Google Rolls Out Keyhole Anew; Google Maps API?

There was a factory tour of Google yesterday where the big news was a personalizable home page. For those in our industry the big news was the updating of Keyhole.

One reporter noted: “Also unveiled during the Factory Tour was Google Earth, the new version of Keyhole, acquired by the search giant in October. The product allows users to access a multi-terabyte database of information, including a high-resolution terrain map of the entire globe. Google local search is integrated into the product, allowing users to search for businesses and get bird’s-eye views of their results.”

The Mercury News got the details: “Google says it now has 3-D imagery of the whole Earth and has merged the technology with its search engine and mapping service. The software will be available in the next two weeks as an upgrade for Keyhole subscribers. Google would not discuss plans to make the technology more widely available.”

Further details on updated Keyhole data and a screen shot of the interface are now avaialble from eWeek.

Marc from O’Reilly got some inside scoop on the “maybe someday” Google Maps API and current state of data licensing. (Good news: Google has no intention to shut down existing Google Maps hackers!)