[lambtron]

"Weekend CNN Newsroom anchor Don Lemon was alarmed that he was unable to get a clear picture of the Times Square area on Google Earth. After using blurred footage from Google Earth as an illustration of the tight security around the area, he asked his guest, Tom Fuentes, former FBI Assistant Director of International Relations, what this might mean.

His guest’s answer was not exactly… well. Informed.

Lemon: My question to Mr. Fuentes would be: what does that mean? What should we garner from this when this area is even blurred out on Google Earth because of this security alert?

Fuentes: I think they don’t want you to see exactly what kind of work they’re doing, and also they’re searching other parts of the area just to be safe.

Most of you are probably already screaming this in your heads, so, in unison everyone:

Google Earth images are not in real time!

So, there’s no reason to blur the area for a temporary high security situation. Those pictures were taken months ago.

Feeling any better? I was, until I remembered that Tom Fuentes is a former FBI Assistant Director."



CNN Google Earth Fail

[TMNT]

Not really a fail if you don't use google earth.

The FBI/government uses their own satellite imaging technology and it's in realtime. In fact they have their own agency. It's called the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

[Ofmalik]

Originally Posted by TMNT

Not really a fail if you don't use google earth.

The FBI/government uses their own satellite imaging technology and it's in realtime. In fact they have their own agency. It's called the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

Well put.

Google Earth can be pretty accurate at times though. I'm not sure why they'd have Times Square blurred out but I know for a fact they've always blurred out military bases and even certain research facilities (military and non-military).

Checkout Area-51 on GE

[lambtron]

Originally Posted by ofmalik

Well put.

Google Earth can be pretty accurate at times though. I'm not sure why they'd have Times Square blurred out but I know for a fact they've always blurred out military bases and even certain research facilities (military and non-military).

Checkout Area-51 on GE

The bases are only blurred out when you try to get uber close, Area 51 included. I just looked up the base I was stationed at on GE and you can see the oil spots left on the flightline by F18s.

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by lambtron

The bases are only blurred out when you try to get uber close, Area 51 included. I just looked up the base I was stationed at on GE and you can see the oil spots left on the flightline by F18s.

and I can see the ordnance area / bunkers. I was under the impression that at least that area was supposed to be blacked out....

[Memphis1]

Originally Posted by lambtron

The bases are only blurred out when you try to get uber close, Area 51 included. I just looked up the base I was stationed at on GE and you can see the oil spots left on the flightline by F18s.

i think the point is that Google Earth is in fact updated accordingly, google maps on the internet is a different story. it happen in the earthquake in haiti, they updated the images continously. area 51 could very well be declassifying bits and pieces, so it's irrelevant to the point.

[E90SLAM]

It looked like CNN needs better bandwidth...or someone in the office just streaming porn....

[xbook]

Originally Posted by lambtron

"Weekend CNN Newsroom anchor Don Lemon was alarmed that he was unable to get a clear picture of the Times Square area on Google Earth. After using blurred footage from Google Earth as an illustration of the tight security around the area, he asked his guest, Tom Fuentes, former FBI Assistant Director of International Relations, what this might mean.

His guest’s answer was not exactly… well. Informed.

Lemon: My question to Mr. Fuentes would be: what does that mean? What should we garner from this when this area is even blurred out on Google Earth because of this security alert?

Fuentes: I think they don’t want you to see exactly what kind of work they’re doing, and also they’re searching other parts of the area just to be safe.

Most of you are probably already screaming this in your heads, so, in unison everyone:

Google Earth images are not in real time!

So, there’s no reason to blur the area for a temporary high security situation. Those pictures were taken months ago.

Feeling any better? I was, until I remembered that Tom Fuentes is a former FBI Assistant Director."



CNN Google Earth Fail

Wow, way to just copy and paste another person's words. At least give them credit.

[FStop7]

The whole thing was in quotes. You sound bitter. Are you Don Lemon?

[lambtron]

Originally Posted by xbook

Wow, way to just copy and paste another person's words. At least give them credit.

I copied and pasted the article...in quotes..and linked to the website. Who are you? The plagiarism police? Imbecile.

[Inspired]

Originally Posted by xbook

Wow, way to just copy and paste another person's words. At least give them credit.

Originally Posted by lambtron

I copied and pasted the article...in quotes..and linked to the website. Who are you? The plagiarism police? Imbecile.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by ofmalik

Well put.

Google Earth can be pretty accurate at times though. I'm not sure why they'd have Times Square blurred out but I know for a fact they've always blurred out military bases and even certain research facilities (military and non-military).

Checkout Area-51 on GE

Google gets their source data from the same satellites, when spy/government satellites take a pictures it is produced in different resolutions, highest resolution are classified and the the exact level of resolution is unknown but put have made guess at it. The lower resolutions ones are de-classified are are sold for commercial use.

At this time these is no real time satellite high resolution images of since the satellite would need to be in geo-centric orbit or 22,000 miles above the earth which most weather satellite are. The high res spy picture satellites do fly bys at lower orbits so they can take a picture once every so many hours of a particular area.

What probably happen is the Government changes the classification level of images of NYC to something lower so now it looks more blurred.