Windows Live and Privacy

An anonymous reader writes "Today as we were biking around our neighborhood in a small city we saw a strange vehicle slowly driving around. It appeared to be an SUV, bristling with cameras mounted on the roof, and pointing just about every possible direction. The first time we saw it, all we could see was that it had a sign on the side, something about Windows. The second time we saw it, we stared at it so hard that the driver stopped and we had a chance to ask him what it was all about. He said he was driving around, filming streets, and that there were people doing this all over the world, and getting data from the air too. It was going to be available on the Web. I asked him if this was Microsoft's answer to Google Earth, and he indicated that it was. There seems to be very little about this on the Web, and I found no mention of Microsoft's collection of this sort of detailed street level data. The Windows site appears to be http://preview.local.live.com/, although since I use a Mac it didn't work properly. I'm not sure I want my neighborhood viewable on the Web from ground level. And are they going to edit all the people out? I don't see how they could."

OH SNAP!!! It's the Vista Police....

[Anonymous Coward]

quick....uninstall...UNINSTALL!!!

Why not?

[xyankee]

"And are they going to edit all the people out? I don't see how they could." Why couldn't they? It's amazing the things they can do with computers these days, you know...

Agreement?

[Realistic_Dragon]

They don't need to edit anyone out. Just check your Windows EULA - it's in there right after the section concerning rights to your immortal soul.

Shh! Don't spoil the secret!

[jfengel]

The government doesn't want you to know this, but here's the secret:

When you're outside... people can see you.

Re:This is old news... kind of

[Cycloid Torus]

Stupid me...(sound of hand slapping forehead)... when I saw them, I thought it was maybe the FBI in disguise, you know, tracking terrorists or something... stupid me.

Take my advice...

[gooman]

Stay inside.

Re:Shh! Don't spoil the secret!

[QuantumG]

was a time when only people who were near you could talk to you too. isn't modern technology great?

Windows live sightseeing and pr0n

[thc69]

So, when do sightseeing blogs start to pop up, pointing out the rare frame where somebody is caught sunbathing nude?

There could be a problem here...

[thewils]

Say honey, how come Dave's truck is parked in our driveway?

Re:Shh! Don't spoil the secret!

[rvw]

the the people near you you

So do you suffer from Repetitive Brain Injury or what?

Re:Take my advice...

[monoqlith]

You're preaching to the choir, my friend. Preaching to the choir.

Re:Shh! Don't spoil the secret!

[mj_sklar]

No, he probably just forgot a comma.

"People, as in the people near you, you can also see."

Note the comma after the first instance of 'you'.

I'm gonna moon em!

[ILuvRamen]

if they come through my neighborhood, I'm gonna moon em so they have to edit me out :P I don't want people all around the world looking at me getting the mail shirtless (yes I am that lazy despite it being 9 degrees out), my neighbors think that's weird enough. They actually can't film in your town AT ALL without a permit for that sort of thing so call the cops on em.

Full moon

[Chayak]

They better be careful what streets they drive down or they may get a shot of multiple full moons with little penguins painted on them...

Re:lovely

[fltsimbuff]

I used Google Maps to plan a route the other day. It allowed me to find the easiest entry point through fencing around a "site", encountering the least amount of resistance. Additionally, it was much easier to find the perfect place to park my vehicle, to minimize exertion on return, and ensure a quick getaway.

Once inside, I was able to use the detailed satellite imagery to find the items on my itinerary of highest value. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of what I was after was outdoors, in the open. It also ensured a quick and safe exit when I was all through.

As a result, this trip to the Zoo (what did you think I was talking about?) was a lot easier than it could have been without Google Maps.

As far as nefarious uses of Google Maps and things like it? I just don't see it.

Re:OH SNAP!!! It's the Vista Police....

[Reaperducer]

If I go to Home Depot and get a blue screen door, will the Windows police think my house has crashed and go home?

Re:Why not?

[geobeck]

"And are they going to edit all the people out? I don't see how they could." Why couldn't they? It's amazing the things they can do with computers these days, you know...

They won't edit them out completely; they'll just replace them with better-looking people. How else are they going to compete with GE?

Re:Shh! Don't spoil the secret!

[that this is not und]

I was going to say that you can't talk to people near you in public because they have those little buzzing transducers (the ones wired to iPods) up against their ears.

Or, they're busy talking on their cellphone.

Re:Why not?

[arifirefox]

if that's the case then slashdotters will have nothing to fear! ;)

Re:Shh! Don't spoil the secret!

[QuantumG]

Heh. Actually did visit the WTC. I most remember the rude bitch who served me at the cafeteria. We flew out a day later, arrived in London and the next morning the WTC fell down. I remember thinking "man, I hope the cafeteria was open."

Ok.

[Perseid]

So if I see a truck driving around taking pictures I will try to look as sexy as I can. So if you see the fat computer nerd trying to look sexy in the next beta of this thing - that was me.

Re:Why not?

[sumdumass]

they could be used to create 3D models of the people in the photos. Not saying they are going to but when the data exists, someone will always want to find new ways of using it.

psst.. over here. I got some mods for you GTA games. Now you can beat up real prostitutes and cops. ;~)

Re:OH SNAP!!! It's the Vista Police....

[Patrik_AKA_RedX]

Yes, but they will format and reinstall. Your house will look exactly the same as it did the day you moved in. And that included that ugly wallpaper the previous owners had in the living room and the pile of garbage that took all week to clean up in the basement. The stuff you brought in however will all be lost.

Re:Driving directions

[Anonymous Brave Guy]

If you require a picture of all the available turns, then may I recommend looking through the glass area, which is carefully placed at the front of your cabin area in all our recent vehicles? This also has the value-added features of showing you where other vehicles and pedestrians are in real time, and of showing the junction layout in use today and not five years ago, both of which may assist your navigation. :-)