The Galapagos is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and it was key in Charles Darwin’s findings in forming the the scientific argument of evolution. You may never get to travel to the volcanic archipelago in person, but now thanks to Google, you can explore it through 360-degree imagery on Street View.
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Google did promise to pay out up to $7 million as well as get rid of a bevy of information and data that they picked up via unsecured Wi-Fi networks through the use of their Street View cars, where among them include user passwords, emails, and other kinds of miscellaneous information. Just when the folks at Google thought that that’s that, along comes the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that has denied Google’s attempt to dismiss wiretapping claims in a class action suit that concerns the current debacle.
Google’s legal eagles came from a viewpoint that what they did could actually be exempted from being classified as a wiretap, considering how data that is transmitted over Wi-Fi happens to be an electronic communication which can be easily accessed by the general public. The judges’ panel did not share the same viewpoint as Google, however, and said, “Wi-Fi transmissions are not ‘readily accessible’ to the ‘general public’ because most of the general public lacks the expertise to intercept and decode payload data transmitted over a Wi-Fi network.” Apart form that, the court also ruled that data transmitted over Wi-Fi is unable to be classified as audio most of the time, hence it would fall “outside of the definition of a ‘radio communication.’”
Wi-Fi Sniffing Could Be Classed As Wiretapping, Google Told original content from Ubergizmo. 
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Google has been in hot water since it was revealed that it had harvested data, such as user names and email addresses, from wireless networks. The Internet giant sought to have the lawsuit against it dismissed, saying that claims it had violated the Wiretap Act weren’t valid, something an appeals court in the US ultimately […]
Google has gone to a lot of interesting places with Street View in recent months, but none might as odd and perhaps not-as-exciting than a zoo, a place we’ve all been to at least once when we were kids, but Google wants to bring the experience to your computer screen just in case you feel […]
In the same way that you can’t really call The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy a trilogy any more, Google’s once again stretching the definition of a street. The company has loaned out one of its backpack-worn trekker units to the UK’s Canal and River trust, which will document 100 miles of the country’s waterways for Street View. Users will be able to tour London’s Regent’s Canal, the Bingley Five Rise and the Stoke Brueme blacksmiths on the Grand Union Canal. Just remember folks, even if you’re touring from the comfort of your laptop, it’s not a proper rambling holiday unless you bring a packed lunch and a flask of weak lemon drink.
Via: Pocket-lint, TechRadar
Source: UK Canal & River Trust
Google has expanded its Street View imagery once again, this time taking a trip to one of the most iconic structures in the world. Google trekked the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France and used the Street View trolley to show what it looks like to stand on top of the Eiffel Tower and look out onto the city of love.
Google took the Street View trolley (similar to an ice-cream cart but with a giant camera attached) to both the second and top floors of the Eiffel Tower and went around the whole length of the viewing decks to provide a 360-degree view of Paris with 360-degree photographs — 360-degrees inside 360-degrees!
Of course, viewing the imagery certainly isn’t as awe-inspiring as actually being there, but it shows you what you’re missing out on while you browse the imagery sitting on your couch. The images gives users an excellent look at the surroundings of Paris, including the Seine River, Arc de Triomphe, and even the Notre Dame off in the distance. Even if you’ve visited the Eiffel Tower in the past, the new imagery can provide a sense of nostalgia as you relive the moments when you stood almost 900 feet above Paris.
It’s not the tallest structure that Google Street View has trekked (that titles goes to the Burj Khalifa), but the Eiffel Tower once stood as the tallest man-made structure for over 40 years. It was built in 1889 and more than 250 million people have visited it since its construction.
Google has also dedicated a landing page with all sorts of history facts of the Eiffel Tower in Pinterest-like layout, providing a timeline of sorts during the construction, as well as events that have occurred in the past. The three videos at the top of the page take you to the Street View imagery where you can navigate around the viewing decks at your own leisure.
Google Street View visits Eiffel Tower, provides birds-eye view of Paris is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
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