Astrozombie

I hate the elevation scheme in Google Earth, I wish there was a way to get readings easily and exaggerate it so much

Artkansas 

Maybe the picture is from the future where you already have put the deck back.

Machka 

There should be a date somewhere on the bottom of the images. Here, it's apparent that Google came through and filmed everything in 2007 ... that's the date on everything ... and they haven't been back since.

So I've been trying to look up houses that are for rent, to see what the neighbourhood is like ... and the houses don't exist. Whole subdivisions are empty fields. Whole sets of roads don't exist. 2007 was 7 years ago ... a lot can change in 7 years.

Smallwheels

The street view of Google Maps is more recent than the satellite image. I see my bicycle locked to the rail of the upstairs balcony, and my windows have my custom aluminum foil solar shades. It is at least from one summer ago because there is no snow. The grass is thick and green.

I wonder if it will be seven years before the next pass. Since I moved out last June the current resident might not want others to see the building with my bicycle and window treatments.

Smallwheels

I just checked the satellite image and the apartment building is there now. I don't know when it was added. Maybe when they update the street view they put in an order for a satellite view. I see a truck that is there from a neighbor that moved out over a year ago so that is when the image was made.

Roody

Can I throw in my opinion that google street views and satellite images is absolutely incredible! Nobody 20 years ago could have imagined such an amazing and useful feature, available absolutely free not only in your home, but on the go with a mobile phone.

gerv 

I don't think Google maps can access that far into the future.

gerv 

Absolutely agree. We tend to take for granted this wonderful service. The directions portion of it has been invaluable to me since I am too cheap to buy a Garmin.

Roody

I have read that Garmin is very challenged by the synthesis of google maps + mobile phones.

gerv 

Yeah mobile phone technology is kind of scary. I just bought a cheapo smartphone, but suddenly I'm using it everywhere. I loaded the Kindle app and am now going thru my wife's book list. Great for the bus!!

Artkansas 

Just got notified that I won't have to worry about making that commute.

I-Like-To-Bike

The same challenge has been thrown down to the digital point and shoot camera industry by the photo taking/uploading capability of modern mobile phones. Of course not so long ago digital cameras killed the film and film processing industry.

Roody

Yes, digital cameras are losing ground fast. Phones work better for people who just want easy snapshots. Digital cameras are mainly for more serious amateurs and professional photographers. My cheap phone takes lousy pictures. My iPad takes fairly good pictures but it's cumbersome. I'm thinking about going against the grain by buying a digital camera.

RPK79

There is a bridge in my town that was just replaced (went from 2 lane to 4 lane) over the last year or so. If you scroll down to it in Google maps it still shows the old bridge with the new bridge under constructions, but as you scroll down further the picture changes and the new bridge is close to completion (half open to traffic) and the old bridge is gone.

Machka 

Oh ... sorry to hear that!

Artkansas 

It's a mixed blessing.

Roody

The fact that you had a good nibble might indicate that the job situation in your field/location is finally starting to loosen up a little.

Artkansas 

I hope. What is more interesting is that the techies are finally starting to find each other and things are clumping together. So I have no doubt that things will be working out eventually, but I have major doubts about whether I can hang around until it happens. So my feelings are mixed and I'm looking at what I can do.

I'm really glad to not have to do that commute though.

ro-monster

Artkansas,

Do you have a portfolio online? It would be interesting to see some of your work.

Artkansas 

Here is my basic portfolio. MultimediaDesigner

gerv 

Great work Artkansas!!

ro-monster

I like the illustration work! And some of the 3D stuff in fascinating. I'm a designer too, but I've only done 2D stuff (application and game interfaces, packaging, web graphics, etc.) and very basic Flash animations, and I really lack drawing skills. If anybody's curious, I can post some links to my work.

Are you familiar with Font Squirrel? It's one of my favorite resources, full of free fonts with basically unrestricted licensing. They have some really lovely fonts for both web and desktop use.

Anyway, this is drifting pretty far off topic, but I'm always happy to talk design!

Artkansas 

No, I didn't know about Font Squirrel. I'll check it out.

Closer in on topic is a project I did in Google Earth. Get out your Red/Cyan glasses, it's a 3D video ride over Mt San Jacinto.

cooker

Have you tried gmap-pedometer.com?

Machka 

No I haven't, but I have recently tried https://www.mappedometer.com/ (as was mentioned earlier by lasauge) and it isn't too bad. It doesn't handle long distances very well and the elevation map is tiny but at least it is quite easy to use and gives me something.

I used to use bikely, but they got too complex.