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October 4, 2008 6:00 AM PDT

Google Street View car spotted in Singapore

by John Chan
Street View van in Singapore

For reasons of privacy, we have blurred the faces and license plates in this photo. Google will be doing the same.

(Credit: Crave Asia)

Take note, you heard it first from CNET Asia--Google's Street View is coming to Singapore. An eagle-eyed CNET Asia reader named Andrew sent us a picture of this silver Opel Astra complete with cameras doubling its height and the Google logo pasted on the side door. This was spotted at the junction between Dorset Road and Kampong Java Road.

We contacted Google, and the search giant confirmed that the service will be coming to Google Maps Singapore in the coming months. Street View launched in Japan earlier this year.

For those unfamiliar with Street View, this feature of Google Maps gives the user a photographic view of the location being searched. It has attracted controversy, with some residents of Street View-enabled cities complaining of loss of privacy. In some cases, men have been caught entering places like adult book stores, while others have been captured while inside their own private property. To address these concerns, Google will be blurring faces and license plate numbers before uploading the images.

Tools for users and authorities to report on images they are uncomfortable about will also be put in place, similar to what the company has done in the U.S., Australia, Japan, and France.

In any case, watch what you do or where you go, Singapore--Google is watching.

(Via Crave Asia)

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Add a Comment (Log in or register)
by joshua008 October 15, 2008 11:12 AM PDT
Singapore already has the Street View, but is kind of different from the google street view. I found some of them at www.goviewing.com/bedokestate , www.goviewing.com/pasirrisestate, www.i-open-house.com/projects

i found it is better cos i can go right into the shopping centre or park or playground, town centres to see more, not just limited to the roads. I was kind of enjoying viewing the thing and it does not give me a giddy kind of effect like those 360 degree virtual tours.

one thing that google street view lacks is that it does not provide views off the road though you can actually move along the road to see whatever along the roadside.

this is only my 2 cents worth of comments. thanks.
Reply to this comment
by sajidsaiyed April 1, 2009 2:37 AM PDT
One more car spotted today:
http://www.ssdesigninteractive.com/blog/?p=118
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