

EU lays down the law: Google has to re-snap all of EU land every 6 months.

In the current economy, acquiring or even maintaining a job is pretty hard stuff. If you are lucky enough to keep a job, work is often sporadic and pay is stagnant or reduced. “Job security” is highly sought after. If job security is really what you’re after, Google is “the” place to be — specifically the Street View team.

A new EU ruling documented in Article 29 states that the current 12-month time span is a “too disproportionate” amount of time for images to be stored. Ok, fair enough. The new limit proposed is a mere 6-months. So, every 6-months the street team has to go around re-snapping all of these pictures — bingo, job security.

My question is, unless there is a major change such as a new building or road added, why take a picture if nothing has changed? So some guy with a completely blurred face has been on Street View for 12 months, what’s the big deal? Am I missing something?

(Google, are you hiring Street View drivers…?)

Pocket-Lint

[Image Source]

Nokia to bring Ovi Maps to other platforms, support the competition?

*Time to get the salt shakers out ladies and gents.

Have a certain “thing” for Ovi Maps but absolutely despise the overpriced (or rather average) nature of their higher end smartphone lineup? There may just be hope for you yet if Greig Williams, Nokia’s General Manager for South East Europe has his way. In response to a question lobbed by german site “Die Presse” as to whether Ovi Maps would expand to other platforms or not, Mr. Williams simply replied: “That will be the next step”. Score!

Well, score if you love Ovi Maps. Truthfully, Ovi Maps does have something going for it. The maps are stored locally which means as long as your phone has real GPS, even the lack of a cell signal shouldn’t hamper your miniaturized navigation device. Other than that, besides UI differences there really isn’t too much of a difference between Ovi Maps, Google Maps/Navigation or any other mobile navigation software out there. (You can only instruct someone how to get from point A to point B in so many ways and styles)

The only question that remains now is will Nokia charge other platforms for Ovi Maps or will they keep it free? Free would be nice and actually warranted given the fact that Google Navigation is already free (and awesome) and going global as the months progress. A fee-based scheme will pretty spell failure from the start if mass adoption is what they’re gunnin’ for.

But it’s all rumor and heresy for now. My how I love a good rumor. Think it’ll pan out?

Engadget

Waze for iPhone updated — Personalized alternative routes & scoreboards now live!

We’ve covered Waze in the past for it’s simple use, nicely done UI, and robust + active user community which makes the user generated GPS application and service a joy to use. If you find your daily commute boring and unlively, I promise that after “Wazing” even one of your trips, you’ll be hooked. Dan from Waze just hit me up with another mail alerting me to a freshly released iPhone update that adds in two big features that should keep hooked users even deeper and newcomers intrigued.

• Personalized Alternative Routes: Hate taking the same path twice, like some variety from day-to-day, or need a quick second option because of a weather/road hazard? This feature is for you. After driving a second, third, or *insert number here* route 2-3 times, the Waze application will learn your new route and display it in addition to your normal route with info on each allowing you to make an educated decision as to how you want to go.

• Scoreboard: The scoreboard has been talked about several times now over the last few months. For Waze die hard Waze users, the scoreboard is by far the best new feature, allowing them to finally compare their points against other local Wazers. Nothing makes a boring task more lively and fun like the good ‘ol spirit of competition.

If you haven’t tried Waze yet, now is a better time than ever. The indecisive will find the new alternative routes feature a lifesaver as will the die-hard users with the scoreboard. Is there any reason not to use Waze?