Did Google really trump Amazon?
O'Reilly Radar has the O'Reilly verdict on O'Reilly Where 2.0 Conference "Diamond Sponsor" Google!
SURPRISE? Google Maps "Street View" is AWESOME, and the O'Reilly inside verdict is spreading like wildfire across the blogosphere:
This morning Google gave their 2D maps an incredible realworld addition. Its a street-view, that in certain cities, will let you get a street side view of the area you are currently in. This is not just a static, A9-style image. It will also let you move along the street in a smooth manner and even more amazing it will let you change your angle and continue moving that way.
"Program Chair" Brady Forrest emphasizes: Go.Check.It.Out.Now.
(Also: Web 2.0: Is O’Reilly’s vision a keeper? Amazon vs. Alexaholic)
If its the Googley way, than it is the good way! Of course, the Googley way just could be based on the Amazon way, given that Amazon's original A9 chief, Udi Manber, moved over to Google last year.
Moreover, a Conference Chair's appreciation for the technological particulars of a top sponsor's product may be imperceptible to the typical user of the product.
The image below of Google's Street View is reminiscent of A9's Block View images.
I asked Manber about user privacy implications; What if an unsuspecting citizen is "caught" on the Street? Manber, not surprsingly, said that feedback had only been positive, but suggested that a takedown process was available.
(LOT'S) MORE ON GOOGLE, PRIVACY AND YOU!
Why Facebook is scarier than Google Google plays mind games with personal search Beware: Google is NOT your privacy friend Google zeal breeds more identity theft risks Google user data cloud: Do you trust it? Google vs. Google on privacy, or not Google plots server farm land grab in Europe Google, YouTube double down on user tracking: DoubleClick next up Google scary now? Personal Health Records, sponsored by Google, next and Google Analytics: Should Google be minding YOUR Web business?