U.S. Restrictions Lifted: Better Satellite Images May Soon Be Available

[engine]

There are some useful applications for this, although the privacy advocates will be out against it.

When you consider that a pilot of a hang glider can fly over a site and take pictures of most things, and people wouldn't even realise. I'm sure, with a decent camera the imagery could be quite detailed.

Sites like Google and Bing Maps will be able to use higher-quality satellite images, thanks to US government restrictions being lifted.U.S. Restrictions Lifted: Better Satellite Images May Soon Be Available [bbc.co.uk]

The decision was made after Digital Globe applied to the US Department of Commerce asking for restrictions to be lifted.

[lucy24]

For some people, the unnerving part is just knowing that the closeup images already exist.

:: now waiting for the next passing Brainless Client to cry "Google Earth is broken! Their view of my shop window is showing last week's prices!" ::

[weeks]

:: now waiting for the next passing Brainless Client to cry "Google Earth is broken! Their view of my shop window is showing last week's prices!" ::

OK, just wait. Soon real-time 1:1 video, with infrared ability, with images stored for 25 years. Handy!