Still trying to do just about everything, Google has launched a new mapping service, which utilises local search and satellite images. The service can be used to give users a three-dimensional view of buildings and terrain, and will let people search for a location to get an aerial view, then zoom in to see 3D images of certain buildings and landscapes in select U.S. cities. All of this is made possible with technology from the company's Keyhole division, which is a satellite mapping service Google acquired last year.
"Google Earth utilizes broadband streaming technology and 3D graphics, much like a videogame, enabling users to interactively explore the world--either their own neighborhood or the far corners of the globe," John Hanke, Keyhole at Google general manager, said in a statement.
The software for the service can be downloaded free from the search giant's Web site.