It should be noted that Keyhole (and now Google Maps) uses a
combination of satellite and hi-res aerial imagery, the latter in
more urbanized areas. On a spot check of places I know, the aerials
were 1-3 years old.

Nat Case
Hedberg Maps

Original message:
>From cnn.com
>http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/04/05/google.maps.ap/index.html
>
>SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Online search engine leader Google
>Inc. has unveiled a new feature that will enable its users to zoom in on
>homes and businesses using satellite images, an advance that may raise
>privacy concerns as well as intensify the competitive pressures on its
>rivals.
>
>The satellite technology, which Google began offering late Monday at
>http://maps.google.com/external link, is part of the package that the
>Mountain View-based company acquired when it bought digital map maker
>Keyhole Corp. for an undisclosed amount nearly six months ago.
>
>This marks the first time since the deal closed that Google has offered
>free access to Keyhole's high-tech maps through its search engine. Users
>previously had to pay $29.95 to download a version of Keyhole's basic
>software package.
>
>A more traditional map will continue to be the first choice served up by
>Google's search engine. Users will have the option of retrieving a
>satellite picture by clicking on a button.
>
>The satellite maps could unnerve some people, even as the technology
>impresses others. That's because the Keyhole technology is designed to
>provide close-up perspective of specific addresses.
>
>Keyhole's previous government ties also have raised anxieties.
>
>Founded in 2001, Keyhole raised some money in 2003 from In-Q-Tel, a
>venture capital firm backed by the Central Intelligence Agency. Leading
>up to the Google sale, Keyhole's roughly 10,000 customers included a
>cross-section of government agencies.
>
>There is little reason for people to be paranoid about the satellite
>maps because the images generally are six to 12 months old, said John
>Hanke, Keyhole's general manager. "And it's not like you are going to be
>able to read a license plate on a car or see what an individual was
>doing when a particular image was taken," he said.
>
>Google believes most people will like the convenience of generating a
>satellite image with a few clicks of a computer mouse. The company
>envisions people using the service as a way to scout a hotel's proximity
>to the beach for a possible vacation or size up the neighborhood where
>an apartment is for rent.
>
>Google's free satellite maps initially will be limited to North America,
>with images covering roughly half the United States, Hanke said.
>
>Although Google is offering the satellite maps on a test basis, the
>feature will probably force its other online rivals to upgrade their
>technology, predicted search industry analyst Greg Sterling of the
>Kelsey Group. "To play in this space, you are going to need some robust
>mapping capabilities."
>
>Sterling said Google's satellite maps pose the biggest threat to
>Mapquest, a service owned by Time Warner Corp. that has long operated
>the most popular Web site for finding directions.
>
>The satellite maps also up the ante for the many challengers chipping
>away at Google's share of the lucrative Internet search engine market by
>adding more bells and whistles. For instance, Amazon.com Inc.'s A9
>search engine earlier this year introduced a feature that includes an
>index containing 20 million street-level photographs of building
>exteriors in 10 major U.S. cities.
>
>Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material
>may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.